With five Siberian Accentors now recorded in Britain, I decided to head to Spurn after a long weekend of work, hoping to catch up with one of these mega rarities after seeing the first British record in Shetland.
Arriving at the back of the old school at Easington, I found around ten birders already present. I was quickly put onto the bird, which was foraging happily just a few feet from the fence—an incredible experience up close. This represented Britain’s second Siberian Accentor, a remarkable find by Lance Degan, and as I write, nearly 65 Siberian Accentors have been seen across Europe this autumn.
Britain's second Siberian Accentor
While watching the accentor, news came through of an Isabelline Wheatear near the boatyard. A quick dash brought me to a ploughed field, where I managed distant but satisfying record shots of the wheatear alongside two Shorelarks and three Bramblings.
Issabelline Wheatear
Brambling
Driving around Spurn, the fields were alive with autumn activity. Fieldfares and Redwings swarmed the stubble fields, offering spectacular views of hundreds of birds feeding together. At the Bluebell car park, two Shorelarks were feeding nearby, another highlight of the day.
Fieldfare and Redwing
Shorelark
Walking around, it was hard to ignore the sheer number of passerines. Siskins were abundant, while Robins and Goldcrests seemed to be everywhere. A quick stop at the Crown and Anchor pub garden produced fleeting glimpses of a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Firecrest, though the blustery conditions made photography impossible.
Goldcrest
Sisken
The estuary was quiet at low tide, but I still picked up Reed Bunting, Wheatear, and a few Grey Plovers.
Grey Plover
Wheatear
Reed Bunting
Before leaving, I couldn’t resist photographing a familiar sign at Spurn—a nostalgic reminder of where I first saw my first Pallas’s Warbler many years ago, perched on top.
It was a truly magical day, packed with rarities and classic Spurn highlights. I left with a renewed appreciation for this remarkable site, hoping it won’t be long before I return.
