Yorkshire Coast ~ Skua & Shearwater Cruise
12th - 14th September 2008
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With Filey Brigg to the north and Spurn Head to the south, this stretch of the Yorkshire coast is a great place to enjoy the excitement of autumn migration by both land and sea birds.
Leaving Eastwood at 9.30am on Friday, we drive north to Tophill Low. This nature reserve annually attracts 150 bird species and the many hides are a great place to see waders such as Green and Curlew Sandpipers and hopefully Little Gull. With a picnic lunch on the reserve, we shall settle in later at the 3 crown Burton Lodge, a nice little hotel we have used before in Brandesburton, which is ideally located for the many birding locations along this highly productive coastline.
On Saturday we begin with a 3 hour RSPB seabird cruise aboard the Yorkshire Belle, which is equipped to the highest safety standards, has covered as well as outside seating, plus toilets and a saloon bar serving hot and cold drinks. Autumn is the best time to experience a stream of seabirds as they pass alongside the boat, including various Gulls, Terns, Gannets, Auks, Skuas and Shearwaters. Even Sooty Shearwater is regularly spotted here on a mammoth migratory loop from its South Atlantic breeding grounds! A local guide will provide a commentary of the action as it happens. After a seaside lunch in Bridlington, we shall visit either Flamborough Head, Bempton Cliffs or Filey Brigg and Dams, according to rarity news.
We shall probably spend most of Sunday at Spurn Head, a long spit of sand projecting almost 5 miles out to sea, which can therefore come alive with falls of songbirds in search of cover and food on their long journey south. Meanwhile the mudflats of the Humber estuary on the landward side of the spit are a magnet to a multitude of waders, making Spurn a top spot at this special time. A high tide at 6pm will facilitate our late afternoon viewing of the wader spectacle and we shall aim to be back in Eastwood around 8.30pm.
We shall keep the itinerary flexible in tune with the latest info on passing rarities, which could include things like Wryneck, Bluethroat, Barred and Yellow-browed Warblers or Red-backed Shrike. Nothing can be guaranteed as so much depends on wind directions, but this makes the weekend prospects all the more exciting.
Cost £205
What the price includes:
Your share of return transport costs from the Nottingham area, two nights half board en-suite accommodation, the cruise and the services of your guide.
Deposit £35
Single supplement: £25
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