Saturday 28th November 2020

Pale-bellied Brent that went south then back north is only the 16th site record (although no doubt more have been missed amongst the mass flocks of Brent passing by at times in the past). Also of note was an adult Little Gull sat on the sea for a while. Offshore southbound 38 Teal, 36 Brent, 36 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, 12 Common Scoter, 5 Shelduck, 4 Red-throated Diver & Little Egret with northbound 11 Common Scoter, 4 Eider, 4 Red-throats & 2 Brent. Migrants on site were 2 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Woodcock plus a couple of new Blackies. A Great-spot was on site in the afternoon.

Ringing: 5 Blackbird.

Friday 27th November 2020

Fungi are hard with this monster growing out of a decaying broken off Poplar branch we believe is Peeling Oysterling Crepidotus mollis although it could be Branching Oyster Pleurotus cornucopiae due to its size. I used to be indecisive but now I am not so sure !

Bank of cloud offshore & thick fog inland with us in a glorious narrow frosty strip along the coast until the fog rolled down the river 0830 to 1000 hrs before clearing again. This odd weather phenomenon brought us a late autumn fall of 50 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, Jack Snipe & Woodcock. A Great-spotted Woodpecker paid a visit & it looks like a Firecrest is going to attempt to overwinter here. Other observations almost non-existent.

Ringing: 24 Blackbird, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker. 

Thursday 26th November 2020

Fairly benign , weather wise. On site migrants included 3 Chaffinch, Fieldfare, Redpoll, Redwing & Woodcock with vis mig just southbound 23 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, Mipit & Skylark plus northbound 2 Siskin & Little Egret. Offshore not worth mentioning although at least 2,240 Cormorants headed out fishing just to the north of us.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch.

Wednesday 25th November 2020

Definitely "last knockings" as far as autumn migration is concerned with southbound 32 Siskin, 14 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet, 2 Chaffinch & 2 Mipit. A flock of 170 Starling came in off the sea. Offshore southbound 23 Brent, 8 Shelduck, 7 Teal, 6 Common Gull, 5 Kitt, 2 Wigeon, Great Crested Grebe, Oyk, & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Red-throats. A loitering Firecrest is still with us and a Purp was on the point with a Woodcock disturbed on site first thing.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird

Tuesday 24th November 2020

A Woodcock flushed a couple of times first thing is today's migrant in the bushes which, were otherwise, deadly quiet. 40 Ringed plover were attempting to roost on the beach at dawn but were shifted by the first dog of the day. Southbound vis mig consisted of just 13 Starling & a Mipit. Offshore not much better with southbound 11 Brent, 10 Shelduck, 5 Common Scoter, 3 Knot, 2 Common Gull, 2 Red-throated Diver, Curlew, Gannet, Kitt & Lesser Black-backed Gull with northbound 15 Red-thoats, 9 Gannet & 8 Common Scoter plus 7 Gannet that followed ro-ro ferry in late morning.

Ringing: nil.

Monday 23rd November 2020

Glorious sunny frosty morning with the pollution from the funnel of "Stinky Stenna" leaving Harwich hanging in the air - nice for all you asthmatics ! An alien female Peregrine was winding up the local pair just as it was getting light which is entertaining for the observers & quite possibly for the female Peregrines who do seem to enjoy a good talon fight.  On the move southbound "ringtail" Hen Harrier & a late Swallow of note plus 31 Goldfinch, 19 Shelduck, 19 Starling, 13 Brent, 11 Siskin, 8 Redpoll, 5 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, 3 Mipit & 3 Skylark. On site migrants included 2 Redwing, Chiffchaff & Fieldfare. Finally a Purp was on the point.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

Sunday 22nd November 2020

Another Lapland Bunting flew through low calling with other vis mig confined to southbound 30 Siskin, 21 Goldfinch, 21 Redpoll, 7 Mipit, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Skylark & Carrion Crow. New migrants in the bushes limited to single Blackie & Songie. 4 Turnstone & a Purp were on the point early morning but shifted by a dog. At least one Firecrest from the autumn is still loitering in the bushes.

Ringing: 7 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush.