Brambling on the reserve this morning.
Heavy overcast start to the morning with a steady breeze and it seemed to take longer than normal to get light, Cormorant were he first to make a move coming out of the harbour en mass, everything else came through at a steady pace.
Noted on the reserve, 30 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 5 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Brambling, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 2 Sparrowhawk & 1 Little Owl.
Vismig going South, 985 Goldfinch, 85 Chaffinch, 82 Meadow Pipit, 66 Linnet, 47 Starling, 31 Greenfinch, 20 Skylark, 15 Siskin, 14 Redpoll, 8 Reed Bunting, 7 Pied Wagtail, 5 Stock Dove, 4 Swallow, 3 Brambling & 3 Rock Pipit. Going North 67 Woodpigeon.
Offshore going South, 449 Dunlin, 293 Wigeon, 183 Brent Goose, 17 Black-headed Gull, 15 Teal, 13 Mallard, 13 Shelduck, 12 Knot, 11 Pintail, 3 Common Gull, 1 Curlew, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Great Skua & 1 Oystercatcher. Going North 3 Brent Goose & 2 Guillemot. Going out to sea East, 1154 Cormorant.
It has been a record year for the Vestal.
We also had only the second site record of Antigastra catalaunalis which is a tropical species that spreads into Southern Europe, unfortunately it was camera shy.
15 birds ringed: Blackbird 6, Redwing 3, Goldcrest 2, Goldfinch 2, Chiffchaff 1, Meadow Pipit 1.