A quite varied week 13th - 20th September

The first week of my stay has proved eventful and absorbing. Other than one late afternoon and evening with rain it's also been fine throughout, a real bonus. AS ever I've elected to do at least one period of seawatching each day and been rewarded accordingly.This time of year sees Red throated Divers making their way south and each day has seen birds streaking south, low over the waves or even in small groups at height. A sight I never personally tire of ! Other sightings have included Great Skua, Arctic Skuas and Long-tailed Skua, indeed one individual ( presumed to be the same bird ) has taken up temporary residency offshore of the seawatching hide and has been seen quite regularly. A rather poor sighting ( for me) of a Sabine's Gull was less rewarding, but numbers of Mediterranean Gull in the area have been more than welcome and a few Little Gull have been in evidence. A couple of days has seen duck on the move with Teal being by far the most numerous. Other species have figured including Velvet Scoter and also the first Dark bellied Brent Geese. A group of Light bellied birds has also been on the Humber for the past few days. One of the star birds of the last few days has been a Dotterel spending time within the Golden Plover flock on the Humber. As might be expected numbers and variety of waders have provided an ever welcome diversion at Kilnsea Wetlands in particular. With winds being mainly in the east each day has produced something good worth searching for, which is the real payback associated with a stay in early-mid September.