Brent Geese (Branta bernicla) near and far. 7016 our final day count migrating south.
A sunny morning, clouding over later with some evening drizzle. SSE wind throughout. 1 Brambling inside the compound and a Chiffchaff. The main event of today was the significant movement of Brent Geese, some 7016 over the course of the day until dusk - our 3 highest day count (1983 16,000 and 12,326 in 1989), picking up with 1500 piling through in 35 minutes just after 2pm!.
Overhead migration: 34 Skylark, 17 Siskin, 14 Meadow Pipit, 5 Goldfinch, 1 Swallow and a Whimbrel south over the nature reserve. 40 Chaffinch in off the sea.
Seawatching:
South: 7016 Brent Goose, 580 Wigeon, 79 Teal, 39 Common Scoter, 26 Pintail, 16 Cormorant, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Shoveler, 7 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 4 Dunlin, 4 Grey Plover, 3 Curlew, 3 Golden Plover, 3 Knot, 2 Gannet, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Cory's Shearwater (15:02), 1 Goldeneye, 1 Mallard, 1 Sabine's Gull (13:45), 1 Shelduck and a Tufted Duck.
North: 23 Gannet, 6 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Cormorant, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Shelduck and a Sooty Shearwater (15:05).
Feeding offshore: 14 Great Black-backed Gull and 4 Mediterranean Gull.
Moth trapping: 21 moth species present between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning falls to the Plumed Fan-foot, which first turned up here six years and now occurs in small numbers.
Bird ringing: 2 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Redwing.