Saturday 19th October 2013

A southerly breeze with drizzle early on turning into rain by late morning. Grounded migrants today included a Long-eared Owl, 50 Song Thrush, 50 Blackbird, 60 Robin, a Moorhen, 2 Black Redstart, 30 Chaffinch, 35 Goldfinch, 80 Greenfinch, 10 Blackcap, Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 4 Wheatear and the Shorelark remained on the beach. Southerly passage included a immature male Peregrine, 28 Swallow, 46 Skylark and reasonable numbers of finches, wagtails and pipits. Offshore southerly passage included 514 Brent Geese, 531 Wigeon, 39 Pintail, 54 Teal, 20 Shelduck, 22 Common Scoter, 6 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, a Pochard, Bar-tailed Godwit and a Short-eared Owl.

82 Birds ringed; 35 Robin, 16 Blackbird, 11 Song Thrush, 6 Blackcap, 3 Wren, 3 Firecrest, 2 House Sparrow and single Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Grey Wagtail & Black Redstart.

Friday 18th October 2013

A foggy start clearing by late morning with the southerly breeze gradually increasing. Grounded migrants included 30 Blackbird, 20 Robin, 6 Goldcrest, 45 Song Thrush, 40 Goldfinch, 3 Brambling, 2 Snipe, 2 Skylark, 13 Chiffchaff  (including 1 tristis type), 2 Fieldfare, 20 Blackcap, 2 Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting, Crossbill, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 4 Snow Bunting, Black Redstart and the Shorelark & Great Grey Shrike were still present. As the fog started to lift small numbers of finches, larks, wagtails & pipits headed south and several thrushes arrived in off. Offshore southerly passage included 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Teal, 172 Brent Geese & 13 Wigeon. Also seen was a female Willow Emerald by the Obs.

49 Birds ringed; 13 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Song Thrush, 4 Robin, 4 Blackbird, 4 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch and single Lesser Redpoll, Brambling, Goldcrest, Wren, Black Redstart & Redwing.

Thursday 17th October 2013

A sunny day with a stiff westerly wind. The highlights today were a Shorelark found on the beach mid morning and the Great Grey Shrike put in a brief appearance, other birds of note were 6 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap and a Coal Tit. Southerly passage included 193 Chaffinch, 165 Goldfinch, 6 Pied Wagtail, 86 Starling, 42 Meadow Pipit, 33 Swallow, 43 Skylark, 3 Brambling, 33 Siskin, Grey Wagtail, Stock Dove, 9 Redpoll and a Rock Pipit. A selection of butterflies were present including a Clouded Yellow.

11 Birds ringed; 3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Robin and single Redwing, Song Thrush & Blackbird.

Wednesday 16th October 2013

A slight north-northwest breeze veering south-east and increasing mid-morning with rain by midday. A nice selection of birds were present today with the highlights being the Great Grey Shrike still present, a Yellow-browed Warbler located in the trees behind the kitchen, a Black Redstart, 2 Common Redpoll amongst the Lesser Redpolls, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Tree Sparrow, 3 Wheatear and a female Merlin. Viz mig produced good numbers of finches heading south including 76 Chaffinch, 259 Goldfinch, 13 Greenfinch, 9 Brambling, 33 Siskin, 10 Redpoll along with 24 Meadow Pipit, a Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, a male Merlin & 9 Skylark. Offshore southerly passage included 100 Black-headed Gull, 68 Brent Geese, 53 Wigeon and a Shag.

Common Redpoll - photo by Tim Bagworth

Yellow-browed Warbler - photo by Tim Bagworth

 

33 Birds ringed; 10 Robin,5 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Common Redpoll, 2 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blackcap and single Wren, Goldcrest, Blue Tit & Yellow-browed Warbler.

Tuesday 15th October 2013

An overcast day with a stiff north-westerly wind. The day started with a Long-eared Owl being trapped & ringed before dawn. Grounded migrants included a few thrushes including a Ring Ouzel, 10 Redwing, 30 Blackbird & 25 Song Thrush along with 2 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Chiffchaff & 3 Wheatear. Viz mig was busy this morning with good numbers heading south including 824 Goldfinch, 16 Pied Wagtail, 12 Brambling, 10 Reed Bunting, 4 Rook, 51 Swallow, 142 Chaffinch, 52 Linnet, 27 Siskin, 44 Skylark, 20 Greenfinch, 5 Rock Pipit, 28 Meadow Pipit, 17 Carrion Crow, a Redpoll & a Sparrowhawk. The Great Grey Shrike was seen again by the Bungalow early afternoon.

42 Birds ringed; 19 Robin, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit and single Redwing, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Greenfinch & Long-eared Owl.

Monday 14th October 2013

A dry day with a south-west breeze. Most birds had departed overnight apart from a few thrushes and finches. A Great Grey Shrike appeared again and was seen to kill a Robin and partly to eat it. Viz mig was modest with 91 Goldfinch, 56 Meadow Pipits, 9 Skylark, 22 Swallow, 11 Fieldfare and 3 Siskin all heading south. Offshore the only birds of note were 94 Wigeon heading south.

38 Birds ringed; 15 Goldfinch, 8 Greenfinch, 4 Robin, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Dunnock, 2 Wren and single Blackbird, Blackcap & Chaffinch.

Sunday 13th October 2013

Bucketing down up to 1030ish - just prior to the rain stopping over 1,000 assorted thrushes piled in with most of them departing inland soon afterwards. Also in off the sea a Short-eared Owl, Jack Snipe, 9 House Martin & 3 Lapwing. The bulk of today's grounded migrants were those Songies, Redwing & 3 Ring Ouzel that did not leave us with the weather clearing. A Great-grey Shrike came in from the north but disappeared before being relocated. Also on site today 40 Robins, 12 Blackcap, 4 Brambling, 4 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wheatear, Rock Pipit & Snipe. Offshore movements very poor today with single Greylag & Tufted Duck south the highlights !

28 Birds ringed: 14 Robin, 7 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Dunnock, Brambling, Chaffinch & Wren.