Saturday 24th October 2020

Another breezy south westerly this morning with another good finch movement before it petered out by late morning. 

On the move were, 380 Goldfinch, 143 Siskin, 65 Redpoll, 61 Linnet, 32 Chaffinch, 30 Crossbill, 5 Greenfinch, 2 Brambling, 39 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 6 Skylark, 5 Swallows and a Grey Wagtails. The bushes were quiet although there was a lingering Firecrest and 3 Goldcrests. A Merlin was again hunting for any tired migrants offshore before heading up river.

Out on the reserve, the Wheatear was still by the Mine Station and a Stock Dove was in with the Wood Pigeons. There were 3 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper at the Jetty.

There was a small amount of movement on the sea with 2 Teal, a Shelduck, a Brent and a Great-crested Grebe headed south while 2 Brents headed north.

The Satellite is a winter flyer that is regularly noted here in small numbers over the winter months

Ringing: Nil

Friday 23rd October 2020

 A breezy south westerly again this morning, with a good vis-mig.

Again it was mostly Finches passing overhead this morning, with 452 Goldfinch, 172 Redpoll, 66 Siskin, 63 Linnet, 54 Chaffinch and 39 Greenfinch. Also on the move were good numbers of Skylark with 50 passing overhead and also a flurry of Hirundines with 81 Swallows and 3 House Martins. Odds and Sods included 24 Meadow Pipits, 4 Rock Pipits, 3 Reed Buntings, 3 Jackdaw, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Tree Sparrow.

In the bushes were a few Goldcrest, a Firecrest and 3 Blackcaps. Out on the reserve, the Wheatear was still by the Mine Station. There were 2 Purple Sandpipers and 9 Turnstones on the Jetty.

On the sea, 3 Shelduck, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Brent headed south and 7 Brent and a Ringed Plover headed north. There was a bit of Starling movement as well with 933 coming in off the sea late morning.

White Point has colonised over the last 50 years and is fairly common here earlier in the season. Late examples could well be fresh primary immigrants as the last ones we saw were 5 weeks back.

Ringing: 17 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Redwing

Thursday 22nd October 2020

A breezy south westerly this morning with a bit of Vis-mig.

The finches were back on the move this morning, although still in reasonably low numbers with, 324 Goldfinch, 127 Redpoll, 42 Linnet, 24 Crossbill, 23 Siskin, 11 Chaffinch,  5 Greenfinch, 1 Brambling heading south. Also on the move were 21 Skylarks, 19 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit and 2 Grey Wagtails, 16 Swallow, 8 House Martins and a late Sand Martin. A Merlin was harassing the migrants as they went south.

In the bushes this morning were 3 Firecrest, 10 Goldcrest and a Blackcap. On the reserve the Ring Ouzel was still by the practise guns and a Wheatear was by the Mine Station. Out on the Jetty there were 7 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper.

On the Sea a Brent Goose headed north and 8 Shelduck headed south.

The Chestnut has become very scarce in recent autumns whereas Dark Chestnut is holding its own.

Ringing: 6 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Blackbird, 2 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Wheatear

Wednesday 21st October 2020

Hasn't stopped raining so far so coverage not good. Looking out to sea has produced a mass of Cormorants heading out fishing early on but literally nothing else going past. The regular Ring Ouzel is out on the lawn but the paltry selection of other birds noted are mostly keeping in cover. If it dries up later then some hardy soul might venture out & this blog will be updated - but don't have your hopes to high !

Tuesday 20th October 2020

 

A wet start to the morning which was rather quiet except for an increase of crests in the bushes.

There were at least 20 Goldcrests around the Obs this morning which seemed to be the only place they were present with almost none found on the wider reserve. At least one of the Goldcrest had evidence of where it had previously visited and was sporting a new looking Brussels ring! They were joined this morning by, 5 Firecrests, all of which were new and at least 6 Blackcaps, 6 Long-tailed Tits and a Brambling. 

The number of thrushes about was very low with a few new Blackbirds around, a couple of Song Thrush, a Redwing and the long staying Ring Ouzel. A single Wheatear was out by the Tank Blocks and 3 Rock Pipits were mobile round the point.

Vis-mig was next to nil except for 9 Skylarks, 2 Siskin, a Meadow Pipit and a Grey Wagtail which dropped onto the Heligoland pond late morning. On the sea, a couple of Brent Geese headed south.

Ringing: 14 Goldcrest, 5 Blackcap, 5 Firecrest, 3 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin

Monday 19th October 2020

With the wind switching to south west it was strangely silent compared with the last few days. 

There were still a few Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaff and a couple of Blackcaps in the Bushes. At first light a few Thrushes were hanging around including 15 Blackbirds, 5 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing. 

There was a small amount of vis-mig with 14 Skylark, 14 Redpoll, 10 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, a Brambling, 3 Swallows, 9 Meadow Pipits and a Rock Pipit. A Marsh Harrier came in off the sea.

On the Reserve, the Ring Ouzel was still by the Practise Guns and 2 Rock Pipits, 5 Turnstone and a Purple Sandpiper was on the Jetty.

On the sea, 32 Brent Geese headed south and 11 Brent Geese and 8 Common Scoter headed north.

Always a joy to see, the Merveille Du Jour is a species of Oak Woodlands.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll

Sunday 18th October 2020

Up to the mid 1990's flocks of Jackdaws coming in off the sea were often noted but nowadays flocks are a rare occurrence.

Migrants today included 54 Redpoll, 25 Blackbird, 25 Goldcrest, 16 Mipit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Skylark, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Fieldfare, Brambling, Lapwing, Ring Ouzel, Rock Pipit, Wheatear & Woodcock. Southbound 42 Jackdaw (41 of which went back north), 33 Goldfinch, 22 Linnet, 8 Mipit, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Carrion Crow, 4 Rook, 3 Grey Wag, 3 Siskin, 2 House Martin, 2 Skylark with northbound 17 Swallow, 5 Siskin, Crossbill & Woodlark. Offshore quiet but included Sandwich Tern. 3 Purps & a Turnstone were again on the point.

Blastobasis lacticolella was accidently introduced from Madeira 70 years ago & is very common here.

Ringing: 33 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Goldcrest, 7 Blackbird, 7 Great Tit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Wren.