Wednesday 22nd November 2017

All the usual's present & accounted for. First-winter Iceland Gull along the shore, Snow Bunt just above the tideline, Purple Sand on the point, female Stonechat in the bushes and at least 2 Bonxies offshore. 1,508 Cormorants went out to sea fishing with the vis mig consisting of just 8 Goldfinch & 2 Mipits south. Offshore movements barely noticeable and migrants in the bushes non-existent as everything settles down into their winter routines. With low tide early on roughly 50 - 60 Seals were loafing on the Cork Sands four miles offshore. Single Red Admiral on the Butts worth a mention although if it is mild they can appear all year round these days.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch

Tuesday 21st November 2017

Hard work this morning in very mild conditions. A bog standard British race Chiffchaff was new in but apart from that its a case of loitering left overs. Vis mig consisted off southbound 4 Goldfinch, 3 Mipit & a Siskin. Offshore apart from 47 Golden Plover south other movements almost non-existent. A Bonxie put in several appearances amongst the gulls and the solitary Snow Bunting is still with us. As far as autumn is concerned then it really is "last knockings" although never say never and still time for a decent push of "ducky goosey wadery" type things arriving for the winter.

2 birds ringed: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Monday 20th November 2017

Drizzle early on didn't prevent an entertaining morning with the Iceland Gull performing impeccably wandering up and down the beach or sitting just over the dock fence. A site rarity, with only the tenth site record, was of a Puffin north at 0825 hrs with over half of all records here being in the month of November. At least 7,000 gulls, 34 Gannet & 2 Bonxie following shipping offshore with a single Kittiwake amongst them being the first of the winter. 1,604 Cormorants went out to sea fishing. 31 Goldeneye heading south is notable with other southbound movements of 108 Teal, 52 Dunlin, 42 Common Scoter, 12 Wigeon, 8 Gadwal, 8 Knot, 6 Snipe, 4 Common Gull, 3 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Grey Plover, Red-throated Diver, Great-northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Pochard & Shelduck plus northbound 72 Common Scoter & a Red-throated Diver. Vis mig consisted of just 3 Mipit & a Skylark south. Finally the Snow Bunting is still feeding amongst the Marram Grass just above the high tide line.

Ringing: 1 Redwing, 1 Wood Pigeon.

Sunday 19th November 2017

It must be winter if an Iceland Gull has turned up. Hunt the migrant on this crisp cold sunny morning although worth a mention single Fieldfare, Redwing, Grey Wagtail, Rock Pipit & Snow Bunting. Vis mig consisted of just southbound single Mipit, Rock Pipit & Siskin. Offshore movements almost non-existent although an Eider went south just off the beach then turned into the river & a Redshank flew over the obs into the river. Dreadful light for gull watching offshore with the first-winter Iceland Gull scrounging around the fishermen on the beach then eventually drifting off into the mouth of the estuary.

Ringing: 1 linnet.

Saturday 18th November 2017

A Swallow heading south needs to get a move on if it is going to make it to Africa for the winter. A Lapland Bunting was flying around calling around 0820 hrs before drifting north. Also on site at least 3 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, Fieldfare, Snow Bunting plus a handful of new Blackies.  Vis mig numbers dwindling with southbound 12 Goldfinch, 8 Siskin, 8 Starling, 7 Mipit & Skylark.Offshore movements still lamentable with just 3 Brent going each way plus a Great-crested Grebe south. At least 1,623 Cormorants went out fishing this morning and at least 4,000 seagulls, 17 Gannet & a Bonxie following the shipping. Common Gulls are almost non-existent so far this winter despite all the food available to the bigger gulls feeding offshore.

8 birds ringed: 3 Blackbird, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Greenfinch.

Friday 17th November 2017

A Great Northern Diver on the river out the back of the obs early on did a disappearing trick. Grounded migrants getting fewer & farther between as the autumn grinds to a halt. Some vis mig with southbound 15 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Mipit & northbound 2 Siskin. From mid morning 330 Starling & 8 Skylark came in off the sea. On site 7 Brambling soon departed inland & a single Reed Bunting was heard but not seen. Still getting the odd new Goldcrest passing through although probably not for much longer.

The Chestnut is not a regular here despite being a common moth inland.

8 birds ringed: 3 Starling, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest.

Thursday 16th November 2017

A Long-eared Owl quartering along the bird observatory ridge pre dawn frustratingly could not be found perched up roosting post dawn. Vis mig consisted of southbound 17 Goldfinch, 6 Starling, 5 Chaffinch, 3 Skylark, 3 Mipits, 2 Rock Pipit & 2 Siskin. On site 35 Linnet, 25 Mipit, 12 Fieldfare, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Chaffinch, Stonechat, Reed Bunting & Woodcock were the highlights. Offshore still tedious unless one likes plenty of Cormorants & seagulls with the only thing of note being 20 Common Scoter north plus a handful of Gannets. I know the weather has been mild the last couple of days but Mrs Peregrine sitting on the nest platform at this time of the year is three months early to start thinking about that sort of malarkey.

Phyllonorycter messaniella is a tint tot that mines the Holm Oaks in vast numbers and only occasionally wanders the 10 yards from its host tree to the nearest moth trap (and never manages to wander the 40 to 50 yards into the other moth traps - some species are just stay at home critters !).

4 birds ringed: 2 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Meadow Pipit.