Spurn Mega and scarce migrants....Saturday 20.09.2014.

With a long week of days finally completed and reading daily reports of good birds being seen along the east coast,i headed out bright an early in the anticipation of seeing some good birds and having a decent day as always at Spurn.It was with little realisation as to what was to unfold through the day.By Spurn standards no real biggies had been seen up to now apart from another Juv. Pallid Harrier passing through the recording area,so today with increased numbers of observers i was hoping for something good.I began the day by parking at the Bluebell,a good choice after how the day unfolded,got my kit together and decided to walk down to the Crown and Kilnsea Churchyard first.As i approached the churchyard,a rattling call alerted me to the first nicety of the day,a lovely Red-breasted Flycatcher.The bird was watched as it flitted about flycatching and being harassed by a local Wren,giving some nice views,but too damn quick for any pics.In the immediate area were 2 Garden Warbler,2 Spotted Flycatcher,2 Redstart,a few Chiffies,a handful of Siskins and a Grey Wag overhead,things were looking good.After meeting up with John we mooched about watching the R.b.Fly and the other migrants around Cliffe Farm until a message came over the radio that a OBP had just been found near the Canal so off we went to have a look.On the way we came across three visiting birders who were watching something,we asked what it was and one of them said they thought it was a Red-backed Shrike but they weren't sure.I looked through there scope with disbelief,as it certainly wasn't a Red-backed and looked like a Juv. Woodchat.We put it out on the radio system as an interesting shrike,possibly Woodchat while we looked at the Collins Bird Guide.In the meantime i had seen it in flight as it flew across the Well field to a barbed wire fence on the other side.I was immediatley struck by the large white patches in the wing and long black tail in flight,something just didn't add up with it.It looked too pale when perched up also,but i was no expert by far on Juv. Woodchat.Thankfully reinforcements arrived with Andy Roadhouse and Steve Exley coming to look at the bird,we had mentioned the fact that it didn't have a white rump and alarm bells started ringing with Andy and a few others and conversations about the different races of Woodchat were discussed,but all showed a white rump.The only other option was Masked,something i had contemplated earlier,but just didn't have the bottle to say it,without looking like a complete idiot if i had been wrong.But as it transpired that is exactly what we were watching as Andy and the others had good experience of the species....fu@#ing hell,a third for Britain and first for both Yorkshire and Spurn and we had been in on it,birding heaven!.The bird in all the hoo hah of idin'g it had mistakenly been put out as Woodchat by someone and that was soon put right.As we watched the bird and with a little hindsight now it was apparent what it was and it struck me how small the bird was,being almost as big as a Reed Bunting perched nearby.When flycatching from the fence it looked like a Pied Wag with it's long black tail with broad white sides,what a smart little bird.The crowds soon began arriving and parking was being arranged in a nearby field to accommodate the visitors.After watching it for a good hour and a half i decided to walk back to the car for some lunch,on the way seeing a handfull of Wheatears,Tree Pipit,the Red-breasted Fly again and more Siskins and a couple of Yellow Wags.I was soon stopped in my tracks again as i walked back along the road up to the Bluebell as a dark juv. Honey  Buzzard passed overhead south and some nice views of the Great-grey Shrike from the previous day performed on nearby hedgerows and overhead telephone wires,crikey what a day.I got myself back to the car on a high,scoffed my pack up and had a drink and headed back to were the Shrike was and it was still were we had left it earlier giving slightly closer views now,but it soon flew away further again.At one point it was seen in the same field of view as the Great-grey Shrike,giving everyone present a great chance to compare the birds size perfectly against the much bigger Great-grey,it was even watched being chased by the Great-grey briefly,which had a few hearts in mouths,but the bigger Great-grey left it alone.As the day wore on it became a little overcast and began to lightly drizzle,so i decided to call it a day and made my way home to Lincs.Personal totals for the day included the afore mentioned species and 6 Redstart,2 Whinchat,Marsh Harrier,1 Pied Fly,1 Reed Warbler and 1 Willow Warbler.What an amazing day and a big thanks to all my birding friends who made it such a great day out as well as the superb birds on show,one which will stay in my memory for a very long time.

Wheatear.

Dark Juvenile Honey Buzzard.

1st winter Masked Shrike by Dave Aitken.

One or two visitors to see the Masked Shrike.

Distant record shot of the Great-grey Shrike(Left) and Masked Shrike(Right),showing even at long range the Masked's diminutive size compared with the Great-grey.