Saturday 24th November 2012

A handful of new Blackies, Songies, Chaffs & a Lesser Redpoll this morning as indicated by the 7 birds ringed. A Water Rail was seen out the back by one of the wood piles, a Grey Wag put in an appearance & an Eider was offshore briefly. Very little noted going past or overhead with 2 Mergs the highlight & nothing of note on a walk round the reserve.

Friday 23rd November 2012

Another 87 Goldies south this am, although from past experience vis mig in this species often continues into early December. 2 new Blackies ringed is also indicative of ongoing migration in this species. Offshore 27 Shelduck, 23 Brent, 6 Dunlin, 5 Knot, 2 Wigeon, Gadwal, Common Scoter, Goldeneye & Red-throated Diver south plus 11 Brent & a Red-throated Diver north. Judging from the poor numbers of Shelduck up the rivers it's about time a few more wandered back from moulting on the Waddensea. Finally, still a gang of Greenies feeding along the beach but only 5 Snow Bunts noted this am. Maybe one of the local Sparrowhawks fancied a change of diet ?

Thursday 22nd November 2012

Nice to see the currant bun out this morning with a stiff southerly breeze attempting to dry things out a bit. Of note this morning a Waxwing spent a couple of minutes sat on top of the trees behind the observatory before departing into Essex, 6 Snow Bunts were along the beach & a Bonxie briefly joined the gulls behind a boat in the river mouth. Still a handful of Siskins & Goldies going south overhead but offshore movements largely non-existent. At least 35 Kitts were offshore with the big gulls behind shipping. Ringing getting towards last knockings for the autumn with just single new Blacky & Chaff.

Wednesday 21st November 2012

Apologies for the late posting of these sightings but your blogger was up the river doing a co-ordinated low water count on a day when the weather was distinctly not nice. The observers present at Landguard reported that the local female Peregrine performed admirably for them beating up the pigeons over the reserve. A few bits & bobs going south offshore included 117 Teal, 22 Brents, 15 Wigeon, 11 Knot, 8 Dunlin, 5 Tufteds, 5 Mergansers, 3 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Common Scoter & a Ringed Plover. A Mistle Thrush was knocking around & a new Robin was the sum total of birds ringed.

Tuesday 20th November 2012

Fairly tedious mornings seawatching produced little in terms of quantity but some quality in the form of Long-tailed Duck & Pom Skua north plus a Black-throated Diver south. Supporting cast included 39 Brents, 24 Common Scoter, 15 Kitts, 8 Ringed Plover, 7 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 5 Gadwal, 4 Wigeon, 3 Knot, 3 Dunlin, 2 Barwits, Red-throated Diver, Merganser, Goldeneye & Guillemot going south. It's also getting to that time of the year when a few more Gulls & Kitts are starting to follow the boats offshore. Ringing produced just singles of Chaff, Greeny & yet another new Goldcrest.

Monday 19th November 2012

Far more interesting this morning in terms of birds going past offshore with the following going south: 81 Brents, 68 Knot, 37 Common Scoter, 28 Wigeon, 20 Mergansers, 9 Dunlin, 8 Teal, 5 Great-crested Grebes, 5 Kitts, 4 Shoveler, 3 Oyks, 2 Mallard, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Skylarks, Red-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter, Curlew, Guillemot & Razorbill. A flock of 16 Siskins went south overhead with a gang of 12 Waxwings flying south past the obs at 0947hrs & out over the estuary towards Dovercourt. Ringing produced just a new Goldcrest which should surely be the last new one of the autumn ? - but i have been thinking this for days and odd new ones just keep on coming.

Sunday 18th November 2012

Glorious sunny morning. 2 Snow Bunts on the beach plus a Mistle Thrush on site briefly early on are today's highlights. Some vis mig noted with 20 Goldies, 13 Skylarks, 10 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Siskins & a Mipit going south. Offshore movements almost non-existent. Ringing consisted of new Blacky, Songie & a handful of Lesser Redpolls.