Saturday 29th November 2014

The mild night with south-easterly winds coming up from Africa had the potential for something good, but the reality was not so good. Very little was recorded today both offshore and on site. Offshore 28 Knot and 2 Red-breasted Merganser south, and on site the 3 Goldcrests still present, being the highlights.
Insect wise the mild conditions produced another December Moth and this migrant Pearly Underwing,( of which very few have been seen this year ).

No birds were ringed today.

Friday 28th November 2014

Silly mild for the time of year. Heading south 414 Teal, 82 Wigeon, 24 Red-throated Diver, 2 Brent, 2 Shelduck, Great-northern Diver, Gannet, Mallard & Pintail with 2 Pom Skuas noted harassing the gulls behind shipping. 610 Cormorants north offshore changing their fishing grounds beats the day record set only a couple of days ago. Overhead 4 Mipits & a Redpoll went south with other new migrants limited to a couple of new Blackies & a Fieldfare on site. 3 Goldcrests are still lingering with us which may now attempt to overwinter here as it's getting a bit late in the autumn to move far.

4 birds ringed: 3 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch.

Thursday 27th November 2014

Still plenty of squadrons of Cormorants heading out to sea from inland to go fishing. Only a limited sporadic time spent staring out to sea this morning produced south bound 88 Teal, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Brent, 4 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 2 Curlew & Ringed Plover plus a Gannet & Red-throated Diver heading north. Seems likely that more flocks of Teal were missed. Deadly quiet around the bushes. In the moth traps the mild conditions are still resulting in a handful of moths including Crocidosema plebejana and an unseasonal Ash Pug which shouldn't really be out and about at this time of the year.

Ringing: 1 Robin.

Wednesday 26th November 2014

Another wet, murky and thoroughly miserable day, weather-wise, but bird-wise not too bad at all. Best birds were all passing over the sea, with another Pomarine Skua offshore being harassed by gulls, along with a female type Goosander, a Great-northern Diver, 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Gadwall, 3 Eider and a female Pochard all going south, along with a Short-eared Owl, 1 Lapwing and 1 Common Snipe grounded on site.
No birds were ringed today due to the wet conditions, but the moth traps did produce a moth, this December Moth above, which is normally found in woodlands.

Tuesday 25th November 2014

A site record count of 530 Cormorants flew out to sea this morning to feed with lots coming & going offshore after this presumably involved just the same birds. A Guillemot and a Slavonian Grebe heading north close together in tandem was not expected. Up to the end of 2013 we only had three site records of Slavonian Grebe with this year has produced several records at the start of the year (probably involving the same individual) plus today's bird. Not a lot else moving offshore with south bound 15 Teal, 8 Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye & Red-breasted Merganser with north bound 7 Brent, 2 Great-crested Grebe plus 2 more Guillemot. Late morning 11 Gannet & a Pom Skua put in an appearance behind the dredger coming in. Overhead 7 Goldfinch & 2 Redpoll flew south with new birds in the bushes limited to a few new Blackies and a new Robin.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 1 Robin.

Monday 24th November 2014

Last knockings this week as far as autumn migration is concerned. Visible migration consisted of south bound 23 Goldfinch, 11 Mipits & 8 Skylark with offshore movements being restricted to 5 Shelduck & 4 Brents. An incoming ship dragged 7 Gannets in behind it. This phenomenon of Gannets following ships in has only been a feature of the last couple of years and is not something we are accustomed to - are they scavenging with the gulls as it is a previously unexploited source of food or is it a food shortage offshore that is causing them to scavenge behind shipping ? The only new migrants in on site are 2 Fieldfare, Black Redstart, Redpoll plus a new Blackbird with left overs from recent days being a couple of Goldcrests & a Redwing lingering with us. A fine sunny morning brought both Peregrines & both Little Owls out to play this morning - or maybe just to dry out following yesterdays deluge.

6 birds ringed: 5 Goldfinch, 1 Blackbird.

Sunday 23rd November 2014

Bit grim this morning with either belts of fine drizzle or rain resulting in poor visibility. Nevertheless 2 Long-tailed Ducks flew north then pitched in offshore & a ship coming in dragged 5 Gannets & a Pom Skua in behind it. Very little else noted moving offshore & what few birds were noted in the bushes were keeping their heads down. A push of the helligoland trap on the way down to the kettle produced a new female Sparrowhawk so if we are only going to ring one bird today we may as well make it a good'un.

Ringing: 1 Sparrowhawk.