18th October 2018 – bright and sunny/early light frost NE1
Rarities
The male Bearded Tit was again in the small reedbed by the central marsh hide at South Walney.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 80 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush and 2 Fieldfare, additional sightings were limited to 2 Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Visible migration was dominated by 3000 Jackdaw in four flocks with numerous other sightings through the morning as the flocks fragmented. However, highlights involved a Hooded Crow and a female/juvenile Marsh Harrier which headed south at 1500hrs. Additional sightings included 695 Pink-footed Goose, 180 Meadow Pipit, 78 Tree Sparrow, 45 Skylark, 27 Linnet, 26 Carrion Crow, 20 Reed Bunting, 19 Whooper Swan, 15 Brambling, 14 Swallow, 12 Twite, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin and single Rook, Coal Tit, Rock Pipit and Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
A herd of 13 Whooper Swan were grounded and waders included 4 Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail and Buzzard were the best of the rest. Four Jay and 2 Raven brought the corvid species day total for the island to seven.
Butterflies and Moths
A few Red Admiral are still on the wing in the afternoon sunshine and moths attracted overnight involved Red-line Quaker, Angle Shades and Large Wainscot.
