LEO hiding in tamarisk.
Long-eared Owl flying around in the dark pre-dawn may, or may not, have been the one found skulking away mid-afternoon. Filthy cold wintry weather with heavy rain and hail in the morning produced entertaining birding for the observers but was probably not appreciated by the birds. Coming in off the sea 4,490 Starling, 114 Chaffinch, 30 Blackbird, 20 Skylark, 4 Fieldfare (one of which landed on the sea before finally making landfall), Ring Ouzel plus a Little Auk following a Starling flock. Heading south 163 Brent, 47 Common Scoter, 15 Teal, 9 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck, 2 Eider, 2 Gannet, 2 Heron, Bean Goose (not sure what flavour - but who is on a single flyby goose ?), Oyk, Kittiwake, Red-throated Diver with northbound 7 Shelduck, 5 Eider, 2 Curlew, 2 Guillemot, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Barwit, Brent, Oyk & Tufted Duck. On site 90 Blackbird, 16 Goldcrest, 15 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 4 Lapwing, 4 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Fieldfare, Turnstone, Woodcock & the first, long overdue, Firecrest of the autumn. 920 Cormorant heading out fishing early on and 1,000 assorted seagulls were following shipping offshore.
67 birds ringed: 32 Blackbird, 16 Goldcrest, 12 Chaffinch, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin, 1 Starling, 1 Wren.
