Spurn
The legendary birding hotspot at Spurn Head covers a surprisingly large area, and while focus is on migration, the area offers a range of different habitats. The Observatory is the focal point for birders, but the entire four-mile length of Spurn Head offers birding opportunities. Kilnsea wetland, just to the north, is a recently-established site which has already attracted a wealth of wader species. Slightly further north and west are Easington and Sammy's Point, both of which also regularly produce good birds.
Special birds at Spurn.
Spurn is renowned not just for rarities but also for spectacular numbers of migrating commoner birds. In recent years, mind-boggling numbers of Common Swifts and Meadow Pipits have been seen moving through the site. Every year produces a crop of scarce and rare birds, with recent records including American Red-eyed Vireos from the west and Pacific Swifts from the east. Swifts are something of a speciality of this site, with three of Britain's eight records of Pacific Swifts having been seen here.
Supporting the rarities are many scarce birds, most notably Barred Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes which occur annually. Seawatching can be productive during good skua seasons, with all four species regularly reported. The Humber itself supports large numbers of commoner waders such as Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.
When to visit Spurn
As a migration hotspot, autumn is unquestionably the peak time for birding at Spurn. The right conditions can bring in good birds from July onwards, starting with wader migration bringing in Pectoral Sandpipers, Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers to Kilnsea Wetlands. Spoonbills are also often seen, originating from recently-established colonies either in Norfolk or inland at Fairburn Ings. August offers the best chance to see Greenish and Icterine Warblers, along with good numbers of Pied Flycatchers, Whinchats and Redstarts. As autumn progresses, so too does the range of birds to be looked for. Red-flanked Bluetails can be found from late September, while October offers the best chance of Olive-backed Pipits and rarer wheatears.
How to get to Spurn
It's possible to get a bus to Easington, but the vast majority of visitors come by road, along the A1033 from Hull.
Nearby
The Yorkshire coast offers great birding opportunities. Hornsea Mere hosts a unique flock of staging Little Gulls during autumn migration, while further north are more migration and seawatching hotspots at Flamborough Head and Filey. During spring and summer, the excellent RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs offers great opportunies to get close to breeding seabirds, including Gannets, Puffins and Razorbills.