Saturday 26th October 2024

A pleasant morning with a diverse selection of species, if not high numbers of individual species. The first water rail for a couple of years paid the observatory a visit, the Dartford warbler (or another) was rediscovered, a yellow-browed warbler called once on site, as they sometimes do, and a short-eared owl delighted the large group of observers present today.

Chaffinch numbers were slightly higher today, with at least 30 dropping into the trees behind the obs late afternoon. Redpoll numbers were less positive with only one bird observed all day, and only 3 goldfinch made any attempt to migrate, though 18 remained on the reserve. Still one firecrest remains behind the observatory kitchen along with a few goldcrest and 3 chiffchaff, all of the latter being 'normal' chiffs. 2 rock pipit and a purple sandpiper were on the jetty and 2 Mediterranean gulls joined the regular species out to sea. 

The first Mallow of the year, much like a lot of moth species this year, is late turning up.

Birds Ringed: Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Water Rail 1, Woodpigeon 1, Wren 1. 
 

Friday 25th October 2024

More south easterlies brought in a nice selection of regular migrants along with a couple of tristis chiffchaffs, one of which paid a visit to the observatory. 8 goldcrests were mostly new birds, though a firecrest was one that's been here a while. Some common chiffchaff were new in along with 6 song thrush. 6 lesser redpoll flew south, along with 5 meadow pipits, 19 starling, 3 stock dove, 19 chaffinch and 11 goldfinch. Out to sea the highlight was a great northern diver heading south, along with 5 pintail, 75 wigeon, 6 teal and 16 shelduck.  2 snipe headed south, a rock pipit and a purple sandpiper were on the jetty and 2 lapwing were briefly on the reserve. 

Only a couple of Dotted Chestnut have been noted here previously.

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 2, Chiffchaff 2, tristis Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 2, Great Tit 1, Robin 6, Song Thrush 4. 

 

Thursday 24th October 2024

Possibly the first goosander pic for the blog ever. 

A brisk south easterly saw a few more song thrushes, robins and blackbirds in, a fresh firecrest and a handful of new goldcrests. A goosander flew out to sea over the observatory and a black redstart was found at the cottage before reappearing in the observatory compound.

Fairly low numbers of species migrating, with 14 woodpigeon, 4 chaffinch, 14 meadow pipit and 11 skylark and a single wigeon all heading south. A young peregrine was hunting around the observatory in the late afternoon. No sign of yesterdays Dartford warbler, though given the species elusiveness, this in no way means its not still here. 

A single lesser redpoll visited the Obs, sadly a Mealy couldn't be made of it. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 3, Dunnock 2, Firecrest 1, Goldcrest 4, Lesser Redpoll 1, Robin 5, Song Thrush 3.

Wednesday 23rd October 2024

Spot the Dartford ?

Pleasant calm morning with today's assortment including southbound 139 Wood Pigeon, 87 Goldfinch, 51 Mipit, 27 Stock Dove, 14 Skylark, 13 Chaffinch, 13 Swallow, 4 Rook, 3 House Martin, 2 Greenfinch, Marsh Harrier & Swift plus offshore southbound 74 Black- headed Gull, 43 Brent, 10 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 2 Oyk, 2 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, Common Scoter, Gannet, Med Gull Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver & Ringed Plover. 36 Starling in off the sea were the first of their kind to do so this autumn. On site migrants not numerous with 4 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Redwing, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Dartford Warbler, Grey Wag,  Rock Pipit, Song Thrush & Stonechat plus a couple of new Robins. 299 Cormorant headed out fishing early doors as numbers have started to pick up over the last couple of days.

Ringing: 4 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Great Tit, 2 Blackcap, 2 Redwing, 2 Robin, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Tuesday 22nd October 2024

Slightly more lively this morning, with vis migging producing more species than yesterday. Meadow pipit numbers were up with 79 moving south through the morning along with 33 skylarks, 13 swallow, 6 house martin and a stock dove. Finch numbers were slightly higher, with our first brambling for a few days and a small flock of lesser redpoll, one of which paid us a closer visit in the observatory. These were joined by another 402 goldfinch and 18 chaffinch, all heading south. A black-throated diver flying over the observatory up the Stour is the most notable bird of the day, with a red-throated diver flying south also. 

Our woodpigeon numbers are still pathetically small, though this has been slightly boosted by migrant birds passing through on their way south, with 65 braving the river crossing today. Cormorant numbers tend to build up at this time of year, and 159 flying out to their feeding grounds isn't even the largest number recorded this month.

Seteaceous Hebrew Character is still on the wing up to mid November. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Song Thrush 2, Wren 1. 

Monday 21st Ocotber 2024

A very quiet morning was livened up by the first redpoll of the autumn, flying south, and a brief ring ouzel that disappeared into the docks almost as soon as it was spotted. Other notable observations included a red-throated diver on the sea, 33 chaffinch and 5 siskin south and a little egret north. 

Goldfinch continue to move south, with 80 joining the other finches this morning. 2 chiffchaff and 5 Cetti's warblers were the only warbler species noted on site today. 

Plenty of Angle Shades around at present with this one sitting on Perforate St John's Wort alongside a moth trap. 

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1, Wren 2. 

Sunday 20th October 2024

More like purgatory than pleasure with an increasing wind as the morning progressed with some annoying rain thrown in to chear one up. Migrants very hard to come by but included 2 Redwing & a Skylark plus southbound 13 Swallow, 3 Mipit & a House Martin. Offshore half a dozen Gannet but very little else going past.

Red-line Quaker just about makes it onto the year list most autumns. Living on Willows not sure why it bothers coming here.

Ringing: 2 Wren.