Fall conditions this morning with a steady drizzle or rain lasting most of the morning but with a few brief dry periods.
As expected there were large numbers of Song Thrush and Robins littering the Fort and the Reserve with many coming in off the sea after sunrise. There was also a good movement of Brent and a decent bit of vis-mig.
An estimated total of 120 Song Thrush were moving through Landguard along with at least 150 Robins. Also joining them some of the more expected migrants including at least 40 Blackcap, 25 Blackbirds, 20 Goldcrest, 15 Redwing, 10 Chiffchaffs, 8 Wheatear, 5 Brambling, 4 Redstarts, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 2 Whitethroat, Golden Plover, Mistle Thrush, a Tree Sparrow a Garden Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Reed Bunting. A group of 5 Lapwing and a Golden Plover were grounded on the beach and 2 Snipe and 2 Jack Snipe were in the beach vegetation. 44 Skylark came in off the sea and south also 31 Swallow & 17 Siskin south. There were also 6 Turnstone on the Jetty.
There were also a few Rarities found including a flyover Great Snipe which headed straight over the Obs and a Richard's Pipit seen by one lucky observer out on the reserve. Scarcities included 3 Yellow-browed Warblers in the Poplars behind the Obs and a Shorelark out on the Reserve. Red-breasted Fly & only the ninth site record of Dartford Warbler were found in the afternoon.
Out on the sea 4274 Brent passed by this morning along with 356 Wigeon, 104 Teal, 46 Common Scoter, 39 Pintail, 10 Pochard, 3 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall. Also on the move were 6 Grey Herons, a Redshank, a Common Tern, Green Sand, 2 Sandwich Terns and 21 Gannets.
Ringing: 81 Robin, 19 Goldcrest, 18 Blackcap, 7 Song Thrush, 6 Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Wren, 2 Redstart, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Red-breasted Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat.