Colour ringed Whooper Swan

12th October 2025 – overcast W2/4
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed just 25 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
The Cetti’s Warbler remains and newly grounded birds included 14 Goldcrest, 7 Chiffchaff and 5 Stonechat.
Diurnal Migration
Totals included 50 Chaffinch, 30 Pink-footed Goose 19 Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 4 Coal Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 7 Greenshank remain.
Miscellaneous
Two Water Rail and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Ringing
One of the Whooper Swans moving through was originally colour-marked at Martin Mere, Lancashire on 5th March 2024.
Butterflies and Moths
Migrants in the light trap involved Rusty Dot Pearl and Rush Veneer while Dark Chestnut was new for the year.

Short-eared Owl and first Redwing

11th October 2025 – overcast NNW1/2
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 2 Redwing and a Song Thrush while additional newly grounded birds included 5 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff and single Treecreeper – a different bird to yesterday and White Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 280 Jackdaw, 60 Chaffinch, 30 Meadow Pipit, 12 Swallow, 10 Redpoll, 10 Tree Sparrow, 7 Siskin, 6 Coal Tit and single House Martin and Grey Wagtail flew through.
Miscellaneous
Single Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl were seen and three Water Rail were the best of the rest.

Treecreeper

10th October 2025 – overcast/early drizzle WNW2/4
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed just 12 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
The Cetti’s Warbler remains and grounded birds included 30 Robin, 20 Wren, 8 Goldcrest, 4 Stonechat, 3 Coal Tit, 2 Chiffchaff and a Treecreeper.
Diurnal Migration
Totals through the morning included 250 Pink-footed Goose, 34 Chaffinch, 34 Meadow Pipit, 31 Skylark, 14 Siskin, 14 Pied Wagtail, 10 Redpoll, 7 Swallow and 3 Reed Bunting.
Miscellaneous
Two Merlin and single Water Rail and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.

Yellow Wagtail

9th October 2025 – overcast W2/4
Grounded Migrants
The Cetti’s Warbler remains and newly grounded birds included 6 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff and a White Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
A late Yellow Wagtail was recorded and totals of 135 Skylark, 25 Chaffinch, 22 Tree Sparrow, 19 Coal Tit, 6 Siskin and 5 Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 330 light-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and a Water Rail was the best of the rest.

The skies dominate

8th October 2025 – sunny spells W2/4
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed just 10 Shag and a Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
The Cetti’s Warbler remains and newly grounded birds included 19 Robin, 14 Wren, 14 Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Stonechat, 2 Blackcap and 2 Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
Totals through the morning included 272 Chaffinch, 63 Goldfinch, 55 Meadow Pipit, 43 Coal Tit, 42 Greenfinch, 40 Skylark, 24 Reed Bunting, 11 Whooper Swan, 10 Tree Sparrow, 10 Siskin, 7 Redpoll and a Swallow.
Miscellaneous
Single Merlin and Water Rail were rhe best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies involved Wall Brown, Small White, Red Admiral and Painted Lady while the light trap held a Figure of Eight – the first of the year.

Velvet Scoter

7th October 2025 – overcast/drizzle soon SW2/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0930) revealed 104 Common Scoter, 34 Shag, 12 Razorbill, 12 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Gannet, 3 Mediterranean Gull and single Velvet Scoter and Red-throated Diver.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 17 Whooper Swan flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 760 Teal, 527 Wigeon, 307 light-bellied Brent Goose, 81 Mallard, 47 Shelduck, 30 Pintail and Shoveler while waders included 4370 Oystercatcher, 1210 Redshank, 495 Curlew, 385 Turnstone, 258 Lapwing, 164 Sanderling, 135 Golden Plover and 15 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 54 Little Egret and 18 Grey Heron were along the eastern shore.

Coal Tit irruption continues

6th October 2025 – overcast/early drizzle W5/3
Offshore
A check of the sea (0730-0830) revealed 128 Common Scoter, 9 Razorbill, 4 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Guillemot and single Kittiwake and Mediterranean Gull.
Grounded Migrants
A Chiffchaff was logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals included 55 Coal Tit, 15 Chaffinch, 12 Redpoll and 2 Siskin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 14 Greenshank.
Butterflies and Moths
Despite the recent inclement weather, Red Admiral, Large White and Wall remain on the wing.

Whooper Swans move through

5th October 2025 – overcast/showers WNW5/8
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0800-1000) revealed 23 Common Scoter, 17 Razorbill, 14 Shag, 7 Guillemot, 3 Kittiwake and single Red-throated Diver, Fulmar and Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A group of 10 Coal Tit were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals included 54 Whooper Swan, 11 Swallow, 5 Siskin and a Redpoll were recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 224 light-bellied birds and 10 Pintail were seen.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin hunted passerines migrating over the sea.

More irruptive Coal Tits

3rd October 2025 – overcast/rain soon SW2/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0745-0845) revealed 125 Common Scoter, 35 Gannet, 4 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
The Cetti’s Warbler remains, otherwise totals were limited to 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Coal Tits were again on the move with 50 birds logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow put in another appearance and a Merlin was the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
Migrants in the light trap involved Scarce Bordered Straw and Rush Veneer.