Saturday 10th September 2011

Weather consisted of a fresh south south-easterly wind turning south south-westaerly. There was complete cloud cover. It was muggy and mild. A very good day's seawatching with the highlight being 3 species of Skua seen. Migrants observed passing through were 11 Brent Geese, 2 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 34 Common Scoter, 8 Cormorant, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 11 Oystercatcher, 14 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 16 Arctic Skua, 4 Pomarine Skua, 2 Great Skua, 6 Sandwich Tern, 20 Common Tern, 6 Black Tern, 7 Swift, 51 Sand Martin, 325 Swallow, 43 House Martin, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 336 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chaffinch and 11 Goldfinch. A Shearwater species was seen heading north but it was extremely distant and seen for a very short time so hard to make an accurate identification. Grounded migrants found were 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat and 23 Northern Wheatear; there was also 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 male Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Common Whitethroat. 6 birds ringed today; 3 Chiffchaff, 2 male Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler. A Grey Seal was seen on the river.