Ringing: 1 Blackbird.
Wednesday 11th November 2026
Tuesday 10th November 2026
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima).
Starting foggy, after a night of dense fog, but clearing shortly after sunrise, a NNE wind building through the morning. Inside the compound: 1 Brambling, 5 Song Thrush and a Firecrest. Out on the reserve: 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher and 3 Turnstone near the point.
Seawatching:
North: 6 Common Scoter.
east then north (out of the river then north): 2 Brent Goose.
East: 75 Cormorant.
South: 21 Cormorant, 2 Common Scoter and 1 Gannet.
West: 7 Cormorant.
Feeding offshore: 4 Black-headed Gull.
Moth trapping: 6 moth species between our 3 traps.
Bird ringing: 4 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Redwing.
Monday 9th November 2026
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto).
Windless morning with banks of fog nearby, going from overcast to clear repeatedly. Inside the compound 2 Chaffinch, 2 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Greenfinch and a Redpoll. 2 Collared Dove perched on our MOTUS tower. Out on the reserve 3 Turnstone and a Purple Sandpiper all out at the point, 1 Stonechat near the cottage.
Passerine movement: 9 Skylark south.
1 Meadow Pipit north.
Seawatching:
North: 1 Brent Goose.
East: 3 Cormorant and a Tufted Duck.
South: 6 Cormorant and a Brent Goose.
West: 1 Red-throated Diver.
Feeding offshore: 1 Common Gull.
Moth trapping: 12 Species between our 3 traps. Dark Sword Grass is an immigrant species that keeps cropping up late in the year.
Bird ringing: 9 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Robin.
Sunday 8th November 2026
Ringing: 5 Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Robin, 1 Wren.
Saturday 7th November 2026
Turnstone (Arenaria interpres).
A slight NW wind, only brightening up by midday. 3 Firecrest within the compound, later being seen near the customs house. 3 Greenfinch, 1 Snow Bunting, a Purple Sandpiper and 2 Turnstone on the reserve and a Short-eared Owl early morning.
Passerine/overhead movement
South: 90 Starling, 14 Skylark and 2 Redpoll.
In: 80 Starling.
Seawatching:
South: 6 Brent Goose, 5 Shelduck, 3 Cormorant, 2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Kittiwake.
North: 5 Brent Goose, 2 Little Egret, 1 Common Scoter and 1 Oystercatcher.
East: 25 Cormorant.
East then North: 3 Mute Swan.
West: 22 Cormorant.
Moth trapping: 14 moth species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning goes to the Chestnut, which is a fairly common winter flying moth that we only rarely get down here.
Bird ringing: 6 Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush.
Friday 6th November 2026
Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla).
An overcast day a slight E breeze. Inside the compound highlights included some of the 35 Blackbirds on site today, 5 Firecrest, 1 Woodcock and a Chiffchaff. Out on the reserve: 5 Rock Pipit, 2 Turnstone, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Snow Bunting and some 20 Pied Wagtails by late evening.
Passerine movement:
South: 5 Chaffinch, 3 Skylark, 1 Reed Bunting
North: 2 Skylark.
Seawatching:
North: 59 Common Scoter, 26 Brent Goose, 1 Gannet, 1 Shelduck
South: 55 Shelduck, 34 Common Scoter, 4 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron and a Red-throated Diver.
Out of the river then north: 3 Greylag Goose.
Feeding offshore/on: 34 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull and a Red-throated Diver.
87 Cormorant out and 2 back in the river.
Moth trapping: 12 moth species between our 3 traps.
Bird ringing: 16 Blackbird, 6 Wren, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Robin.
Thursday 5th November 2026
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis).
Overcast and windy but brightening during the afternoon. 1 Chiffchaff and 5 Firecrest inside the compound. Out on the reserve: 1 Snow Bunting near the sea watching hide, 2 Rock Pipit and a Purple Sandpiper near the point.
Visible migration
South: 127 Brent Goose, 23 Wigeon, 11 Common Scoter, 8 Shelduck, 5 Teal, 4 Velvet Scoter, 3 Lapwing, 2 Pintail, 1 Curlew, 1 Dunlin and a Mallard.
North: 131 Cormorant, 88 Wigeon, 60 Common Scoter, 6 Brent, 5 Eider, 5 Gadwall, 3 Shelduck, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Gannet, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Oystercatcher and a Red-throated Diver.
East: 78 Cormorant.
Feeding offshore: 45 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull and a Mediterranean Gull.
Moth trapping: 2 Species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning goes to Eudonia angustea, a common species in the Autumn that is lingering on later in the year nowadays.
Eudonia angustea.
Bird ringing: 9 Blackbird, 6 Goldcrest, 4 Firecrest, 4 Goldfinch,
2 Wren, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Redwing.
Wednesday 4th November 2026
Ringing: 13 Blackbird, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Goldcrest.
Tuesday 3rd November 2026
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). 4 birds in front of the observatory for the past few days.
Showers from dawn, with wind building from the NNE. 1 Swallow feeding around the observatory and a Chiffchaff inside the compound. Across the site: 3 Mealy Redpoll and 2 Firecrest. 1 Short-Eared Owl on the beach early morning, 2 Ringed Plover, 11 Lapwing in front of the observatory early morning. 1 Rock Pipit near the point.
Visible migration:
South: 27 Shelduck, 22 Common Scoter, 8 Eider, 6 Wigeon, 2 Common Gull, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Red-throated Diver.
North: 114 Common Scoter, 10 Brent Goose, 7 Cormorant, 5 Gannet, 5 Wigeon, 3 Little Gull, 3 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Oystercatcher and a Teal.
East: 21 Cormorant.
Feeding offshore: 35 Great Black-backed Gull, 8 Black-headed Gull, 2 Cormorant, 1 Mediterranean Gull.
Moth trapping: 8 moth species between our 3 traps.
Bird Ringing: 4 Blackbird and 1 Mealy Redpoll.
Monday 2nd November 2026
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita). Good to see a small number still on site.
A mostly sunny morning with a stronger NW wind and showers late morning. 1 Brambling mobile inside the compound, alongside 3 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest. 3 Fieldfare in front of the observatory. 1 Mealy Redpoll feeding in dunes. 2 Black Redstart across the reserve and fort. 4 Turnstone, 1 Rock Pipit and an Oystercatcher on the point.
Visible migration:
South: 132 Common Scoter, 46 Wigeon, 34 Brent Goose, 30 Shoveler, 15 Pintail, 13 Cormorant, 10 Meadow Pipit, 4 Lapwing, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shelduck, 1 Mallard, 1 Pied Wagtail and a Rock Pipit.
North: 62 Common Scoter, 16 Cormorant, 3 Wigeon, 2 Little Gull, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Pintail, a Red-throated Diver and a Shelduck.
West: 2 Cormorant.
Arriving in: 304 Starling.
Feeding offshore: 300 Herring Gull, 80 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 4 Common Scoter and a Gannet.
Moth trapping: 7 species between our 3 traps. Here's a nice comparison below, between different morphs of the Red-headed Chestnut.
Red-headed Chestnut (Conistra erythrocephala), dark and light morphs.
Bird ringing: 6 Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Kestrel, 1 Mealy Redpoll.
Sunday 1st November 2026
Ringing: 19 Blackbird, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Redwing, 2 Robin, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Woodcock.
October 2026 ringing total
Mealy redpoll (Acanthis flammea flammea).
677 Birds of 34 species which is on par with recent years, following a recently busy autumn last year with 1051 birds, owing to good numbers of Goldcrest which have only just started arriving in the past week. First Barn Owl for 30 years ringed.
Saturday 31st October 2026
Peregrine (Falco peregrinus).
A clear morning with an ESE wind. A Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Siskin, 1 Chiffchaff and a Black Redstart within the compound. Another Black Redstart on the reserve and also 1 Woodcock flushed over the road. 1 Snipe on the reserve.
Visible migration:
South: 647 Brent Goose, 150 Teal, 77 Goldfinch, 75 Wigeon, 38 Meadow Pipit, 35 Woodpigeon, 26 Linnet, 26 Starling, 24 Pintail, 23 Common Scoter, 16 Chaffinch, 12 Redwing, 11 Skylark, 5 Pied Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Redpoll, 2 Shoveler, 1 Brambling and a Rock Pipit.
North: 3 Oystercatcher.
Feeding offshore: 2 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver.
Moth trapping: 12 Species between our 3 traps this morning.
Bird ringing: 15 Blackbird, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Robin, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush.
Friday 30th October 2026
A sunny morning with a ESE wind. 1 Hawfinch late morning inside the compound, also inside the compound: 1 Firecrest, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Black Redstart on top of the fort. On the beach a Purple Sandpiper, a Turnstone and an Oystercatcher.
Overhead migration: 86 Goldfinch, 66 Woodpigeon, 35 Stock Dove, 32 Starling, 24 Chaffinch, 18 Linnet, 16 Skylark, 11 Meadow Pipit, 10 Brambling, 10 Redwing, 9 Reed Bunting, 5 Pied Wagtail, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Rook, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Song Thrush, all south.
Seawatching:
South: 46 Wigeon, 34 Teal, 28 Brent goose, 18 Pintail, 9 Common Scoter, 9 Shelduck, 6 Black-headed Gull, 4 Cormorant, 4 Common Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver,
North: 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Red-throated Diver.
West (up river): 12 Cormorant
East then south (out from the river): 1 White-fronted Goose
Moth trapping: 11 species of moths between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the Gem, a regular scarce immigrant all this time in the Autumn.
The Gem (Orthonama obstipata).
Bird ringing: 16 Goldcrest, 17 Blackbird, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Wren, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Meadow Pipit.
Thursday 29th October 2026
Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe).
Clear with little wind, very slight W turning to SSE. Inside the compound 3 Chiffchaff and 3 flocks of Long-tailed Tits over the duration of the day. On the reserve: 1 Black Redstart, 1 Yellowhammer and a Wheatear.3 Turnstone, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Purple Sandpiper and an Oystercatcher on the beach.
Overhead migration: 18020 Woodpigeon, 226 Stock Dove, 165 Goldfinch, 55 Chaffinch, 41 Skylark, 35 Linnet, 32 Meadow Pipit, 15 Song Thrush, 14 Greenfinch, 10 Brambling, 7 Blackbird, 5 Pied Wagtail, 5 Swallow, 5 Siskin, 4 Woodlark, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Mistle Thrush, all south. 109 Starling off the sea.
Seawatching:
South: 27 Cormorant, 9 Shelduck, 6 Black-headed Gull, 4 Egyption Goose, 3 Brent Goose, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Common Scoter
West: 1 Great White Egret.
Moth Trapping: 17 moth species present between our 3 traps. Turnip is a common species that we forget to feature as moth of the day.
Bird ringing: 36 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Blackbird, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Magpie, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Wren.
Wednesday 28th October 2026
Busy vis mig with minimum figures southbound 18,344 Wood Pigeon, 770 Goldfinch, 709 Stock Dove, 460 Starling, 184 Chaffinch, 171 Mipit, 128 Linnet, 54 Skylark, 45 Siskin, 25 Swallow, 23 Greenfinch, 15 Redpoll, 13 Rook, 12 Brambling, 11 Jackdaw, 11 Woodlark, 10 Reed Bunting, 6 Pied Wag, 2 Heron, Curlew, Great Northern Diver & Little Gull. Offshore movements quiet. On site less hectic, at least 40 Mipit, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Ring Ouzel, Black Red, Fieldfare, Long-eared Owl, Mealy Redpoll, Mistle Thrush, Reed Bunting, Rock Pipit, Song Thrush, Wheatear & a couple of new Blackies. 3 Peregrine had "fun" tormenting the Pigeons. 2 Clouded Yellow butterflies were on the Butts mid-day.
Ringing: 5 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Blackcap, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wood Pigeon.
Tuesday 27th October 2026
Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola).
Overcast with a S wind, fine drizzle then showers late morning. Inside the compound 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and a Firecrest. On the nature reserve: 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Skylark, 1 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear.
Overhead migration: 25 Meadow Pipit, 24 Siskin, 10 Linnet 8 Goldfinch, 5 Woodpigeon, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Swallow, all south.
826 Starling off the sea then West.
Seawatching:
South: 30 Wigeon, 17 Shelduck, 8 Cormorant, 6 Little Gull, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Brent Goose and a Common Gull.
North: 2 Common Gull, 2 Gannet, 1 Arctic Skua and a Red-throated Diver.
East: 1 Cormorant and an Oystercatcher
West: 1 Cormorant.
Feeding offshore: 4 Common Scoter, 2 Kittiwake, 1 Mediterranean Gull
Moth trapping: 5 moth species between our 3 traps.
Bird ringing: 2 Robin, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wood Pigeon.
Monday 26th October 2026
2 Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) seen on the butts this morning.
An overcast morning with SW wind and rain late morning. 3 Ring Ouzel on the butts, 1 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear, 3 Rock Pipit and 11 Pied Wagtail out on the reserve. 4 Firecrest, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, a Common Redpoll and a Redwing. 9 Greenfinch, 3 Collared Dove, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and a Peregrine on site. 2 Turnstone near the point.
Above head migration, 6230 Woodpigeon, 910 Goldfinch, 167 Linnet, 139 Stock Dove, 126 Meadow Pipit, 118 Chaffinch, 30 Skylark, 20 Brambling, 19 Siskin, 17 Starling, 9 Pied Wagtail, 7 Rock Pipit, 6 Reed Bunting, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Jackdaw, all South
Seawatching:
North: 2 Cormorant.
South: 24 Black-headed Gull, 16 Dunlin, 9 Wigeon, 2 Cormorant, 2 Shelduck, 1 Brent Goose and a Curlew.
West: 2 Cormorant.
Feeding offshore: 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and a Mediterranean Gull.
Moth trapping: 4 moth species between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning goes to the Oak Rustic, which first turned up in 2019 and has colonised the holm oaks.
Bird ringing: 2 Blackcap, 2 Firecrest, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 1 Common Redpoll, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Song Thrush.
Sunday 25th October 2026
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Wood Pigeon.
Saturday 24th October 2026
2 Peregrines (Falco peregrinus) on the cranes of the port. 2 Peregrines were seen over the observatory today.
W winds. 1 Greenfinch within the compound heading south then turned back around. 1 Waxwing seen changing from south to North. 1 Brambling out on the reserve. 2 Peregrine over the observatory. 1 Turnstone on the beach. 2 Stonechat on the reserve then south.
Overhead migration: 846 Wood Pigeon, 439 Goldfinch, 211 Meadow Pipit, 137 Skylark, 125 Linnet, 60 Chaffinch, 8 Swallow, 7 Siskin, 5 Rock Pipit, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Shorelark, all south.
Seawatching:
North: 26 Cormorant and 6 Brent Goose.
South: 23 Black headed Gull, 9 Teal, 7 Brent Goose, 6 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Red-throated Diver and a Pintail.
Feeding offshore: 36 Great Black-backed Gull and 4 Common Gull.
Moth trapping: 4 moth species present between our 3 traps. Moth of the morning is the Green-brindled Crescent, which occurs in low numbers at this time of the year.
Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae).
Bird ringing: 2 Blue Tit, 2 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Jay, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Wren.
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