Saturday 10 October 2020

A gusty westerly to start the day, which gradually picked up throughout the morning with some light drizzle just before mid-day.

There was a smaller finch movement than there has been in the last few days, with 402 Goldfinches, 84 Siskin, 81 Redpolls, 18 Linnets, 11 Greenfinch, 7 Chaffinch, a Brambling but the highlight was a single Hawfinch which dropped into one of the brambles out on the reserve before heading north. Also on the move were 25 Swallows and 13 House Matins, 33 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 8 Skylarks, 2 Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Little Egrets.

In the bushes were  20 Robins, 5 Blackcaps and 4 Chiffchaffs and a Mistle Thrush which were regularly being harassed by 3 Sparrowhawks. Out on the Reserve 4 Wheatears were out by the Tank Blocks. A single Turnstone and a Purple Sandpiper were on the Jetty.

On the Sea a Golden Plover and a Red-breasted Merganser headed south.

In the traps this morning was the sites second record of Oak Rustic which is a recent colonist to southern Britain. Its larvae live on Holm Oak so its a potential colonist to the site.

Ringing: 17 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Wren

Friday 9th October 2020

 

A fine clear morning, with a light westerly picking up mid-morning. There was a reasonable vis-mig and a movement of Dunnocks and Blue Tits with plenty of new individuals in the nets.

The highlight of this morning vis-mig was a single Spoonbill heading south. Also on the move were a good number of finches with, 667 Goldfinch, 216 Siskin, 74 Linnet, 63 Redpoll, 25 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch and a Brambling. Also on the move south were 46 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtails, 36 Skylark, a Woodlark, 116 Swallows, 60 House Martins, a Yellowhammer and a Rook.

In the Bushes were 18 Chiffchaffs, including a likely 'tristis' individual, 20 Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, 35 Robins and 5 Song Thrush. There was certainly an influx of Blue Tits and a Dunnocks into the site with 22 new Blue Tits ringed and 10 new Dunnocks ringed. 

Out on the Reserve were 4 Wheatears by the Tank Blocks and there were 5 Turnstone on the Jetty. On the Sea, 4 Gannets and 2 Shelduck headed south and 2 Brent Geese headed north.

Normally a regular migrant, Pearly Underwing has been almost non-existent this year. 

Ringing: 22 Blue Tit, 11 Blackcap, 10 Dunnock, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Robin, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Brambling, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 House Sparrow

Thursday 8th October 2020

A change in the weather with a blocking front just to the north of us resulted in this mornings vis mig limited to southbound 151 Siskin, 62 Swallow, 38 Goldfinch, 7 Linnet, 2 Chaffinch, Redpoll & Woodlark plus 7 House Martin heading inland. Offshore barely worth a mention with southbound 4 Teal, 2 Common Scoter, Knot, Pintail, Sandwich Tern & Turnstone with northbound 2 Sandwich Tern. Grounded migrants include 12 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Wheatear & Pied Fly plus7 Turnstone were on the jetty.

Ringing: 4 Blackcap

Wednesday 7th October 2017

Good vis mig again with southbound at least 1,878 Goldfinch, 310 Siskin, 296 Swallow, 145 Redpoll, 90 Mipit, 62 Skylark, 25 Black-headed Gull, 25 Chaffinch, 22 Linnet, 21 Greenfinch, 21 House Martin, 8 Pied Wagtail, 8 Woodlark, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Dunlin, 2 Grey Wagtail, Brambling & Little Egret. Grounded migrants include 8 Chiffchaff, 8 Mipit, 6 Blackcap, 6 Wheatear, 4 Chaffinch, 4 Stonechat, Great Spotted Wood, Mistle Thrush, Yellow-browed Warbler plus the surprise reappearance of the Cetti's Warbler from 29th September.

Ringing: 44 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Common Redpoll.

Tuesday 6th October 2020

 

A still drizzly start was replaced by a breezy westerly wind by mid morning producing a good vis-mig.

It was rather quiet in the bushes except for a few Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests with the majority of Robins having abandoned the site to continue on their migration. 

Out on the Reserve 7 Wheatears were still by the Tank Blocks, 2 Stonechats were up by Manor Terrace and 3 Jackdaws loafed around the Fort. A Short-eared Owl was still out in the beach vegetation and was again being harassed by the local Magpies. Firecrest & Reed Warbler were on the "icky ridge".

There was a reasonable passage of finches this morning with 364 Goldfinch, 142 Siskin, 45 Linnet, 24 Redpoll, 9 Chaffinch. 2 Greenfinch, 2 Brambling and 2 Crossbills passing south. Also on the move were 135 Meadow Pipits, 19 Skylark, 8 Woodlark, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Merlin passed south. A couple of Red Admirals and a Hornet also seemed to be on the move and headed directly south.

On the Sea 19 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 3 Brent, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 6, Oystercatcher, 5 Golden Plover, 3 Grey Heron and a Shag passed by. There were also 3 Turnstones at the Jetty.

Ringing: 12 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Robins, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Redpoll

Monday 5th October 2020

A busy breezy morning, with rain before first light and just after midday.

There were still good numbers of Robins and Blackcaps in the bushes first thing this morning, at least 50 Robins and 55 Blackcaps were moving through the brambles. Also moving through were 10 Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests and a couple of Firecrest, a Reed Bunting, a Yellow-browed Warbler and Whitethroat. The lingering Red-breasted Flycatcher was still present round the Obs and a second was present in the Lighthouse Cottage Garden.

Out on the Reserve a Tree Sparrow was in the Beach Bushes. At least 7 Wheatears were out by the Tank Blocks and 2 mobile male Stonechats, a Ring Ouzel and a Mistle Thrush were out in the brambles. At least 2 Short-eared Owls were roosting in the Beach Vegetation but were regularly harassed by the local corvids. 

The highlight of the day was a good movement of finches and pipits. They passed throughout the morning with, 231 Meadow Pipits, 4 Rock Pipits, 2 Tree Pipits, 730 Siskin, 305 Goldfinch, 146 Redpolls, 96 Linnets, 55 Chaffinch, 42 Crossbills, 39 Skylark, 9 Brambling and 5 Greenfinch recorded before the rain. Also on the move was an Osprey which headed over the Port, 29 Swallows, 39 Skylarks and 7 Woodlarks, a Grey Wagtail and a Woodcock.

On the Sea, 144 Brents, 7 Pintail, 3 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Dunlin headed south and 4 Turnstone were on the Jetty.

The Brick is another autumnal species that will be living on the poplars here.

Ringing: 35 Blackcap, 13 Robin, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 2 Firecrest, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Meadow Pipit.

Sunday 4th October 2020

Wet & increasingly windy day following a very wet night made birding conditions onerous. New in were a handful of similar fare to yesterday plus the observatories latest ever Grasshopper Warbler by two days. Migrants include at least 60 Song Thrush, 50 Robin, 15 Blackcap, 12 Goldcrest, 8 Mipit, 7 Wheatear, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Redstart, 3 Brambling, 3 Redwing, 2 Firecrest, 2 Rock Pipit, Whitethroat with left over from yesterday Red-breasted Flycatcher & Yellow-browed Warbler. Some southerly movement included 31 Mipit, 15 Siskin, 9 Swallow, 2 Rock Pipit & Hawfinch. Offshore southbound 156 Brent, 69 Wigeon, 22 Common Scoter, 8 Pintail, 4 Gadwal, 4 Gannet, 2 Common Gull, 2 Teal, Curlew & Shelduck with northbound 9 Gadwal & 2 Eider.

Large Wainscot is a great wanderer at this time of the year from its reed bed home.

Ringing: 6 Robin, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 1 Brambling, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Redstart.