Saturday 15th November 2014

An overcast but calm morning. A scattering of new arrivals on site including 40 Blackbird, 20 Robin, 10 Song Thrush, 4 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff. Southerly passage was light but 11 Meadow Pipit and single Redpoll, Rock Pipit and Snow Bunting were noted. Offshore 101 Brent headed south with another 31 heading up river.

An interesting fungi was found on a tree near one of the nets and was identified as a Shaggy Scalycap.

35 Birds ringed; 13 Blackbird, 7 Wren, 6 Robin, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Dunnock.

Friday 14th November 2014

A wet and windy morning. In the bushes around the Obs were a handful of birds including 20 Robin, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff. Offshore was fairly quiet apart from 45 Brent, 9 Shelduck, 8 Golden Plover, 4 Shoveler and a Red-necked Grebe, all heading south.

5 Birds ringed; 2 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Chaffinch.

November Litter Pick

Litter Pick this Saturday 15th November 0930hrs. Usual arrangements. Further info on the events page of www.lbo.org.uk

Thursday 13th November 2014

A handful of new Robins and Goldcrests on site today along with a Short-eared Owl and a Jack Snipe that was located at the Point. Passage included 173 Goldfinch, 13 Meadow Pipit and 5 Skylark heading south. Offshore passage was light, although 143 Cormorants headed out to sea from up river.

13 Birds ringed; 6 Robin, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbird, 1 Wren.

Wednesday 12th November 2014

With mild conditions and strong south-easterly winds, sea-watching would be the order of the day. And so it proved with a large southerly movement of 2277 Brent geese, along with 92 Shelduck, 60 Wigeon, 93 Teal, with smaller numbers of Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Goldeneye and Common Scoter, whilst a Velvet Scoter flew north. Small numbers of waders were also on the move, but the stars of the show were the 2 Pomarine Skuas that flew south mid-morning along with an Arctic Skua and an adult Glaucous Gull. On site, the 2 Snow Buntings are still present, briefly accompanied by a Corn Bunting, and there was a small fall of both Robin and Goldcrest.

26 birds were ringed, these being 19 Robin, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Wren.

Tuesday 11th November 2014

A sunny but windy day. Offshore southerly passage included 30 Brent, 21 Shelduck, 16 Teal, 5 Pintail, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and a couple of Kittiwake. Other birds of note were the 2 Snow Bunting on beach and a Woodcock in the moat.

5 Birds ringed; 2 Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Robin.

Monday 10th November 2014

A breezy day with little of note to report. Small numbers of migrants on the move both on land and offshore, with small numbers of Common Scoter, Wigeon and Teal passing through along with 100 goldfinch south over the common being the most abundant species on show. The 2 Snow Bunting are still on the beach and a Reed Bunting dropped in briefly.

6 birds ringed today including, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Starling and 1 Goldfinch.

Sunday 9th November 2014

A calm but wet start to the day. Birds of note this morning were the 2 Snow Bunting on the beach, a Woodcock by the Obs and a handful of new thrushes in. Offshore 499 Starling flew in off and five Great Crested Grebe (2 on, 2 south, 1 north) were the highlights.

20 Birds ringed; 10 Blackbird, 6 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 2 Goldcrest.