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Saturday 19th October 2019

Stonechat

Good numbers of Goldfinch were on the move today, with 1,665 logged south by midday, along with 180 Stock Dove, 120 Linnet, 72 Meadow Pipit, 65 Woodpigeon, 28 Greenfinch, 20 Swallow, 18 Starling, 6 House Martin, 9 Wigeon, 8 Chaffinch, 8 Skylark, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Shelduck, 1 Brent Goose, 1 Woodlark and 1 Red-throated Diver. Cormorants numbered 217 on their way out to sea this morning. Notable for their relative absence are Redpoll, with only a single bird recorded today; now that we are into late October we should expect to see numbers pick up. The first Snow Bunting of the season was seen out on the reserve, with Stonechat, Reed Bunting and 2 Wheatear also present. Our Yellow-browed Warbler ringed earlier in the week was once again re-trapped and is happily putting on weight, and it was joined by a second Yellow-browed Warbler in the poplars next to the kitchen, which was also ringed today.  

Ringing: 6 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 4 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Robin.
Recoveries: 1 Blue Tit.

Friday 18th October 2019


A wet start and a rising south-westerly wind made for a quiet morning of birding, but the star bird of the day was the adult female Long-eared Owl first seen before dawn, then chased around by the Magpies and Kestrels before eventually finding a net and being ringed. It was a good day for Dunlin with 438 logged southwards, with a supporting cast of 64 Shelduck, 33 Knot, 30 Goldfinch, 14 Wigeon, 8 Grey Plover, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Meadow Pipit, 6 Skylark, 5 Oystercatcher, 4 House Martin, 3 Gannet, 2 Shelduck, 2 Sanderling, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Mallard and 1 Redshank.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Long-eared Owl, 1 Blue Tit.

Thursday 17th October 2019


The Wood  Pigs have started !


The morning was flat calm and ideal conditions for an entertaining day of visible migration with even species like Dunnock and Magpie showing signs of migratory restlessness. Goldfinch took the top spot today with 1,640 logged southbound, and Woodpigeon was runner-up on 1,063. Other birds on their way south were 440 Starling, 217 Linnet, 175 Chaffinch, 116 Skylark, 97 Meadow Pipit, 61 Black-headed Gull, 23 Brent Goose, 21 Swallow, 15 Pied Wagtail, 10 Rook, 5 Barnacle Goose, 4 Common Gull, 3 Wigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Siskin, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Dunlin and 1 Velvet Scoter. A further 5 Woodlark heading south suggests this species has had a good breeding year, and 1 Spoonbill was noted heading north. Around the reserve there were 25 Blackbird, 12 Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff, a family party of 9 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Blackcap, 7 Greenfinch, 4 Wheatear, 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Stonechat, a Firecrest, a Grey Wagtail, a Reed Bunting, a Jay and a Brambling. The Yellow-browed Warbler ringed yesterday remains in the trees by the kitchen.


Double-striped Pug now has three emergencies a year with the final one appearing paler than the earlier ones.

Ringing: 14 Blue Tit, 9 Goldcrest, 8 Great Tit, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 7 Robin, 6 Wren, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Blackbird, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 3 Dunnock, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Firecrest.
Recoveries: 1 Robin (Belgian ring).

Wednesday 16th October 2019


Only the 8th site record of Dartford Warbler on the northern end of the reserve and probably the first one to have its picture taken.

A very different morning compared to yesterday, with drizzle, showers and southerly winds making things difficult for both birds and birders. Battling southbound there were 270 Goldfinch, 220 Brent Goose, 57 Meadow Pipit, 36 Swallow, 30 Linnet, 11 Gannet, 10 Skylark, 8 Dunlin, 3 Common Gull, 3 Sanderling, 2 Shelduck, 2 Cormorant and 1 Common Scoter. Around the reserve Robin numbers were down to 30 with many of yesterday's fall apparently clearing out overnight. Otherwise there were 12 Redwing, 7 Greenfinch, 6 Song Thrush, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Stonechat 1 Wheatear and 1 Yellow-browed Warbler.

Ringing: 3 Robin, 2 Great Tit, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler.

Tuesday 15th October 2019

A busy day in the ringing room and a busy day for migration, with birds making the best of the calm conditions. Southbound were 1,367 Goldfinch, 783 Brent Goose, 270 Swallow, 114 Dunlin, 87 Meadow Pipit, 79 Wigeon, 64 Skylark, 59 House Martin, 58 Linnet, 48 Chaffinch, 30 Shelduck, 20 Starling, 11 Woodlark, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Common Gull, 4 Knot, 4 Cormorant, 4 Rock Pipit, 3 Curlew, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Gadwall, 1 Kestrel, 1 Pintail, 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Reed Bunting and 1 Tufted Duck. There was also a Razorbill in from the north, pitched into the sea then took off later head back north. On the reserve there were 100 Robin, 60 Song Thrush, 20 Blackbird, 14 Redwing, 10 Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Greenfinch, 4 Wheatear, 3 Redpoll, 2 Ring Ouzel and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Although its foodplant is reeds, Large Wainscot is a fairly regular visitor at this time of year.

Ringing: 68 Robin, 30 Song Thrush, 20 Blackcap, 18 Blackbird, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Blue Tit, 3 Redwing, 3 Great Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Wren, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Recoveries: 2 Blue Tit.

Monday 14th October 2019

Another one of those frustrating mornings dodging the showers. On site migrants included 30 Mipit, 25 Robin, 10 Goldcrest, 5 Redwing, 4 Rock Pipit, 3 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, 2 Firecrest, 2 Grey Wag, Brambling, Lesser 'throat, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Swallow, Willow Warbler & Yellow Wagtail. Southbound 23 Mipit with offshore next to nothing.


The Brick is a fairly regular entrant into the traps in October.

Ringing: 4 Robin, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Wren.

Sunday 13th October 2019

More assorted weather ! An arrival of migrants including 70 Robin (including one wearing a Belgium ring), 15 Blackcap, 11 Song Thrush, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Chaffinch, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Lesser 'throat, 2 Redwing, Brambling, Short-eared Owl & Yellow-browed Warbler. Southbound 520 Goldfinch, 200 Starling, 114 Linnet, 71 Mipit, 16 Chaffinch, 3 Wheatear, 2 Gadwal, 2 House Martin, 2 Skylark & Siskin with northbound Arctic Skua & Curlew.


If the wind abates for a while overnight Red-green Carpet can appear in the traps at this time of the year.

Ringing: 32 Robin, 8 Blackcap, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.