Spurn Bird Observatory

Spurn Lighthouse and 'Point' © George Stoyle

The unique long, narrow hook of Spurn at the southern end of the Holderness coastline has formed from a build-up of sand and shingle carried by the sea and is in a constant process of change. The first bird to be ringed at Spurn was a Blackbird on the 17th November 1945. Since that date Spurn Bird Observatory has gone from strength to strength.

Mark Pearson and Richard Baines guiding and staying at Spurn Bird Obs in 2020. A great place for birders to stay

A new group 'Friends of Spurn' was created in 2003 to raise funds to purchase a new Observatory building. They quickly turned that dream into a reality and opened the new impressive building in March 2016. With modern facilities this is the ideal base for a birder visiting the Spurn area. In order to continue to pay the mortgage Spurn Bird Observatory need the continuing support of new and older members. To find out more about how you can help and become a Friend of Spurn CLICK HERE

YCN Director Richard Baines making the donation of £500 in 2019 to Spurn Chair Rob Adams

In 2019 Yorkshire Coast Nature started annual five day tours to Spurn. We were very keen to help the Bird Observatory in their work especially their new land purchase fund. This fund aims to buy land to increase habitat for wildlife in the Spurn area. Since 2019 YCN have donated £2,500 to Spurn Bird Observatory Land Purchase Fund. In addition to these donations it is wonderful to see new members join from our group tours join the Friends of Spurn every year. We are very proud to support this cause. By booking on one of our Spurn Trips you are directly helping wildlife. To see our one day Spurn Trips CLICK HERE. To see our Spurn five day trips CLICK HERE 

YCN wader ID workshop Spurn 2019

Bird Observatories 

A bird observatory is a place which conducts long-term monitoring of bird populations and migration. Individual observatories are located at prime migration points where a daily census is taken in a defined recording area. An integral part of observatory work is bird ringing, undertaken within the national British scheme coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). This provides data for guiding conservation policies. The Observatories encourage volunteers to participate in scientific studies of birds and the environment. The results of these studies and more general information are made freely available to researchers and to the public who are welcome to visit. To learn more about national Observatories CLICK HERE