Thursday 17th October 2024
Wednesday 16th October 2024
South-easterlies delivered a few migrants including 23 Song Thrush, 10 Redwing, 8 Chaffinch, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest, the first Black Redstart & Woodcock of the autumn plus a handful of new Blackies & Robins. Southbound 67 Goldfinch, 47 Mipit, 21 Chaffinch, 8 Swallow, 4 Skylark, 2 Rook & Woodlark. Offshore southbound 434 Brent, 54 Black-headed Gull, 13 Shelduck, 13 Wigeon, 10 Teal & 2 Greylags.
The Gem is a classic autumnal migrant in small numbers with five this morning probably a day record catch.Tuesday 15th October 2024
With a strong south easerly and cloudy, though dry conditions, we finally had a typical October morning here. 108 redwing, 25 song thrush and 15 blackbird swirled above the obs and the peninsula, along with a scattering of chaffinch, 2 brambling and 45 goldfinch. Some of the thrushes moved off through the morning, though many stayed throughout the day, feeding in the observatory compound. The bramblings and chaffinches also seemed to be exhausted and fed behind the observatory kitchen most of the day. A new firecrest and a couple of goldcrest were new in, as were two chiffchaffs. A yellow-browed warbler called briefly mid morning, for one observer, but despite much searching it wasn't relocated.
Out to sea a sooty shearwater and an arctic skua headed north, whilst a pink-footed goose flying south with a brent goose flock was an unusual sight here. 4 goosander flew over the observatory upriver, and 36 wigeon and 14 teal joined 318 Brent geese heading south.
Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Dunnock 1, Firecrest 1, Goldcrest 2, Goldfinch 1, Robin 5, Song Thrush 3.
Monday 14th October 2024
Rusty-dot Pearl is a migrant whose numbers vary hugely year to year.
Birds Ringed: Nil.
Sunday 13th October 2024
Hard work with disapointingly few migrants for mid-October. On site migrants included 2 Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting & Rock Pipit plus a visit from a Jay. Southbound 30 Goldfinch, 18 Mipit, 12 Skylark, 9 Chaffinch, 7 Swallow, 3 Grey Wag & a House Martin. Offshore southbound 4 Common Scoter, 3 Wigeon, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shelduck, Brent & Curlew with northbound 3 Gannet. 2 Purps on the point early morning moved off north, presumably, to groynes along the Felixstowe seafront.
Moth numbers & variety have plummeted in recent nights.
Ringing: 1 Wren.
Saturday 12th October 2024
Red-green Carpet is another mid-October specialist in low numbers this year.
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Goldcrest 1, Great Tit 2, Redwing 3, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1.
Friday 11th October 2024
Woodpigeons have had a dire breeding season, this being one of a handful of juveniles encountered all year |