Saturday 24th November 2018

Hard work. Offshore southbound 2 Brent & Eider with northbound 5 Brent, Eider, Gannet & Red-throated Diver. On the beach 3 Sanderling & Turnstone plus a Snow Bunting that flew north late morning. On site a handful of Goldcrests remain with passerine migration again non-existent despite the easterly airflow.

December moth is not annual here so its pleasing to get one here.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Friday 23rd November 2018

Get the impression that there are no new grounded migrants on site today with leftovers from recent arrivals including at least 7 Goldcrest & a Woodcock. 16 Mipit on the beach, Redwing on the reserve & Rock Pipit on the point could also have been in the area for a few days. Offshore southbound 6 Brent, Great-northern Diver & Red-breasted Merganser plus a loitering Bonxie.

Milder overnight with a light south-easterly breeze may be putting the birds off migrating but hasn't stopped Diamond-back Moths continuing to appear in small numbers.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch.

Thursday 22nd November 2018

New grounded migrants almost non-existent. Several Goldcrests and 2 Stonechat are still here with both Peregrine & Sparrowhawk paying visits. Offshore southbound 5 Brent, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Common Gull & Great-crested Grebe with northbound 4 Brent, 4 Eider & 2 Red-throated Diver plus an adult Little Gull that loitered feeding for a while.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Wednesday 21st November 2018

Much more pleasant morning weather wise than recent days as the autumn grinds to its inevitable conclusion. On site roughly 25 Goldcrest are loitering who really need to make a move inland for the winter. Other migrants include 8 Mipit, a very small handful of Blackies, Robin, Songies & a Woodcock. 2 Stonechat are still on the Butts must surely now be making an attempt to winter here. Offshore movements were southbound 11 Wigeon, 3 Brent, 2 Common Gull, Common Scoter, Curlew, Great-crested Grebe, Great-northern Diver & Red-throated Diver with northbound 3 Greylags & a Brent.

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.

Tuesday 20th November 2018

It's grim out there with a strong easterly wind and belts of rain and hail - nice ! Consequently most time spent seawatching with southbound 20 Brent, 10 Black-heads, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Velvet Scoter with northbound 16 Common Scoter, 6 Brent, 4 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Bonxie & Red-throated Diver plus 705 Cormorant that went out fishing & at least 4 Gannet loitering with the gulls. On site a small arrival of new Blackies plus a couple of new Chaffinch, 3 Fieldfare, single Redwing & Woodcock. 2 Snow Bunting flew along the beach but with no one brave enough to venture onto the reserve that's your lot.

Ringing: 6 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch.

Monday 19th November 2018

Easterly wind with showers. Offshore southbound 210 Brent, 120 Common Scoter, 111 Wigeon, 73 Teal, 19 Black-heads, 7 Common Gull, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Eider, 2 Shelduck & Gannet with northbound 11 Eider, 10 Common Scoter, 6 Brent, 6 Pintail, 3 Velvet Scoter, 2 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver and a fine adult Yellow-legged Gull along the beach line. c.2,500 seagulls and half a dozen Gannets were loitering offshore, 2 Snow Bunting were on the beach, Woodcock in the observatory compound and single Purple Sand & Turnstone along the riverbank for those brave, or daft, enough to venture onto the reserve.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird.

Sunday 18th November 2018

On the move southbound 103 Brent, 5 Wigeon, Pintail, Shelduck & Skylark with northbound 12 Eider, 7 Brent, 3 Gannet & 2 Common Scoter. 4 Jackdaws that came in from the north departed back from whence they came. On site 15 Goldcrest, 10 Robin, 8 Mipit, 7 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Snow Bunting, 2 Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Fieldfare, Purple Sandpiper & Woodcock.

Ringing: 3 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.