18th September 2020 – bright and sunny ENE2/3
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0700-0800) produced little in the way of variety with just 490 Common Scoter, 4 Gannet, 3 Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver logged.
Grounded Migrants
Again the clear skies were not conducive to grounded birds with just 5 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff and single Whinchat and Whitethroat recorded.
Diurnal Migration
An exceptional heavy passage through the morning produced 12800 Meadow Pipit, 2175 Pink-footed Goose, 1050 Swallow, 264 Siskin, 102 Skylark, 41 House Martin, 37 Grey Wagtail, 27 Linnet, 15 Lesser Redpoll, 20 Goldfinch, 12 Pied Wagtail, 9 Chaffinch, 4 Reed Bunting, 4 Greenfinch, 4 Snipe and single Sand Martin and Golden Plover.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 8 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Birds of prey involved 4 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and a Peregrine.
17th September 2020 – bright and sunny E2/3/4
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0700-0800) produced 180 Common Scoter, 20 Gannet, 9 Guillemot, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Razorbill, 2 Sandwich Tern and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
The clear skies were not conducive to grounded birds with just 3 Wheatear and a Chiffchaff recorded.
Diurnal Migration
Birds were again on the move, although with several exceptions in reduced numbers, totals included 1805 Pink-footed Goose, 1550 Meadow Pipit, 150 Linnet, 115 Skylark, 103 Siskin, 41 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 10 Pied Wagtail, 8 Grey Wagtail and a Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 330 Wigeon, 60 pale-bellied Brent Goose and 4 Pintail while 24 Greenshank, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Little Egret were prominent along the eastern shore with 56 birds logged at high tide.
16th September 2020 – early fog, then sunny NE2/3/4
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
A scan of the sea provided just a handful of Gannet, Common Scoter and Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Disappointing considering the conditions early morning with just 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff and single Spotted Flycatcher and Sedge Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
Brds were again on the move once the fog cleared with morning totals involving 2400 Meadow Pipit, 1010 Swallow, 310 Pink-footed Goose, 210 Skylark, 100 Linnet, 30 House Martin, 23 Grey Wagtail, 4 Siskin and a Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock continues to hold 50 pale-bellied birds and waders included 21 Greenshank and single Ruff and Curlew Sandpiper amongst 1100 Redshank, 1000 Knot and 310 Turnstone.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was again the best of the rest.
15th September 2020 – sunny spells NE1
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
A check of the sea provided just a handful of Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Variety rather than quantity with 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Wheatear, 4 Coal Tit, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest and single Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and Great Spotted Woodpecker logged.
Diurnal Migration
At last the first large movement of the autumn saw totals including 2790 Meadow Pipit, 2050 Swallow, 1260 Skylark, 590 Pink-footed Goose, 74 Grey Wagtail, 24 Pied Wagtail, 10 Siskin, 10 Chaffinch, 6 Tree Pipit, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Sand Martin and single Yellow Wagtail and Tree Sparrow.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 2 Curlew Sandpipers remain.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
14th September 2020 – bright and sunny SSE1
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
A check of the sea (0700-0800) provided 170 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 Guillemot, 3 Gannet and a Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to just 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear and single Goldcrest and Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were on the move with 400 Meadow Pipit, 35 Swallow, 22 Grey Wagtail, 20 Skylark, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Sand Martin and a Siskin logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Three Curlew Sandpipers were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
13th September 2020 – overcast SW6/5/4
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
Although the wind continued to blow and gusted to gale force overnight morning observations over the sea (0730-1130) provided for a case of diminishing returns with just 380 Common Scoter, 34 Gannet, 10 Razorbill, 9 Kittiwake, 7 Red-throated Diver, 6 Guillemot, 3 Manx Shearwater, 2 Fulmar, 2 Sandwich Tern and single Shag and Red-breasted Merganser logged.
12th September 2020 – overcast SW4/5
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
Observations on the early morning falling tide (0700-0900) were led by a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver amongst 510 Common Scoter, 56 Gannet, 22 Razorbill, 11 Red-throated Diver, 11 Sandwich Tern, 10 Manx Shearwater, 8 Kittiwake, 3 Fulmar, 3 Guillemot and 2 Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to just 2 Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock has increased with 50 pale-bellied birds now present.
Miscellaneous
Two Peregrine were the best of the rest.
11th September 2020 – overcast/rain later SW4/5/6
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
Observations on the falling tide (0730-0930) were disappointing with just 204 Common Scoter, 102 Gannet, 11 Razorbill, 8 Red-throated Diver, 7 Sandwich Tern, 6 Manx Shearwater and a Fulmar logged.
10th September 2020 – overcast/calm then W2
Notice
Please note that South Walney Nature Reserve is now open though the hides, visitor centre and toilets remain closed to comply with social distancing measures.
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed 65 Pintail and an Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
A few more birds than of late with 24 Wheatear, 20 Robin, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Whitethroat, 3 White Wagtail, 2 Willow Warbler and single Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals through the morning included 570 Meadow Pipit, 365 Pink-footed Geese, 100 Swallow, 39 Grey Wagtail, 35 Skylark, 12 Chaffinch, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 2 House Martin and a Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Single Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Two Peregrine were the best of the rest.
