Saturday 2nd November 2013

After overnight rain there was fog for a while with a light westerly breeze increasing and turning southerly late morning. The highlight of the morning was a Dartford Warbler which was only the 5th for the site, other birds of note were a Woodcock, 2 Wheatear and single Firecrest, Blackcap & Stonechat. Viz mig was light with only a few birds moving. Offshore 2 Goosander headed south then in and 4 Shelduck, 3 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye & 3 Ringed Plovers also headed south.

18 birds ringed; 4 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Dunnock, 2 Wren and 1 Dartford Warbler (2nd ringed on site).

Dartford Warbler - photo by Allan King

Friday 1st November 2013

A southerly breeze with showers first thing. A quiet day with the Wheatear, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap and 3 Firecrest still about along with a Purple Sandpiper at the point. Viz mig included 51 Redpoll, 69 Chaffinch, 385 Goldfinch, 5 Mipit, 9 Skylark, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Rock Pipit & 3 Swallow. Offshore 4 Gannet, 4 Common Scoter, 7 Wigeon & 4 Shelduck headed south and 5 Brent headed north.

10 Birds ringed; 3 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch and single Goldfinch, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit & Greenfinch.

October Ringing Totals

739 birds of 33 species were ringed during the month  and is the fifth worst October total, however it does include our fifth Cetti's Warbler.

Sparrowhawk	3	Ring Ouzel	1
Woodpigeon	3	Blackbird	45
Collared Dove	1	Song Thrush	71
Long-eared Owl	1	Redwing	9
Goldcrest	8	Robin	185
Firecrest	12	Black Redstart	3
Blue Tit	3	Dunnock	17
Great Tit	9	House Sparrow	4
Cetti's Warbler	1	Grey Wagtail	4
Long-tailed Tit	5	Meadow Pipit	32
Yellow-browed Warbler	1	Chaffinch	35
Chiffchaff	54	Brambling	8
Blackcap	80	Greenfinch	48
Grasshopper Warbler	1	Goldfinch	56
Reed Warbler	1	Lesser Redpoll	21
Wren	13	Common Redpoll	2
Starling	2

Thursday 31st October 2013

A south-south-west wind with rain from 0830. Few birds were about apart from 3 Firecrests, 3 Fieldfares & a Brambling. Offshore though southerly passage included 59 Shelduck, 28 Dunlin, 18 Common Scoter, 36 Wigeon, 20 Brent Geese, 7 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 3 Pintail, 2 Red-throated Diver and single Velvet Scoter, Tufted Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe, Avocet & Grey Plover.

Ringing; 3 Chaffinch.

Wednesday 30th October 2013

A westerly breeze with a cold start but warmed up by late morning. There was a big clear out overnight with the only migrants left being single Wheatear, Stonechat, Firecrest & Black Redstart. Southerly passage included 3682 Woodpigeon, 139 Stock Dove, 80 Chaffinch, 178 Goldfinch, 101 Meadow Pipit, 20 Redpoll, 3 Reed Bunting, 5 Swallow, 6 Siskin, 13 Skylark & 2 Marsh Harrier. Offshore 40 Wigeon, 4 Common Scoter, a Brent Goose headed south. Out of four moths caught one was a Red-headed Chestnut a rare species in the UK and only the second for the site.

Red-headed Chestnut - photo by Tim Bagworth

8 Birds ringed; 3 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 29th October 2013

A sunny day with a stiff south-west wind, with showers early afternoon. The day started well with a Cetti's Warbler caught on the first net round, only the 5th for the Observatory, however this was upstaged by a Red-throated Pipit that flew south just after 7am, this was an addition to the site bird list. Other grounded migrants included 4 Firecrest, 3 Black Redstart, and single Stonechat, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel and an Arctic Tern in the river. Viz mig was busy this morning with a steady passage south including 325 Goldfinch, 256 Redpoll, 105 Chaffinch, 3219 Woodpigeon, 749 Stock Dove, 22 Skylark, 19 Swallow, 42 Siskin, 54 Meadow Pipit, 56 Linnet, 14 Brambling, and a Crossbill. Offshore was fairly quiet with 2 Brent Geese, and single Shelduck, Turnstone & Little Egret heading south. A fresh Clouded Yellow was present by the obs late morning.

Cetti's Warbler - photo by Tim Bagworth

 



 

19 Birds ringed; 4 Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Robin, 2 Chaffinch and single Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Blackcap & Cetti's Warbler.

 





Monday 28th October 2013

Gale force winds from the south-west with showers early on and sunny periods from mid morning. Very Quiet bird wise with the only ones of note being 2 Firecrest, a Wheatear, an Arctic Tern at the Point, 10 Crossbill south and 2 Arctic Skua south offshore.

Sunday 27th October 2013

A strong south-south-west wind with occasional showers. Very little was showing in the wind although a Short-eared Owl, 3 Wheatear, 4 Firecrest and a Black Redstart were located. Offshore 12 Brent Geese, a Great Crested Grebe, 14 Shelduck, a Razorbill and a hand full of waders headed south. Passerine passage was light with 42 Goldfinch, 13 Skylark and single House Martin & Swallow heading south.

5 Birds ringed; 2 Greenfinch and single Firecrest, Blackcap & Black Redstart.