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.

Friday 9th September 2011

Weater consisted of a light south-westerly wind, there was complete cloud cover. It was muggy and dry. There were many birds seen passing through today, most of them were Meadow Pipits! Migrants on the move were 4 Teal, 7 Cormorant, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 8 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 34 Knot, 19 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 9 Redshank, 3 Turnstone, 1 Common Gull, 68 Sand Martin, 44 Swallow, 12 Tree Sparrow, 38 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 1238 Meadow Pipit, 43 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 25 Goldfinch and 30 Siskin. One of the days highlights was a 1st-winter Yellow-legged Gull seen on the beach. 40 Wheatear and 3 Whinchat were seen out on the reserve. Warblers found were 4 Chiffchaff, 30 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroat and 7 Common Whitethroat. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was found. 56 birds ringed today, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 21 Willow Warbler, 21 Meadow Pipit, 3 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock and 1 Woodpigeon. A Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal were seen offshore. 10 Migrant Hawker Dragonflies and a Common Blue Damselfly were recorded.

Thursday 8th September 2011

Weather consisted of a fresh to strong west south-westerly wind, there was complete cloud cover. Migrants observed passing through were 1 Mallard, 8 Cormorant, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Knot, 4 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Arctic Skua, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 Swallow, 35 Meadow Pipit and 5 Goldfinch. 9 Northern Wheatear were seen on the reserve. Warblers found were 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Common Whitethroat. 7 birds ringed today; 2 Blackacp, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff. A Slow Worm was found within the Bird Observatory compound and a Grey Seal was seen offshore.

Wednesday 7th September 2011

The gale continues but with the wind easing slightly a few more birds noted. 2 Tree Pipits were the highlight with a supporting cast of 14 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, a Lesser 'throat , a Blackcap & a Chiffchaff.  Mipits are trying to get moving despite the wind with 15 logged going south as were 2 Yellow and a Pied Wag. Offshore a Curlew Sand and a Little Egret moved through, but little else noted. Finally the semi resident Black Red is still loitering around the bushes in front of the obs.

Tuesday 6th September 2011

The weather consisted of a strong south south-westerly wind later turning west south-westerly; at times the wind became stronger gusting a force 8! There was rain on and off throughout the day. Very poor seawatching with the only birds of note observed passing through being 3 Wigeon, 2 Cormorant, 3 Arctic Skua, 6 Sandwich Tern, 22 Common Tern and 5 Swift. This was very dissapointing considering 3 observers spent the entire morning scanning the sea! 3 Wheatear were also found but no warblers were seen. No birds were ringed due to the mist nets not being opened due to the bad weather.

Monday 5th September 2011

Weather consisted of a fresh south-westerly wind. There was no cloud cover early in the morning. Later in the day the wind became stronger approaching a near gale, there was much more cloud coverage by mid-day. Migrants observed passing through were 4 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 5 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 2 Hobby, 1 Little Egret, 7 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Tern, 2 Swift and 82 Swallow. Grounded migrants found were 10 Northern Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Common Whitethroat. Due to the strong wind only 2 birds were ringed today; 1 male Sparrowhawk and 1 juvenile Blackbird. A Grey Seal was seen offshore. Not many butterflies recorded today, only 3 species were seen.

Sunday 4th September 2011

Amongst an assortment of ducks moving south this morning were 96 Wigeon, 85 Teal, 16 Common Scoter, 10 Pintail & 3 Shoveler. A handful of waders also on the move with the highest count achieved by Grey Plover with 7. Also worth a note were a Little Egret, Hobby & a Jackdaw. Hirundines on the move were 665 Swallows, 34 House Martins & 29 Sand Martins with a solitary Swift also putting in an appearance. 2 Yellow Wags dropped in briefly on the reserve where there was at least 14 Wheatears, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser 'throats, a Spot Fly & a Chiffchaff. Still plenty of Linnets and Spadgers on site to plough through whilst hoping for that elusive goodies hoped for at this time of the year !