10th November 2011 – sunny spells SE2
Rarities
The Water Pipit was amongst 5 Rock Pipit in the flooded fields and horse paddocks near Biggar. View only from the road and keep out of the private fields.
Offshore
A check over the sea (0945-1015) produced 4 Shag and a Black Guillemot amongst small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Guillemot and Common Scoter.
Diurnal Migration
A very late Swift was seen but the supporting cast was limited to just 24 Jackdaw, 11 Meadow Pipit and a Lesser Redpoll.
Grounded Migrants
Very little evidence of any newly grounded birds though early morning thrushes involved 3 Song Thrush and 2 Redwing amongst a handful of Blackbird.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck is still in residence, a total of 37 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a flock of 24 Barnacle Geese were logged. Waders included 19 Purple Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The Twite flock has increased to 60 birds, at least one Short-eared Owl remains and 2 Water Rail squealed.
