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Thursday 12th September 2019

Down to just the one Redstart this morning.

There was barely time to swallow a cup of tea this morning as we had a near constant stream of Swallow passing through on their way south, with a count of 3827 by 12:45pm. This makes today our highest Swallow count since 21st September 2013 when 4576 were logged. As well as the southbound Swallows, there were also 384 House Martin, 190 Meadow Pipit, 63 Sand Martin, 33 Black-headed Gull, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Swift and 1 Cormorant. Northbound there were 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Grey Heron. Despite the good visible passage of hirundines and pipits, migrants on the ground were still a little thin. Logged today were 15 Meadow Pipit, 4 Wheatear, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Redstart. Higher than normal counts of Blue and Great Tit, at 17 and 10 respectively, suggests there has been a movement in from gardens north in Felixstowe. It won't be long until Long-tailed Tits start to appear with them in roving tit parties.

The first Pearly Underwing of the autumn is late on parade this year.

Ringing: 6 Blackcap, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Dunnock, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Robin, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 House Sparrow and 1 Whitethroat.