Saturday 24th October 2015

Heavy cloud and a south south easterly wind greeted us this morning but proved to be rather fruitless
for birds with just a handful of migrants new-in.

New migrants today were 3 Sparrowhawk, c.15 Robin, c.15 Blackbird, 5 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Fieldfare, 21 Goldfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Siskin, 6 Swallow, c.15 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 1 Blackcap, 29 Meadow Pipit, 2 Skylark, 13 Common Gull, 7 Brent Geese, 7 Cormorant, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Gannet, 1 Common Scoter and 1 Turnstone.

Feathered Thorn is one of the moths that appears later in the season.

Ringing: 6 birds ringed during the morning which include 2 Goldfinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Firecrest.

Friday 23rd October 2015

Heavy cloud and virtually no wind this morning produced a great day for visual migration.

Migrants on the move, on land and out to sea today were 20 Blackbird, 8 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, c.25 Robin, 22 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, c.20 Goldcrest, 206 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 661 Goldfinch, 94 Siskin, 71 Linnet, 46 Chaffinch, 45 Redpoll, 10 Greenfinch, 2 Brambling, 8 Reed Bunting, 12 Pied Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail, 18 Skylark, 11 Cormorant, 4 Brent Geese, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Shelduck, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Black Redstart and 1 Stock Dove.

Several Redwing about this morning with some perching up quite nicely.
Hopefully we'll have quite a few more to come over the next few days.

Ringing: 23 birds ringed this morning including 9 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbird, 1 Wren, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Thursday 22nd October 2015

Stronger winds today and from the west south west produced a small arrival of new migrants.

Migrants found today are c.30 Blackbird, c.10 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, c.20 Goldcrest, 314 Goldfinch, 27 Linnet, 26 Redpoll, 26 Chaffinch, 9 Greenfinch, 6 Siskin, 1 Brambling, 13 Swallow, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Pied Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 73 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 30 Skylark, 2 Lapland Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Tree Sparrow, 1 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stock Dove, 10 Brent Geese, 3 Cormorant, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Common Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Little Egret, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Short-eared Owl.

A individual Tree Sparrow has been hanging around the nature reserve at the moment, frequenting the cottage.

Ringing: 26 birds ringed during the morning which includes 9 Blackbird, 8 Goldcrest, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Wren and 2 Blackcap.

Wednesday 21st October 2015

A rather wet, damp and dreary day today for birds and anything in general. However, wet and windy weather doesn't put a stop to observatory work - we carry on regardless so..

The best of the rest today came in the form of c.20 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, c.20 Robin, 8 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, 6 Linnet, 6 Starling (in-off), 1+ Tree Sparrow, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 37 Meadow Pipit, 2 Skylark, 7 House Martin, 3 Swallow, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 10 Pied Wagtail with several showing very well out on the nature reserve.

Sea watching produced 25 Wigeon, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Teal, 9 Brent Geese, 2 Common Gull and 1 Knot all heading South.

A pair of Green Sandpipers flew over the Obs early evening which is a species that we don't often record here.

Ringing: 6 birds ringed during the morning which includes 4 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Woodpigeon.

Tuesday 20th October 2015

A calm northerly wind and clear, sunny skies today produced a lovely late autumnal day of recording.

Migrants today included 16 Cormorant, 6 Brent Geese, 4 Lapwing, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Mallard, c.40 Goldcrest, 64 Starling (in-off the sea), c.20 Blackbird, 8 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, c.35 Robin, 99 Goldfinch, 23 Greenfinch, 16 Redpoll, 15 Linnet, 6 Chaffinch, 4 Siskin, 3 Brambling, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, c.50 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 39 Skylark, 8 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Lapland Bunting, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Wheatear, 55 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 3 Rook and 2 Long-tailed Tit.

Acrolepia autumnitella was found in the ringing room today but was not easy to photograph due to it's small size plus restlessness. We have only noted this species in two previous years.

Ringing: 47 birds ringed during the day which include 23 Goldcrest, 5 Blackbird, 4 Wren, 3 Robin, 3 Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Swallow, 1 Dunnock, 1 Redwing, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Long-tailed Tit.

Monday 19th October 2015

Heavy cloud once again and a calm breeze from the North brought a rather productive day to the observatory today with plenty going on.

New migrants today included c.49 Blackbird, c.24 Redwing, c.20 Song Thrush, 4 Fieldfare, c.40 Robin, c.50 Goldcrest, 1 Woodcock, 1 Short-eared Owl, 57 Goldfinch, 49 Brambling, 22 Redpoll, 20 Siskin, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Tree Sparrow, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 17 Skylark, 9 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 42 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 18 Greenfinch, 15 Linnet, 11 Chaffinch, 2 Great Grey Shrike, 57 Swallow, 2 Wheatear and 1 Common Buzzard.

Sea watching produced 9 Brent Geese, 7 Cormorant, 5 Common Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Snipe and 1 Oystercatcher.

Not just one but two Great Grey Shrikes turned up this morning, seen to fly in-off the sea and slowly head off inland and onto pastures new. A record Autumn so far with four records, so far..

Ringing: 82 birds ringed throughout the day from dawn until dusk which included 25 Goldcrest, 20 Blackbird, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Robin, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Redwing, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Brambling.

Sunday 18th October 2015

Another half decent arrival of new birds today. Six Short-eared Owls along with those moving through in recent days is indicative of a good breeding season for this species. Migrants today included 80 Goldcrest, 55 Redpoll, 40 Robin, 28 Siskin, 25 Blackbird, 17 Skylark, 15 Swallow, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 4 Blackcap, 4 Tree Sparrow, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Grey Wags, 3 Brambling, 2 Ring Ouzel, Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush, Yellow Wagtail, Rock Pipit & Reed Bunting. A couple of migrant Dunnocks obviously passed through & we are still catching the odd new Wren & tits. Starring offshore about as exciting as watching paint dry.

101 birds ringed: 42 goldcrest, 14 lesser redpoll, 11 robin, 6 chiffchaff, 5 blackbird, 4 dunnock, 3 song thrush, 3 grey wagtail, 2 redwing, 2 blackcap, 2 blue tit, 2 wren, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 great tit, 1 long-tailed tit, 1 brambling, 1 chaffinch.