Saturday 12th October 2024

A very quiet morning, despite a brief thrush rush as the sun rose. The rest of the mornings observations were hard work, with a lot of the interesting records being out to sea. A few duck passed, with a tufted duck heading upriver, 3 pintail and 7 shelduck south and 14 common scoter north. A red-throated diver was present on the sea in the afternoon, and a snipe was on the reserve in the morning, along with 2 purple sandpipers on the jetty, 2 ringed plover and 3 sanderling. 

7 redwing and 10 song thrush were a nice sign of some passerine movement, as was a fresh blackbird and robin in the observatory compound. 2 chaffinch flew south and another was present in the observatory compound. 33 goldfinch flew south along with 19 swallows and 10 meadow pipits. A few new great tits have ventured down from the town and a solitary goldcrest was on site.

Red-green Carpet is another mid-October specialist in low numbers this year.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Goldcrest 1, Great Tit 2, Redwing 3, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1. 

Friday 11th October 2024

Woodpigeons have had a dire breeding season, this
being one of a handful of juveniles encountered all year 

A much quieter morning, with little movement. The brief highlight of the morning was a Lapland Bunting flyover that was heard by a few observers, though never seen. Amongst a movement of 41 skylarks a single woodlark headed south along with 32 meadow pipit and 155 goldfinch. 1 brambling was noted during the morning as was a somewhat late reed warbler. 2 blackcaps, 6 chiffchaff and 4 Cetti's warblers were the only other warblers noted through out the day. Another buzzard headed south and a peregrine made one of their irregular visits, heading towards the docks. A rock pipit was on the jetty, along with 3 turnstone.

Birds Ringed|: Chiffchaff 4, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Wren 1. 

 

Thursday 10th October 2024

Another quiet morning. 2 redwing were present early morning, we've had less than 10 records of the species so far this autumn, so these were very welcome. A handful of warblers were around the compound, 5 chiffchaff and 1 blackcap, along with a single goldcrest and firecrest. 4 house martin went north, getting late for this species now. Southward were 2 jackdaw, 5 skylark, 1 buzzard, 121 goldfinch and 18 meadow pipits. 

Brindled Green is another October specialist in low numbers.

Birds Ringed: Cetti's Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1, Grey Wagtail 4. 

 

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Wednesday 9th October 2024

No numbers of real note but an interesting assortment of migrants including 20 Mipit, 6 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, Firecrest, Grey Wag, Jay (probably hadn't come far), Redstart, Reed Warbler, Woodlark & Yellow Wagtail. Southbound 94 Goldfinch, 44 Mipit, 39 Swallow, 31 Siskin, 13 Skylark, 4 Pied Wag, House Martin & Sand Martin. The trapped Chiffchaff had a lot of features of tristis but was probably a fulvescens from the western part of the races range where the races intergrade with each other. 

Green-brindled Crescent is a classic October species in small numbers here.

Ringing: 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Jay, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 8th October 2024

Another day of south westerlies, with a nice heavy shower half way through. A yellow-browed warbler was the most notable bird of the day, though only heard by one observer. A willow warbler was a bit of a surprise as its been a few weeks since the bulk of them passed through, and a welcome change from the monotony of chiffchaffs. 2 rock pipits were on the jetty, along with two turnstone and 2 wheatear were out on the reserve. 32 meadow pipit moved south, as did 74 swallows and 76 goldfinch.

Recorded for the first time two years ago, over 120 Channel Island Pugs have been noted this year. It lives on Tamarisk, so is well at home here.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 1, Song Thrush 1, Willow Warbler 1. 

Monday 7th October 2024

Another steady but quiet day, with increasing southerly winds throughout the morning. Yesterdays firecrest had found a friend, a 1st year male, and a few more goldcrest were new in, along with 3 chiffchaff. 1 blackcap was a poor showing for this species today, but a garden warbler was adequate compensation, though a bit of a surprise as its starting to get a bit late for them here. A few hirundines continue to move south; 28 swallow and 3 house martin, and 4 song thrush were new in. Yet another new Cetti's warbler paid the Observatory a visit, and at least 4 were around the reserve in full, if inexperienced, voice. A peregrine was a welcome raptor record alongside the usual kestrel observations. A skylark flew south as did 27 Brent geese, 13 wigeon and 11 meadow pipit.

Birds Ringed: Cetti's Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Dunnock 1, Firecrest 1, Garden Warbler 1, Goldcrest 1, Grey Wagtail 2,  Robin 2, Song Thrush 2.

 

Sunday 6th October 2024

 

Strong south-easterly brought a very small handful of common migrants including 4 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, Blackcap, Lapwing, Song Thrush, a couple of new Robin plus the first Firecrest of the autumn. Southbound 35 Swallow with offshore 52 Brent, 6 Wigeon & a Dunlin plus northbound 19 Gannet, 3 Common Scoter & an Arctic Skua poor returns for the effort put in.

It's been a poor year for Humming-bird Hawk-moth so it was a surprise to find this one in a moth trap.

Ringing: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Firecrest.