Tuesday 8th November 2011

Not a good start to the day. Intruders overnight had damaged 6 mist nets to varying degrees, attacked 2 moth traps & indulged in various other acts of petty vandalism and criminal damage. On the bird front an adult White-fronted Goose spending the bulk of the day on the reserve was an unusual sighting as nearly all (or possibly all ?) previous records are of birds in flight. In the bushes a healthy arrival of Robins for this late in the season with 50 present. Also of note 80 Blackies, 15 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Woodcock, Mistle Thrush, Brambling, Chiffchaff & a pale looking Siberian type Chiffchaff. On the reserve 9 Snow Bunts and the male Wheatear still with us plus a Sanderling on the beach. Offshore records included 5 Little Auks, 267 Brents, 16 Eider 6 Gannets, 3 Goosanders, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Bonxies, Little Gull & Puffin (rare here with 2 records in quick succession remarkable). Another 50ish new birds ringed today.