End of autumn passage?

31st October 2012 – overcast, rain/heavy at times S5
Offshore
Early morning observations (0800-0900) provided small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Gannet, Common Scoter, Razorbill and Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Only evidenced by 3 Blackbird.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included: 900 Wigeon, 103 pale-bellied Brent Goose, 104 Shelduck, 5 Pintail and 4 Shoveler.
Ringing
A total of 538 birds of 23 species were ringed during the month, with a lack of finches providing a below par total. Individual species totals were Goldfinch (126), Meadow Pipit (81), Greenfinch (59), Goldcrest (55), Chaffinch (51), Blackbird (34), Dunnock (22), Blue Tit (20), Robin (19), Song Thrush (16), Wren (16), Lesser Redpoll (8), Great Tit (6), House Sparrow (6), Coal Tit (5), Chiffchaff (3), Tree Sparrow (3), Redwing (2), Reed Bunting (2), Pied Wagtail (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Merlin (1).

Standard Fare

30th October 2012 – rain at times W4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0830) provided 66 Common Scoter, 35 Razorbill, 27 Kittiwake and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 10 Blackbird.
Diurnal Migration
Three Whooper Swan flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The pale-bellied Brent Goose flock held 87 birds. Waders included 10000 Oystercatcher, 1000 Golden Plover, 700 Knot, 220 Lapwing and 20 Bar-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included 3 Merlin and a Peregrine.

Back to the mundane

29th October 2012 – sunny spells/calm
Offshore
A check over the sea yielded just 13 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Diver
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 29 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing and a Fieldfare. Single Chiffchaff and 10 Goldcrest were also logged.
Diurnal Migration
Little activity in the skies apart from 40 Pink-footed Geese, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin and a Brambling.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Water Rail and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker are present and 3 Rock Pipit were recorded.
Butterflies
A Red Admiral was still on the wing.

Cetti’s Warbler brightens a dreary day

28th October 2012 – rain/heavy at times W4/5
Rarities
A dreary day was brightened late afternoon when a Cetti’s Warbler was found in the scrub around the pond near the kennels at North Scale.
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) before the rain set in produced 105 Razorbill, 38 Common Scoter, 15 Kittiwake and single Black Guillemot and Gannet.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 35 Pintail gathered over the tide.
Miscellaneous
A gathering of 48 Little Egret included at least two colour ringed birds. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and 17 Twite were the best of the rest.

Ring Ouzel stars

27th October 2012 – early frost the bright and sunny N3/4
Grounded Migrants
Thrushes were led by a male Ring Ouzel, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing amongst a total of 75 Blackbird. Additional sightings included 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Quieter than of late although sightings included 420 Starling, 120 Pink-footed Geese, 24 Whooper Swan, 6 Siskin, 4 Brambling and single Rock Pipit and Lesser Redpoll.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 20 Whooper Swan rested on the ebbing tide, a pair of Gadwall were newly arrived and waders included Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl was logged and other odds and ends involved 16 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Little Egret and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Butterflies
A late Red Admiral was on the wing.
Dragonflies
A Common Darter was logged.

Snow Bunting heads sightings

26th October 2012 – bright start then overcast NE2/3/4
Offshore
A check over the sea (0930-1000) revealed 45 Pintail, 14 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye and single Shag and Scaup.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 14 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush and single Redwing and Fieldfare. Two Goldcrest were the best of the rest.
Diurnal Migration
Pink-footed Geese were again on the move with 740 birds logged, associated with this movement were 11 Whooper Swan, 4 Barnacle Geese and a Greylag Goose. Additional sightings were led by a male Snow Bunting along with 430 Jackdaw, 255 Starling, 10 Chaffinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Brambling.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 4 Whooper Swan rested on the island’s flooded fields.
Miscellaneous
The Barn Owl was still hunting at dawn and additional sightings included 12 Little Egret, 2 Raven and 2 Water Rail.
Ringing
The second colour-ringed Sanderling of the autumn had been ringed at Gardskagi, ICELAND on 15th May 2011.

Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans on the move

25th October 2012 –overcast NE2/3/4
Offshore
A quick check over the sea provided 6 Shag and a solitary Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 21 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush and 8 Blackbird. Five Goldcrest were the best of the rest.
Diurnal Migration
Sightings were dominated by 980 Pink-footed Geese and 24 Whooper Swan. Also seen were 14 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Brambling and a Siskin.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl hunted the island at dusk.

Long-tailed Skua headlines

23rd October 2012 – overcast NE1
Offshore
Early morning observations (0840-0940) were led by a pale phase juvenile Long-tailed Skua that sauntered out of the bay between 0855-0905 along with 295 Common Scoter, 26 Razorbill, 14 Scaup, 5 Shag and single Red-throated Diver and Guillemot
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved the first 6 Fieldfare of the autumn along with 10 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 4 Mistle Thrush and 2 Song Thrush. Also ssen were 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Little activity in the skies apart from 4 Rock Pipit and single Swallow and Fieldfare.
Miscellaneous
The flock of 17 Twite and 2 Water Rail remain and 2 Raven and a Merlin were also logged.
Mammals
The calm seas revealed 3 Harbour Porpoise.

A quiet day

22nd October 2012 – overcast/early drizzle NE2/3
Grounded Migrants
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was the pick of the grounded birds which were otherwise limited to 9 Redwing, 5 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Brambling and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Few birds were on the move with 10 Chaffinch, 10 Meadow Pipit, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Brambling and 2 Raven the best on offer.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Water Rail remain.

Late Willow Warbler

21st October 2012 – bright and sunny/calm
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 24 Blackbird, 12 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush and 2 Mistle Thrush. Other sightings included 19 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff and a late Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
The skies provided 1145 Jackdaw, 70 Chaffinch, 70 Starling, 60 Meadow Pipit, 22 Linnet, 16 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Carrion Crow, 7 Tree Sparrow, 6 alba Wagtail, 3 Brambling, 4 Rock Pipit and 2 Siskin.
Miscellaneous
Additional sighting included 17 Twite, 2 Water Rail and single Merlin and Peregrine.

Hooded Crow continues to linger

19th October 2012 – early rain then sunny spells/calm
Offshore
Early morning observations yielded 15 Common Scoter and single Sandwich Tern and Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes included 4 Song Thrush and a Redwing amongst a sprinkling of Blackbird. Also seen were 10 Goldcrest and single Wheatear and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Some movement was evident with 200 Jackdaw, 60 Meadow Pipit, 60 Chaffinch, 20 Skylark, 20 Lesser Redpoll, 16 Tree Sparrow, 10 Linnet, 10 alba Wagtail, 3 Brambling, 3 Redwing, 2 Rock Pipit and a Grey Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
A Hooded Crow continues to linger and additional sightings included 12 Long-tailed Tit and single Water Rail and Merlin.

Great Northern Diver

17th October 2012 – early rain then sunny spells SSE4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0800-0900) produced just 9 Common Scoter, 6 Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver. However, a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver appeared over the tide.
Grounded Migrants
Little on offer with just 3 Goldcrest and single Chiffchaff and Song Thrush logged.
Diurnal Migration
A few Meadow Pipit and Skylark moved through as the weather cleared mid-morning.
Wildfowl and Waders
The pale-bellied Brent Goose flock has increased to 116 birds and waders included 127 Sanderling and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Ringing
A small flock of 27 Sanderling included a bird previously ringed at Sandgeroi, ICELAND (1240km NW) on 19th May 2011 remarkably this bird was also identified on the island during spring passage on 14th April 2012.

Hooded Crow and Short-eared Owl

16th October 2012 – rain then sunny spells W5/6/7
Offshore
Early morning observations (0800-0930) provided 150 Common Scoter, 13 Gannet, 5 Razorbill and single Red-throated Diver and Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff.
Miscellaneous
Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl and Little Owl all hunted the island at dusk and the Hooded Crow remains. The high tide pushed 11 Rock Pipit from the salt marshes.

Twite bears Heysham ring

15th October 2012 – early showers then sunny spells/calm
Offshore
A quick check over the sea revealed just 7 Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 20 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush and 2 Redwing, also seen were 11 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff and a Coal Tit.
Diurnal Migration
Again variety rather than quantity with 300 Jackdaw, 30 Meadow Pipit, 25 alba Wagtail, 20 Pink-footed Geese, 10 Whooper Swan, 6 Woodpigeon, 4 Siskin, 3 Tree Sparrow, 2 Rock Pipit and 2 Lesser Redpoll amongst the species logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 9 Little Egret remain and 3 Water Rail and 2 Raven were seen.
Ringing
A flock of 13 Twite held a bird previously ringed across the other side of Morecambe Bay at Heysham.

Hooded Crow and Short-eared Owl

14th October 2012 –early showers then sunny spells/calm
Grounded Migrants
Little evidence of many grounded birds with sightings limited to 7 Goldcrest, 4 Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff and single Great Spotted Woodpecker and Mistle Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
Variety remained the order of the day with 610 Jackdaw, 110 Pink-footed Geese, 50 Meadow Pipit, 20 alba Wagtail, 6 Rock Pipit, 3 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail and single Twite and Lesser Redpoll amongst the sightings logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 660 Wigeon while 800 Golden Plover and 400 Turnstone were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
At least 10 Little Egret remain while other sightings included the long-staying Hooded Crow along with 4 Raven and single Short-eared Owl and Merlin.

First Woodcock and Twite of the autumn

13th October 2012 –early showers then sunny/calm
Grounded Migrants
Goldcrest were to the fore with 35 birds logged along with 5 Coal Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Redwing and single Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Variety was again the order of the day with 110 Pink-footed Geese, 110 Meadow Pipit, 35 alba Wagtail, 30 Chaffinch, 20 Linnet, 20 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 3 Siskin, 2 Brambling, 2 Lesser Redpoll and single Tree Sparrow and Rock Pipit recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wigeon numbers are beginning to build and waders included 11 Greenshank and a Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
The first 13 Twite of the autumn were seen along with 320 Goldfinch and 2 Water Rail.

First Redwing of the autumn

10th October 2012 –overcast SE3
Offshore
Sightings were limited to 3 Shag and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
The first 3 Redwing of the autumn were grounded early morning with 7 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff providing the supporting cast.
Diurnal Migration
Pink-footed Geese continued to pour through throughout the morning with a total of 2660 logged. Also seen were 920 Jackdaw, 100 Meadow Pipit, 55 alba Wagtail, 30 Starling, 15 Whooper Swan, 12 Chaffinch, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Rook, 8 Skylark, 6 Tree Sparrow and a Brambling.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included 4 Kestrel, 3 Merlin and single Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Little Owl. A Water Rail was the best of the rest.

Pink-footed Geese pour through

9th October 2012 –bright and sunny NE1/2
Grounded Migrants
Although 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush and 2 Coal Tit were logged at dawn, they soon melted away to leave just 5 Goldcrest and single Wheatear and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Quantity was provided by 1695 Pink-footed Geese and 800 Jackdaw while 250 Meadow Pipit, 14 Reed Bunting, 10 alba Wagtail, 10 Swallow, 10 Chaffinch, 7 Skylark, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Tree Sparrow and 2 Siskin added variety.
Dragonflies
A Migrant Hawker was still on the wing
Moths and Butterflies
Around 12 day-flying Silver Y were feeding on late flowering Ragwort while both Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell are still on the wing.

Diurnal migration continues to lead the way

8th October 2012 – overcast then sunny spells NE2/3
Offshore
A quick check over the sea revealed nothing of note.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 15 Goldcrest and single Song Thrush and Coal Tit.
Diurnal Migration
Variety rather than quantity was again the order of the day with 500 Meadow Pipit, 200 Jackdaw, 190 Pink-footed Geese, 30 alba Wagtail, 22 Tree Sparrow, 10 Chaffinch, 5 Rook, 4 Swallow, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Raven and single Siskin, Rock Pipit and Brambling logged.
Miscellaneous
Two Merlin were the best of the rest.

Icelandic Merlin?

7th October 2012 –bright and sunny/calm
Offshore
A quick check over the sea at dawn provided small numbers of Gannet, Common Scoter and Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
Still thin on the ground with 7 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap the best on offer. However, a minor invasion mid-morning produced 20 Blue Tit, 9 Coal Tit and 7 Great Tit.
Diurnal Migration
Calm at last and variety was the order of the day with sightings including 945 Pink-footed Geese, 300 Meadow Pipit, 80 Swallow, 30 alba Wagtail, 24 Tree Sparrow, 20 Skylark, 14 Jackdaw, 10 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 3 Brambling, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 2 House Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 5 Whooper Swan flew south early morning.
Ringing
The best day of the autumn so far with 103 birds trapped including a female Merlin with biometric data suggesting it was of Icelandic origin (Wing length 231mm, Weight 222g).
Miscellaneous
At least 7 Little Egret remain and raptors included 2 Merlin and a Peregrine. Two Jay were unusual and the Hooded Crow remains in residence.

Late Whinchat

5th October 2012 –sunshine and heavy showers SW 4
Offshore
Morning observations (0815-0915) provided 130 Common Scoter, 40 Gannet, 33 Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Kittiwake and a Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A late Whinchat was the only bird of note.
Diurnal Migration
Little was on the move due to the conditions with just 120 Meadow Pipit, 20 Skylark and 3 Jackdaw noted.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 6 Whooper Swan drifted on the tide.
Miscellaneous
At least 14 Little Egret remain and a Peregrine was logged.

First Brambling of the autumn

4th October 2012 –sunshine and showers NE1 then W2
Offshore
Little was on the move over the sea with just a Shag and small numbers of Common Scoter and Razorbill logged.
Grounded Migrants
Remaining sparse with just 12 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff and single Wheatear and Great Spotted Woodpecker logged.
Diurnal Migration
The first decent morning of the month failed to live up to expectations with variety rather than quantity the order of the day. Sightings involved: 300 Meadow Pipit, 115 Pink-footed Goose, 60 Skylark, 43 Swallow, 41 Chaffinch, 30 alba Wagtail, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Siskin, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 House Martin and single Whooper Swan, Grey Wagtail and Brambling recorded
Wildfowl and Waders
The wintering flock of pale-bellied Brent Geese has increased to 78 birds.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow continues in residence and raptors included Merlin, Peregrine and Little Owl.

Late Sandwich Tern

1st October 2012 – sunshine and showers SW3/4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0815-0915) provided 180 Common Scoter, 18 Razorbill, 12 Gannet, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A few more Robin were in evidence but otherwise sightings were limited to 3 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were on the move despite the wind with 100 Meadow Pipit, 80 Skylark, 30 alba Wagtail, 10 Chaffinch, 6 Siskin and single Lesser Redpoll and Swallow logged.
Miscellaneous
A Little Owl was the best of the rest.