Solitary Waxwing arrives

30th November 2008 - bright and sunny/frosty/calm
Offshore
Intermittent observations (0800-1000) produced 26 Common Scoter, 12 Red-throated Diver and 2 Razorbill.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 320 Pink-footed Geese flew north in 5 skeins.
Grounded Migrants
A single Waxwing was new in and a small cold weather movement produced 12 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest and a Redwing.
Wildfowl and Waders
The pale-bellied Brent Goose flock increased to a record breaking 82 individuals.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Barn Owl and 2 Short-eared Owl remain, 5 Little Egret were logged and a Water Rail was seen.
Mammals
At least 3 Harbour Porpoise were off the western shore.

Winter fare

29th November 2008 - Fog/calm
Diurnal Migration
The thick fog lifted briefly to reveal 100 Pink-footed Geese, 18 Fieldfare and 4 Whooper Swan.
Grounded Migrants
Single Redwing and Fieldfare were the only candidates for new arrivals.
Wildfowl and Waders
A family group of 6 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a solitary Jack Snipe were the highlights.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl ghosted through the gloom.

Owls and Egrets

25th November 2008 - bright and sunny N1/2
Miscellaneous
At least 31 Little Egrets remain and 2 Barn Owl and single Short-eared Owl and Little Owl were logged.

Black Redstart new in

24th November 2008 - sunny spells N3/4
Grounded Migrants
A quiet day was enlivened by a Black Redstart that was newly arrived.
Miscellaneous
At least 8 Little Egret continue to roam the island.

Another Snow Bunting flies through

22nd November 2008 - overcast NE3/4/5
Diurnal Migration
A single Snow Bunting and 7 Pink-footed Geese flew north.
Grounded Migrants
A group of 4 Song Thrush was the only sighting suggestive of newly arrived birds.
Miscellaneous
A total of 12 Little Egret were logged and single Merlin and Little Owl were seen. At least 24 Long-tailed Tit remain from the earlier autumn influx.

Long-eared Owl new for the year

19th November 2008 - overcast/drizzle at times NW4/5
Offshore
A quick check over the sea (1130-1200) produced 6 Kittiwake, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A Long-eared Owl provided the highlight for the day, other sightings included 3 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest and 2 Fieldfare.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 22 Long-tailed Tit, accompanied by a Treecreeper, were additional to yesterdays birds. A group of 5 Bullfinch were logged.

Snow Bunting tops the bill

18th November 2008 - bright and sunny NW1/2/3/4
Diurnal Migration
A Snow Bunting flew through and other sightings included 11 Greenfinch, 3 Redwing and 2 Chaffinch.
Grounded Migrants
A few birds continue to trickle through with 8 Greenfinch, 8 Song Thrush, 7 Blackbird, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Goldcrest and a Redwing newly arrived.
Wildfowl and Waders
The group of 3 Gadwall remain.
Miscellaneous
A total of 24 Long-tailed Tit included a few new birds. At least 5 Short-eared Owl are hunting the island while just 3 Little Egret was a poor reflection of the numbers present on the island.

Wet, wet,wet

17th November 2008 - mist/rain/drizzle SSE3
Grounded Migrants
A flock of 12 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing were newly arrived.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 515 Golden Plover were notably absent during the weekend WeBS count.
Miscellaneous
At least 7 Little Egret remain.

WeBS count to the fore

16th November 2008 - overcast then sunny NW3/2
Diurnal Migration
Further evidence of some late movement as the wind fell light was provided by totals of 4050 Starling, 200 Pink-footed Goose, 120 Redwing, 19 Whooper Swan, 12 Fieldfare, 10 Greenfinch, 10 Chaffinch and single Rock Pipit and Tree Sparrow.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 10 Greenfinch, 7 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing and 2 Blackbird.
Wildfowl and Waders
Totals from the monthly WeBS count included 6300 Oystercatcher, 2110 Redshank, 1570 Knot, 1485 Wigeon, 1450 Dunlin, 980 Lapwing, 741 Curlew, 440 Teal, 271 Turnstone, 213 Mallard, 198 Grey Plover, 131 Shelduck, 101 Sanderling, 35 Bar-tailed Godwit, 17 Greenshank, 10 Shoveler, 2 Scaup and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl hunted the island, 60 Twite were logged and 7 Little Egret were seen.

Jack Snipe and Purple Sandpipers

15th November 2008 - sunny spells W3
Offshore
Early morning sightings (0845-0945) provided 55 Razorbill, 23 Common Scoter, 12 Kittiwake, 10 Shag, 5 Red-throated Diver and a Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Song Thrush and a Fieldfare.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 33 Purple Sandpiper and a Jack Snipe amongst 38 Snipe.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl hunted the island at dawn, at least 8 Little Egret remain and 2 Merlin and 33 Twite were logged. A Water Rail was flushed from the salt marsh by the rising tide.

Little Egret numbers remain high

14th November 2008 - overcast/showers W4/5
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 3 Gadwall were logged.
Miscellaneous
Coordinated counts revealed a total of 35 Little Egret. A Little Owl peered through the evening gloom.

Even later Swallows

12th November 2008 - bright and sunny/calm
Diurnal Migration
A few Swallow continue to trickle through with 3 late birds logged.
Miscellaneous
A total of 25 Little Egret were logged, also seen were 11 Long-tailed Tit and single Water Rail and Barn Owl.

Good numbers of Little Egret

11th November 2008 - rain at times SW5/6/7/8
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Shag remain in the sheltered waters on the eastern shore and 21 Little Egret were logged.

Long-tailed Duck and Little Gull

9th November 2008 - heavy showers S7/6/5/4
Offshore
Observations through the day (0800-1000 & 1430-1530) were led by a female/immature Long-tailed Duck and an adult Little Gull. Also seen were 77 Kittiwake, 40 Razorbill, 21 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet, 2 Guillemot and a Red-throated Diver. A group of 3 Shag sought shelter in the calmer waters along the eastern shore.
Miscellaneous
At least 21 Little Egret remain, a total of 10 Long-tailed Tit were seen and a flock of 30 Twite were logged.

A late Swallow provides highlight

8th November 2008 - overcast/rain S5
Offshore
Much quieter over the sea than yesterday, morning sightings (0740-0840) included 25 Common Scoter, 7 Razorbill and single Kittiwake, Guillemot, Goldeneye and Pintail.
Diurnal Migration
A late Swallow flew through.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 5 Redwing and single Fieldfare, Song Thrush and Blackcap.

Goosander and Green Sandpiper

7th November 2008 - sunny spells S3/4
Offshore
Observations through the morning (0740-0840 & 1020-1120) produced 265 Razorbill, 26 Kittiwake, 24 Common Scoter, 23 Shelduck, 5 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Shag, 2 Goosander - rare here - 2 Guillemot and single Black Guillemot and Goldeneye.
Grounded Migrants
Little on offer today with just 17 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 8 Twite,4 Blackbird and a Song Thrush.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Green Sandpiper was newly arrived.

Last Wheatear of the year?

6th November 2008 - overcast NE1
Offshore
Mill pond conditions revealed 22 Shag and 2 Red-throated Diver scattered along the western shore.
Diurnal Migration
Activity was limited to 8 Meadow Pipit, 5 Greenfinch, 3 alba Wagtail, 2 Twite and single Grey Wagtail, Brambling, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 42 Long-tailed Tits included many remaining from the recent influx and newly arrived birds included 20 Greenfinch, 6 Redwing, 5 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush and single Fieldfare and Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
A female Gadwall and 2 Scaup were the pick of the wildfowl and 11 Greenshank were logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 18 Little Egret and 3 Water Rail remain.

Snow Bunting flies through

5th November 2008 - overcast NE2/3
Diurnal Migration
A Snow Bunting flew through and a Common Buzzard headed north, also seen were 15 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Rock Pipit.
Grounded Migrants
Long-tailed Tits were again to the fore with 30 birds logged. Additional sightings included 10 Redwing, 7 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare and single Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Blackcap.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 650 Golden Plover, 210 Turnstone and 32 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
At least 10 Little Egret remain and the Long-tailed Tits attracted the attentions of several Merlin.

Long-tailed Tit influx

4th November 2008 - overcast/light showers NE2
Diurnal Migration
A quiet day with movement limited to 375 Starling and 80 Pink-footed Goose.
Grounded Migrants
The exceptional autumn influx of Long-tailed Tits onto the island continued with 47 birds logged. Also seen were 25 Greenfinch, 5 Blackbird, 2 Lesser Redpoll and a solitary Song Thrush.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 62 pale-bellied Brent Geese held 28 first-winter birds and 2 Greenshank were logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 11 Little Egret remain along the eastern saltmarshes.

Autumn drawing to a close?

3rd November 2008 - bright and sunny NE2
Offshore
Sightings included 300 Common Scoter, 8 Shag, 4 Razorbill and 3 Red-throated Diver.
Diurnal Migration
The small-scale movement of the last few days continued with 80 Starling, 28 Greenfinch, 6 Twite, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 2 Lesser Redpoll and single Fieldfare and Siskin.
Grounded Migrants
A quiet day with 17 Blackbird, 10 Greenfinch, 10 Long-tailed Tit and single Song Thrush and Coal Tit.
Wildfowl and Waders
Pintail numbers begin to build and 700 Golden Plover and 200 Turnstone were logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 11 Little Egret remain, 3 Merlin continue to hunt the island and a Water Rail was seen.
Butterflies
A Peacock warmed itself in the early afternoon sun and 4 Small Tortoiseshell were on the wing.
Mammals
A Grey Squirrel was perhaps a rather unwanted visitor to the island.

Crossbill added to year list

2nd November 2008 - bright and sunny NE3/2
Diurnal Migration
Again variety rather than quantity with the highlight being a female Crossbill which briefly made landfall on the island before continuing northeast. Other sightings included 175 Pink-footed Goose, 110 Starling, 10 Jackdaw, 9 Meadow Pipit, 9 Chaffinch, 7 Whooper Swan, 7 Skylark, 5 alba Wagtail, 4 Tree Sparrow, 2 Brambling, 2 Raven and single Fieldfare, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll.
Grounded Migrants
A quieter day than of late with just 35 Blackbird, 21 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Greenfinch, 8 Chaffinch, 5 Song Thrush, 5 Whooper Swan and a Goldcrest logged.
Miscellaneous
Several Merlin and 2 Water Rail were logged.

Second wave of Blackbirds

1st November 2008 - bright and sunny NE1/2/3
Diurnal Migration
A few species continue to move through with 150 Starling, 55 Pink-footed Goose, 40 Jackdaw, 35 Twite, 20 Chaffinch, 11 Meadow Pipit, 10 Linnet, 6 Song Thrush, 4 Skylark, 2 alba Wagtail and a Siskin logged.
Grounded Migrants
A further large scale arrival of Blackbird on the island produced 325 birds. Also seen were 40 Greenfinch, 29 Song Thrush, 23 Redwing, 16 Long-tailed Tit, 16 Chaffinch, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Brambling, 3 Coal Tit, 2 Fieldfare and single Bullfinch and Chiffchaff.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 64 pale-bellied Brent Geese contained 28 first-winter birds.
Miscellaneous
At least 9 Little Egret and single Water Rail and Little Owl remain.