Wednesday, 27th August 2014

Visible Migration was again the feature of the day, with small numbers of Wagtails and Pipits moving south first thing and hirundines moving east in small groups throughout the day. The bird of the day was a cracking Osprey which came 'in off' and south mid-afternoon. During the evening 123 Swallows were trapped and ringed at the roost, the best catch so far this Autumn.

 

 Osprey

Offshore

24 Shelducks east, 1 Teal east, 17 Common Scoters west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 142 Sandwich Terns. Also 3 Atlantic Grey Seals.

Visible Migration 

1 Osprey 'in off' & south mid afternoon, 1 Sparrowhawk south, 2 Snipe east, 1 Swift east, 5 Sand Martins south, 707 Swallows east, 144 House Martins east, 3 Grey Wagtails south, 2 Yellow Wagtails south, 12 Alba Wagtails south, 3 Tree Pipits south and 15 Meadow Pipits south.

 

 Osprey

Grounded Migrants:

1 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Robins and 6 Wheatears.

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Others 

5 Teal, 2 Peregrines, 57 Ringed Plovers, 11 Grey Plovers, 40 Knot, 100 Sanderlings, 40 Dunlins,1 Bar-tailed Godwit and 130 Turnstones.

 

 Peregrine

Ringing

1 Sand Martin, 123 Swallows and 1 control, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler.

 

 Swallow

Tuesday, 26th August 2014

Overnight rain dropped a few migrants in this morning but the main feature was another strong easterly movement of hirundines. Star bird though was a Crossbill over mid morning.

Offshore 

11 Shelducks east, 33 Common Scoters west, 2 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Arctic Skua west, 80 Sandwich Terns and 3 Common Terns.

Visible Migration 

2 Swifts east & 1 south, 3 Sand Martins east, 616 Swallows east, 103 House Martins east, 1 Grey Wagtail south, 1 Alba Wagtail south, 2 Meadow Pipits south and 1 Crossbill - 'green' bird flew south then came back north a few minutes later.

 

 Swallows

Grounded Migrants

8 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whinchat, 19 Wheatears and 6 Pied Wagtails.

Wheatear

Others

2 Little Egrets, 68 Ringed Plovers, 160 Sanderlings, 55 Dunlins, 180 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 60 Goldfinch and 100 Linnets.

 

Turnstones

 

 Sanderling

Ringing

2 Great Tits, 10 Swallows, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler and 2 Wrens.

Lesser Whitethroat

Great Crested Grebe

Monday, 25th August 2014

Offshore

5 Shelducks east, 11 Common Scoters west and 36 Sandwich Terns. Also 3 Atlantic Grey Seals.

Visible Migration

43 Swallows east, 1 Grey Wagtail south, 3 Alba Wagtails south and 1 Tree Pipit south.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Willow Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler and 3 Wheatears.

Others

1 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 81 Ringed Plovers, 115 Sanderlings, 70 Dunlins, 180 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Kingfisher and 45 Goldfinch.

 

 Wigeon

Ringing 

1 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Greenfinch.

 

 Willow Warbler

Whitethroat showing a very obvious growth bar on its tail

Sunday, 24th August 2014

The main feature of today was an easterly movement of Hirundines during the morning.

Offshore 

6 Shelducks east, 7 Common Scoters west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 55 Sandwich Terns and 3 Common Terns.

Visible Migration

1 Swift east, 3 Sand Martins east, 464 Swallows east, 217 House Martins east, 1 Grey Wagtail south and 1 Meadow Pipit south.

 

 House Martin

Grounded Migrants

4 Willow Warblers, 7 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Robins, 1 Whinchat and 6 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

Others 

2 Little Egrets, 1 Peregrine, 85 Ringed Plovers, 6 Golden Plovers, 320 Lapwings, 175 Sanderlings, 130 Dunlins, 1 Snipe, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshanks, 900 Redshanks, 220 Turnstones, 4 Med. Gulls and 70 Linnets.

Ringing 

53 Swallows and 1 control,1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Robin, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 Willow Warbler

Saturday, 23rd August 2014

Rain showers around dawn dropped a few migrants in this morning.

Offshore 

10 Shelducks east, 22 Common Scoters west, 2 Arctic Skuas, 85 Sandwich Terns and 6 Common Terns.

 

 Sandwich Terns

Visible Migration

3 Sparrowhawks south, 1 Sand Martin south, 57 Swallows south, 1 Alba Wagtail south and 2 Yellow Wagtails south.

 

 Swallows

Grounded Migrants 

1 Goldcrest, 8 Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 6 Robins, 1 Redstart and 7 Wheatears.

 

 Whitethroat

 

 Wheatears

Others

6 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, 85 Ringed Plovers, 6 Grey Plovers, 180 Sanderlings, 135 Dunlins, 1 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 700 Redshanks, 200 Turnstones, 4 Med. Gulls, 1 Kingfisher and 60 Linnets.

Ringing 

2 Blue Tits, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers and 1 Goldfinch.

 

 Goldfinch

Friday, 22nd August 2014

Offshore 

55 Shelducks east, 30 Common Scoters west, 1 Gannet east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 1 Arctic Skua west, 34 Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns.

Visible Migration

1 Osprey south at midday, 1 Wood Sandpiper west along the promenade at dawn, 23 Swallows south, 1 Grey Wagtail south, 2 Alba Wagtails south, 2 Tree Pipits south and 1 Meadow Pipit south.

Grounded Migrants

5 Willow Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers,2 Robins and 3 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

Others 

1 Little Egret, 138 Ringed Plovers, 2 Golden Plovers, 200 Sanderlings, 160 Dunlins, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrels, 1 Greenshank, 800 Redshanks, 225 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull and 1 Kingfisher.

Ringing

2 Reed Warblers and 1 Robin.

 

 Reed Warbler

Thursday, 21st August 2014

Offshore

16 Shelducks east, 9 Common Scoters west, 1 Gannet west, 34 Sandwich Terns and 1 Common Tern.

 

 Shelducks

Further observation during the evening produced 1 Fulmar west, 9 Manx Shearwaters west, 7 Gannets west, 2 Arctic Skuas west, 19 Sandwich Terns west and 5 Common Terns west.

 

 Sandwich Terns

Visible Migration 

37 Swallows south.

Grounded Migrants

2 Swifts and 60 House Martins over the pools during a heavy downpour, and 2 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

Others

1 Little Egret, 135 Ringed Plovers,180 Sanderlings,160 Dunlins, 1 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrels, 1 Greenshank, 800 Redshanks, 250 Turnstones, 2 Med. Gulls and 80 Goldfinch.

 

 Redshank

 

 Goldfinches

Wednesday, 20th August 2014

Offshore

56 Shelducks east, 22 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Gannet west, 24 Cormorants east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 14 Sandwich Terns.

 

 Cormorants

Visible Migration 

1 Grey Heron south, 41 Swallows south, 3 House Martins south, 1 Alba Wagtail south and 3 Meadow Pipits south.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Willow Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Robins and 1 Wheatear.

 

 Wheatear

Others

1 Little Egret, 1 juv Marsh Harrier over the marshes during the afternoon, 137 Ringed Plovers, 215 Sanderlings, 175 Dunlins, 1 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 575 Redshanks, 200 Turnstones, 3 Med. Gulls, 4 Stock Doves, 60 Goldfinch and 50 Linnets.

 

 Redshanks

 

 Turnstone

 

 Little Egret

Ringing 

46 Swallows plus 2 controls, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Robin.

 

 Sedge Warbler

Tuesday, 19th August 2014

A heavy downpour pre-dawn produced the best arrival of Wheatears so far this Autumn.

 

 Wheatear

Offshore

12 Shelducks east, 17 Common Scoters west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 4 Sandwich Terns.

Visible Migration

7 Swallows south.

Grounded Migrants

3 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Robins, 1 Whinchat, 38 Wheatears and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Wheatear (above & below)

Others 

1 Little Egret, 135 Ringed Plovers, 180 Sanderlings, 300 Dunlins, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 330 Turnstones, 3 Med. Gulls and 60 Goldfinch.

Ringing

2 Blue Tits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Robin.

 

 Chiffchaff

 

 Robin

Monday, 18th August 2014

Offshore 

13 Shelducks east, 14 Common Scoters west, 1 Kittiwake west and 6 Sandwich Terns.

 Shelducks

Grounded Migrants 

2 Willow Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroats and 4 Wheatears.

Others 

2 Teal, 148 Ringed Plovers, 260 Sanderlings, 180 Dunlins, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrels, 1 Spotted Redshank, 190 Redshanks, 215 Turnstones, 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 1 Med. Gull.

 Swallow

 Med. Gull

Sunday, 17th August 2014

Offshore 

17 Common Scoters west, 6 Fulmars west, 7 Manx Shearwaters west, 10 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 2 Arctic Skuas west, 1 Great Skua east, 4 Kittiwakes west, 1 Little Tern west, 31 Sandwich Terns west, 5 Common Terns west and 2 Arctic Terns west.

Grounded Migrants

1 Wheatear.

Others 

1 Little Egret, 160 Ringed Plovers, 145 Sanderlings, 250 Dunlins, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 260 Turnstones and 1 Med. Gull.

 

 Ringed Plovers

Brown Hawker

Saturday, 16th August 2014

Offshore

43 Common Scoters west, 2 Manx Shearwaters west, 1 Gannet west, 9 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Arctic

Tern west.

Visible Migration

1 Whimbrel west and 12 Swallows south.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

Others 

2 Little Egrets, 85 Ringed Plovers, 155 Sanderlings, 320 Dunlins, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 400 Redshanks, 300 Turnstones, 2 Med. Gulls, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 50 Goldfinches and 55 Linnets.

 

 Turnstone

 

 Ringed Plover

Common Blue

Friday, 15th August 2014

Offshore

35 Common Scoters west, 2 Gannets west, 12 Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns.

Visible Migration 

2 Sand Martins south, 165 Swallows south, 13 House Martins south, 1 Grey Wagtail south and 1 Tree Pipit south.

Grounded Migrants 

8 Willow Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 7 Reed Warblers, 8 Wheatears and 3 Robins.

 

 Wheatear

Others 

1 Little Egret, 150 Ringed Plovers, 175 Sanderlings, 280 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Spotted Redshank, 300 Redshanks, 275 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Kingfisher and 50 Goldfinch.

 

 Dunlins

 

 Spotted Redshank

Ringing 

1 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 7 Reed Warblers plus a control and 3 Wrens.

 

 Blackcap

 

 Reed Warbler