Sometime later I decided to walk along the dam wall and as I approached the south-east corner of the reservoir. I was drawn to the shape in the goat willow overhanging the water’s edge to my right. Through binoculars my first thought was of a Grey Heron in an unusually hunched position, but something didn’t seem right. Switching to my ‘scope I was stunned to see a solid jet-black cap, black dagger-like bill and striking white underparts and I immediately identified the bird as an adult Night Heron. I was now in a state of high excitement as this was far and away the rarest thing I’d found here and I was desperate for others to see this bird. I quickly made several anxious phone calls to other local birders, how fortunate that I had topped up the mobile just two days ago!

Read the fascinating story of how Russ Boland noticed what he first thought was a plastic bag in bushes at Scout Dike Reservoir that may yet turn out to be a new British Bird!

A number of years ago I became intrigued by birders who stood at the Narrows for hours on end observing the ‘vis mig’. On days when it was generally quiet for migrants both at Spurn and elsewhere on the coast, flocks of finches and hirundines flooded south past the Narrows flying into a strong south-westerly wind. I joined the few regulars who haunted the old breeze-block shelter, now Spurn had a new Narrows enthusiast.

Read the full account on how Adam Hutt became hooked on migration watching at Spurn, which includes a summary on the results of the last ten years.

Adam Hutt counting Goldfinches passing the Narrows.s - Clive Mckay

The Seasonal Summary in Yorkshire Birding volume 17, number 1, covers the period January – March 2008 and includes details on a huge Whooper Swan movement, a new County record of 31 Water Pipits and a summary of a splendid influx of Firecrests.