Saturday 3rd December 2022

 

Starting to feel like the bleak mid-winter all of a sudden with temperatures finally droping to what they should be at this time of the year coupled with dreary skies and a chill in the north-easterly wind. Southbound 27 Brent, 12 Common Scoter & 4 Common Gull with northbound 6 Common Scoter, 5 Brent, 4 Eider, 4 Gannet & 3 Red-throated Diver. 461 Cormorant headed out to the feeding grounds from various directions. The only migrant on site was a Redwing plus a Turnstone was on the jetty.

Friday 2nd December 2022

 

Offshore movements negligible. A Razorbill flew up river and a Red-throated Diver was fishing just off the View Point car park. 2 Sanderling were on the beach and a Fieldfare dropped in mid-morning. That's your lot !

Thursday 1st December 2022

 

It's December and still plenty of leaves on the Sycamores and the hybrid Black x Italian Poplar tree.

Early morning migrants were 5 Redwing & a Fieldfare plus 4 Skylark that flew off inland. 2 Rock Pipit were on the point, a Red-throated Diver was in the river and a Redshank was heard flying over. Offshore movements were non-existent until 3 drake Goldeneye flew south late morning.

Ringing: 1 House Sparrow.

November Ringing Totals

 

216 birds of 21 species is 15% down on last years paltry November total with the lack of Blackbirds and thrush's most apparent. Worth a mention is 4 more Sparrowhawk & Common Redpoll.

Wednesday 30th November 2022

Only evidence of any migrants was a single Redwing. Offshore movements almost non-existent with just single Brent Goose & Common Scoter noted. Single Rock Pipit was on the point.

Ringing: nil.

Tuesday 29th November 2022

 

Last "knockings" as far as "autumn" is concerned with southbound 5 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll & Mipit with a Brambling in the Holm Oaks, that then departed south, the only evidence of any grounded migrants. A Waxwing went north, that may have come in off the sea mid-morning is a good Landguard bird. Offshore movements largely non-existent in these calm benign weather conditions.

Ringing: 3 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll.

Monday 28th November 2022

 

Murky misty start clearing to glorious sunshine. Short-eared Owl & a couple of new Blackies present. After the murk cleared southbound 4 Skylark, 4 Starling, 2 Mipit & Chaffinch. Only 94 Cormorant seen heading out joining 530 on the distant sandbanks.

Ringing: 2 Blackbird.

Sunday 27th November 2022

Rain or drizzle most of the day. A small handful of new Blackies present, as to be expected in these conditions at this time of the year. Offshore movements, again, almost non-existent with southbound 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Black-headed Gull, 3 Gannet, Red-throated Diver & Shelduck in several hours staring into the abyss.

Ringing: 5 Blackbird, 1 House Sparrow.