A nice combination of dull skies and gentle easterly winds made for another interesting day. 3 woodcock were the most we've had in a day this autumn, with two paying the bird observatory a closer visit. A willow warbler was unexpected and pale, though it fell well within the bounds for an 'ordinary' one, though is the second latest record we've had after a bird seen on 9-10/11/1992. This was joined by 3 chiffchaffs and a blackcap, starting to get late even for these latter species now. A brambling was feeding in the observatory compound, a great spotted woodpecker took a trip down the peninsula and yet another new Cetti's was ringed. A definite increase in blackbird numbers, with at least 40 on site today, with several arriving off incoming ships, along with a handful of starlings. 2 purple sandpipers were on the jetty along with a single rock pipit.
Out to sea, the most notable movement was from shelduck with 142 moving south throughout the morning, and 9 north, the biggest movement of the species we've had this year. 38 wigeon, 2 teal, 107 Brent geese also moved south along with a single red-breasted merganser and a pintail.
The second emergence of Treble-bar finishes in mid-September, so are they having a third emergence this year?
Birds Ringed: Blackbird 14, Blackcap 1, Blue Tit 1, Brambling 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chaffinch 5, Chiffchaff 3, Goldcrest 8, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Robin 9, Song Thrush 3, Starling 2, Willow Warbler 1, Woodcock 2, Wren 6.