The Spurn Area.

A visit today with Dave to this brilliant area to try and get him his first Red-flanked Bluetail,had us working hard for the bird, eventually getting to grips with it,albeit briefly.
 After learning yesterday that 1,possibly 2 Red-flanked Bluetail's had been present at Spurn,we decided to cross that very expensive bridge back into my homeland to try and connect with one of them.On arrival in the car park as it was just beginning to get light,we had a quick cuppa and began with a quick look at the sea until we heard any news either way on the bluetailed beauty.There was a few bits and bobs over the sea with at least 50 Little Gull,a handfull of Gannet's,a few Red-throated Diver and a nice male Red-breasted Merg adding to the day list,we then decided to walk up to the canal area where yesterday's Bluetail had been released.After a timely encounter with our old friend Nige, a radio message came over the CB that Barry Spence had found a Bluetail at the point in exactly the same area there had been one claimed the previous evening.So off we went down to the point,we then spent what seemed an eternity looking around the parade ground to no avail,when another message came over the CB that Lance Degnan had just seen the Bluetail in another area,talk about a wild Bluetail chase and again we didn't see the bird,but thank god for heliogoland traps,as the bird was found in the point heliogoland and we all got brief views of it as it flew about inside the trapping area, i agree,it was not the best of ways to see this gorgeous species,but at least we had seen it at last!!Just as the ringers where getting into postion, the bird somehow escaped,flying out of the mouth of the trap and we didn't see it again,buggar!It later emerged that this bird was trapped early evening and was un-ringed,proving there was 2 birds in the Spurn area yesterday,absolutely amazing stuff!!!Other species seen at the point comprised of mainly birds moving south and included 3 Swallow's,1 Crossbill,several Siskin,a few Brambling,Lesser Whitethroat and a smart 'Monedula' Jackdaw watched feeding around the point buildings and parade ground,this being the Scandinavian race of our native Jackdaw,a smart bird.After all this excitement we went to look for the long staying Barred Warbler at the Warren and where eventually treated to brilliant views of the bird as it fed and preened in an area of Sea Buckthorn and Elders,a nice bird and my first of the autumn.Other birds observed through this hectic day included a Ring Ouzel,Jack Snipe,2 Chiffchaff,Grey Wagtail and 3 Bearded Tit.Non bird sightings today comprised of 9 Roe Deer,Comma,Small Tortoiseshell,Common Darter and Migrant Hawker.An excellent day's birding.