9th October 2017 – overcast/drizzle at times W1/SW2 later
Offshore
A short evening watch (1700-1730) produced low numbers of Common Scoter, Gannet, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
The first 4 Redwing of the autumn were grounded early morning. Also seen were 17 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff and 4 Song Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
Again just small-scale movement was evident with 100 Meadow Pipit, 26 Chaffinch, 20 alba Wagtail, 10 Tree Sparrow, 10 Skylark, 5 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
A redhead Goosander was recorded while waders included 1400 Redshank, 440 Turnstone, 23 Greenshank and single Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Two Merlin was again the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Dragonflies
Several Red Admiral and Migrant Hawker are still on the wing.
Robins predominate
8th October 2017 – overcast NW1/2
Offshore
A quick check of the sea produced just 4 Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
Robins were prominent with 34 birds logged. Also seen were 9 Goldcrest, 4 Stonechat and 4 Song Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
Disappointingly quiet despite the benign conditions with just 200 Meadow Pipit, 55 Pink-footed Goose, 32 Chaffinch, 20 Skylark, 10 Reed Bunting, 10 alba Wagtail, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin and single Rock Pipit and Tree Sparrow recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 34 pale-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was again the best of the rest.
Offshore
A quick check of the sea produced just 4 Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
Robins were prominent with 34 birds logged. Also seen were 9 Goldcrest, 4 Stonechat and 4 Song Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
Disappointingly quiet despite the benign conditions with just 200 Meadow Pipit, 55 Pink-footed Goose, 32 Chaffinch, 20 Skylark, 10 Reed Bunting, 10 alba Wagtail, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin and single Rock Pipit and Tree Sparrow recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 34 pale-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was again the best of the rest.
Arctic Skua and Whooper Swans
7th October 2017 – overcast/showers W3/4/5
Offshore
A check of the sea (0730-0900) produced 100 Razorbill, 72 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver, 7 Gannet, 6 Kittiwake, 3 Shag and an Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to a few Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 4 Whooper Swan headed south between the showers.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 95 pale-bellied birds and one dark bellied bird. Additional sightings included 10 Shoveler, 2450 Redshank, 815 Curlew, 570 Turnstone, 250 Golden Plover, 190 Grey Plover, 21 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was again the best of the rest.
Offshore
A check of the sea (0730-0900) produced 100 Razorbill, 72 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver, 7 Gannet, 6 Kittiwake, 3 Shag and an Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to a few Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 4 Whooper Swan headed south between the showers.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 95 pale-bellied birds and one dark bellied bird. Additional sightings included 10 Shoveler, 2450 Redshank, 815 Curlew, 570 Turnstone, 250 Golden Plover, 190 Grey Plover, 21 Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was again the best of the rest.
Finches and Sparrows
6th October 2017 – bright start/cloudy later NW1 then WSW2
Grounded Migrants
Again just a smattering of newly arrived birds with 15 Robin, 15 Dunnock, 10 Song Thrush, 10 Goldcrest, 5 Stonechat and 2 Chiffchaff logged.
Diurnal Migration
The skies were certainly busier in the benign conditions at the start of the day with 240 Meadow Pipit, 125 Jackdaw, 120 Skylark, 100 Chaffinch, 100 Tree Sparrow, 80 Linnet, 50 Pink-footed Goose, 20 alba Wagtail, 20 Greenfinch, 10 Siskin, 6 Swallow, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Whooper Swan and a Rock Pipit moving through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Black-tailed Godwit continues to linger.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin and 2 Raven were the best of the rest.
Moths
Immigrants involved 2 Silver Y.
Grounded Migrants
Again just a smattering of newly arrived birds with 15 Robin, 15 Dunnock, 10 Song Thrush, 10 Goldcrest, 5 Stonechat and 2 Chiffchaff logged.
Diurnal Migration
The skies were certainly busier in the benign conditions at the start of the day with 240 Meadow Pipit, 125 Jackdaw, 120 Skylark, 100 Chaffinch, 100 Tree Sparrow, 80 Linnet, 50 Pink-footed Goose, 20 alba Wagtail, 20 Greenfinch, 10 Siskin, 6 Swallow, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Whooper Swan and a Rock Pipit moving through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Black-tailed Godwit continues to linger.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin and 2 Raven were the best of the rest.
Moths
Immigrants involved 2 Silver Y.
First Whooper Swans of the autumn
5th October 2017 – sun and showers WNW6/7
Offshore
Three Shag were logged amongst small numbers of Gannet, Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Kittiwake and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A few more birds were in evidence with 15 Goldcrest and single Chiffchaff and Wheatear recorded.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were on the move despite the strength of the wind with 30 Meadow Pipit, 22 Skylark, 10 Pink-footed Geese and a Swallow logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The autumn’s first 7 Whooper Swan and dark-bellied Brent Goose appeared. Waders included a Black-tailed Godwit amongst 22 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Butterflies
A Comma was on the wing amongst a handful of Red Admiral.
Offshore
Three Shag were logged amongst small numbers of Gannet, Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Kittiwake and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A few more birds were in evidence with 15 Goldcrest and single Chiffchaff and Wheatear recorded.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were on the move despite the strength of the wind with 30 Meadow Pipit, 22 Skylark, 10 Pink-footed Geese and a Swallow logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The autumn’s first 7 Whooper Swan and dark-bellied Brent Goose appeared. Waders included a Black-tailed Godwit amongst 22 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Butterflies
A Comma was on the wing amongst a handful of Red Admiral.
Little Gull
4th October 2017 – overcast/showers/rain soon, heavy later W5/6/7/8 becoming WSW6/7/8 later
Offshore
The weather conditions dictated that most activity was concentrated on the sea with an extended seawatch through the morning (0800-1200) over the tide producing a first-winter Little Gull. Additional sightings included 100 Razorbill, 93 Common Scoter, 22 Gannet, 20 Kittiwake, 12 Guillemot, 7 Red-throated Diver and single Arctic Skua, Sandwich Tern and Manx Shearwater.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 4 Goldcrest and a Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock again held 94 pale-bellied birds but only 2 first-year birds were noted suggesting a poor breeding season.
Miscellaneous
A pair of Raven were the best of the rest.
Offshore
The weather conditions dictated that most activity was concentrated on the sea with an extended seawatch through the morning (0800-1200) over the tide producing a first-winter Little Gull. Additional sightings included 100 Razorbill, 93 Common Scoter, 22 Gannet, 20 Kittiwake, 12 Guillemot, 7 Red-throated Diver and single Arctic Skua, Sandwich Tern and Manx Shearwater.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 4 Goldcrest and a Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock again held 94 pale-bellied birds but only 2 first-year birds were noted suggesting a poor breeding season.
Miscellaneous
A pair of Raven were the best of the rest.
Brent Goose influx
3rd October 2017 – early rain/showers WNW5/6/7
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0930) were hampered by rain and a WNW wind. Sightings were limited to 37 Common Scoter, 35 Razorbill, 25 Gannet, 9 Red-throated Diver and 6 Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 8 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 210 Pink-footed Geese headed south.
Wildfowl and Waders
An influx in Brent Geese was apparent withb 94 pale-bellied birds recorded. A Black-tailed Godwit was amongst 5 Greenshank and 800 Redshank.
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0930) were hampered by rain and a WNW wind. Sightings were limited to 37 Common Scoter, 35 Razorbill, 25 Gannet, 9 Red-throated Diver and 6 Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 8 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 210 Pink-footed Geese headed south.
Wildfowl and Waders
An influx in Brent Geese was apparent withb 94 pale-bellied birds recorded. A Black-tailed Godwit was amongst 5 Greenshank and 800 Redshank.
Goosander and Arctic Skua
2nd October 2017 – early rain/brighter later WSW 6/7/8
Offshore
A wild and stormy day saw most of the attention focused on the sea. Early morning observations on the rising tide (0800-1000) produced 155 Gannet, 73 Common Scoter, 44 Razorbill, 17 Kittiwake, 2 Sandwich Tern and single Goosander and Arctic Skua. Further observations on the falling tide (1100-1200) added 27 Razorbill, 12 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, 6 Kittiwake, 3 Shag, 2 Manx Shearwater and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 4 Goldcrest were perhaps leftovers from yesterday’s influx.
Wildfowl and Waders
Another or the same Goosander was off the more sheltered eastern shore and waders included 4 Greenshank.
Offshore
A wild and stormy day saw most of the attention focused on the sea. Early morning observations on the rising tide (0800-1000) produced 155 Gannet, 73 Common Scoter, 44 Razorbill, 17 Kittiwake, 2 Sandwich Tern and single Goosander and Arctic Skua. Further observations on the falling tide (1100-1200) added 27 Razorbill, 12 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, 6 Kittiwake, 3 Shag, 2 Manx Shearwater and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 4 Goldcrest were perhaps leftovers from yesterday’s influx.
Wildfowl and Waders
Another or the same Goosander was off the more sheltered eastern shore and waders included 4 Greenshank.
Ring Ouzel and Goldcrests
1st October 2017 – rain/drizzle SSE2/3 then SW4/5 later
Offshore
A quick check of the sea (0900-0930) between the showers produced 35 Gannet, 26 Common Scoter and a Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A female Ring Ouzel and 2 Mistle Thrush were grounded early morning. Also logged were 50 Goldcrest, 50 Robin, 7 Chiffchaff and 3 Stonechat.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers were on the move despite the conditions with 205 Meadow Pipit, 75 Skylark, 15 House Martin, 14 alba Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll moving through between the pulses of rain.
Miscellaneous
Raptors were prominent with Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel all hunting flocks of 440 Goldfinch and 150 Linnet.
Offshore
A quick check of the sea (0900-0930) between the showers produced 35 Gannet, 26 Common Scoter and a Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A female Ring Ouzel and 2 Mistle Thrush were grounded early morning. Also logged were 50 Goldcrest, 50 Robin, 7 Chiffchaff and 3 Stonechat.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers were on the move despite the conditions with 205 Meadow Pipit, 75 Skylark, 15 House Martin, 14 alba Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll moving through between the pulses of rain.
Miscellaneous
Raptors were prominent with Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel all hunting flocks of 440 Goldfinch and 150 Linnet.
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