Next up was the Visible Migration or “Vismig” assessment
with the highly skilled Andy Hanby, an ex-Kent birder
who is now a dedicated birder at Spurn Bird Observatory!
The birding was fairly slow, however enjoyable, with a
few migrants passing through, including 50 Meadow Pipit,
15 Tree Sparrow and a few each of Swallow, House Martin
and Swift moving through, while a Buzzard headed East.
The supplementary questions here consisted of describing
the ideal conditions for September Vismig at Spurn Point,
describing the shape/structure of all British corvid tails,
describing the flock shape of migrating Tree Sparrows and
naming the goose species arriving in Norfolk in large
numbers from Iceland throughout September. Some other
also asked here included describing species that migrate in
prominent numbers in mid-October along the East coast of
Britain in ideal conditions!
After a short break at the Observatory, Jonnie Fisk (the
estate warden at SpurnBird Observatory) and I headed over
to look at the Humber Estuary on a quickly rising tide. 3
juvenile Sanderling were feeding out on the mud, as well as
Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. A stunning
Peregrine Falcon also flew low over the Humber during the
assessment! Some supplementary questions in this
assessment comprised the identification of Whimbrel and
Curlew in flight and stating whether a tricky list of waders
displayed white wing bars. I was also asked to discuss
whether Redshank, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank,
Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper
breed annually in Britain.
Next up was the ‘Lab Test’ at the Observatory with Sarah
Harris of the BTO. A wide variety of questions were asked
in this assessment, beginning with bird topography. I had to
indicate where the lores, mantle, primaries, tertials and
undertail coverts were on a stuffed Whimbrel. Next, I had to
describe the breeding and wintering ranges of Yellow-
browed Warbler and Swift, as well as describing their
migration/annual movements through Britain, using Bird
Track Reporting Rate Graphs provided to support answers
with evidence. Also included in the theory section were
questions such as describing why Turtle Dove has declined
in Britain; describing the habitat needed for successful
territories, problems encountered on migration, problems
encountered on breeding grounds etc. Finally, I was tested
on recorded bird calls/songs, including Great Tit, Robin,
Lapwing, Wren, Nightjar and Tree Pipit.
Lastly, I went out for the Passerines/Bushes assessment
around the Observatory area with Paul Stancliffe of the
BTO. Throughout the test, highlights were 1 Pied Flycatcher
near the Obs garden, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Willow
Warbler, 2 Tree Sparrow and Goldcrests, while Meadow
Pipits, Swifts and hirundines also moved in notable numbers
overhead. The supplementary questions asked during this
assessment were: separating similar vocalisations of Great
and Blue Tit, identifying House Sparrow and Tree Sparrow,
identifying Melodious and Icterine Warbler and finally
stating whether Jay, 1w Masked Shrike, Great Tit, Lesser
Whitethroat, Magpie and Skylark have white outer tail
feathers. Naming three ageing features of 1cy passerines
was also tested. After answering these, Paul and I headed
back to the Observatory; the assessments were finished!
Everyone gathered back in the common room of the
Observatory and the assessors went upstairs to total up
the scores, which they very soon announced: Corin
Woodhead won the junior category and I won the senior
category!! We were both so excited and pleased and it
was then fantastic to plan the rest of the day ahead
birding off recent sightings and latest info from the Obs!
Congratulations also to the other finalists; the judges told
us the competition had been very close! Having chatted
with the expert judges, we discussed all the questions
from the assessment and all the sightings we’d had
throughout the morning. Corin, Jack Bradbury (Spurn
Young Birder Winner 2018) and I, with families, met up
to go birding around Spurn for the rest of the afternoon
until the evening events. We managed some fantastic
sightings that all managed to see, including the White-
rumped Sandpiper at Kilnsea Wetlands, a rare vagrant to
Britain with Northern Canadian/Alaskan breeding
grounds! We also saw many more scarce waders and also
a good variety of both grounded and migrating passerine
species across the area. Some great migrant species seen
included Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plovers, Green
Sandpiper, Knots, Bar-tailed Godwit, Yellow Wagtails,
Whinchats and Sand Martins.
By 6pm, most birders and
everyone that
attended Migfest had gathered
at Westmere Farm for the delicious
annual Hog Roast, to be shortly
followed by the Evening
Presentation. The awards
ceremony for the Martin Garner
Spurn Young Birder 2019 Final took
place in front of an audience of 150-
I was thrilled to be awarded the
Senior Winner’s Trophy,
Swarovski Optik Binoculars and
memberships to Rare Bird Alert,
British Birds, BTO and Spurn Bird
Observatory Trust by Per Alström,
David Lindo and Andy Clements!