31st October 2017 – overcast SW3/4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0830) produced 182 Common Scoter, 17 Razorbill, 4 Red-throated Diver, 4 Gannet, 2 Guillemot and a Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Little evidence of movement with just 4 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and a solitary Twite noted.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of four adult Greenland White-fronted Geese were newly arrived and the female Scaup remains. An increase in numbers in the Brent Goose flock was evident with 281 pale-bellied and 43 dark-bellied birds recorded.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail and 3 Merlin were the best of the rest.
Ringing
Despite the adverse conditions for much of the month a respectable total of 775 birds of 27 species were handled with 705 new birds ringed. Finches and sparrows were to the fore along with a reasonable number of Goldcrest and Song Thrush. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps in brackets, which include two Goldfinch controls): Goldfinch 254 (30), Goldcrest 80 (1), Chaffinch 71, Tree Sparrow 64, Greenfinch 39 (1), Song Thrush 32, Wren 25 (1), Lesser Redpoll 21, Long-tailed Tit 20, Redwing 18, Dunnock 14 (5), House Sparrow 14 (4), Robin 13 (8), Blackbird 12 (8), Blue Tit 6, (5), Chiffchaff 6, Sparrowhawk 3 (1), Blackcap 3, Great Tit 2 (1), Magpie 2, Common Redpoll 1, Bullfinch 1, Siskin 1, Brambling 1, Stonechat 1, Coal Tit 1 and Reed Bunting (5).
