Sunday, 13th September 2015

Much of the day was again spent searching for migrants and in the afternoon whilst watching two Marsh Harriers a Turtle Dove was flushed out of some thick scrub.Also the Spoonbill again flew into roost on the water meadows at dusk.

Marsh Harrier

Offshore 

6 Shelducks east, 29 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west, 2 Gannets west, 2 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

123 Swallows east, 9 Grey Wagtails south/south-east, 12 Alba Wagtails south, 24 Meadow Pipits south and 1 Siskin east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Turtle Dove, 2 Goldcrests, 7 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 10 Robins, 1 Whinchat, 4 Wheatears and 15 Pied Wagtails.

Others

2 Little Egrets, 1 Spoonbill, 1 Water Rail, 2 Marsh Harriers - superb views of two birds hunting over the main pool on the water meadows, 135 Ringed Plovers, 175 Sanderlings, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 350 Dunlins, 2 Snipe, 315 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 180 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 5 Stock Doves, 50 Goldfinch and 38 Linnets.

Marsh Harrier (note the different head pattern to the bird above)

Ringing

11 Swallows, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 Sedge Warbler

Saturday, 12th September 2015

With easterly winds and overnight rain most of the day was spent searching for migrants. There were small numbers around but nothing exciting could be found. A good bird was found in the evening, but something not expected, a Spoonbill flew into roost on the water meadows at dusk.

Offshore 

1 Wigeon west, 91 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 5 Gannets west, 3 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Guillemot west and 2 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

14 Swallows south and 2 Grey Wagtails east.

Swallows

Grounded Migrants

4 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 11 Robins, 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 12 Pied Wagtails, 2 White Wagtails and 1 Tree Pipit. 

 White Wagtail

Wheatear

Whinchat

Others 

1 Mandarin, 22 Wigeons, 13 Teal, 2 Garganeys, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Spoonbill, 54 Ringed Plovers, 44 Sanderlings, 75 Dunlins, 2 Snipe, 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, 140 Turnstones, 2 Med. Gulls, 7 Stock Doves, 45 Goldfinch and 27 Linnets.

 Red Admiral

Friday, 11th September 2015

Offshore

31 Shelducks east, 5 Wigeons west, 2 Teal west, 2 Pintails west, 42 Common Scoters west, 5 Gannets west, 2 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

2 Snipe east, 175 Swallows east, 68 House Martins east, 9 Grey Wagtails east, 16 Alba Wagtails south, 15 Meadow Pipits south/south-east, 2 Redpolls east and 7 Linnets east.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Goldcrests, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler and 9 Robins.

Others 

1 Mandarin, 48 Wigeons, 19 Teal, 2 Garganeys, 4 Shovelers, 2 Little Egrets, 86 Ringed Plovers, 72 Sanderlings, 120 Dunlins, 350 Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Turnstones, 3 Med. Gulls, 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 50 Goldfinch.

 Shoveler

Ringing

1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Robin.

 Robin

Thursday, 10th September 2015

Offshore 

77 Shelducks east, 28 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west, 9 Gannets west, 4 Sandwich Terns west and 2 Guillemots east.

Visible Migration

2 Snipe east, 415 Swallows south/south-east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 12 Grey Wagtails east/south-east, 21 Alba Wagtails south, 4 Tree Pipits south, 37 Meadow Pipits south/south-east and 2 Siskins east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap,1 Whitethroat and 3 Wheatears.

Others

13 Wigeons, 1 Little Egret, 54 Ringed Plovers, 57 Sanderlings, 1 Little Stint, 100 Dunlins, 315 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshanks, 170 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull and 30 Linnets.

 

 Wigeon

 

 Migrant Hawker

Wednesday, 9th September 2015

The main feature of the day was a strong hirundine passage into the strong easterly wind. A single loose group of 325 House Martins that flew through was an impressive spectacle!

House Martins

Offshore 

7 Shelducks east, 91 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west, 5 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Guillemot east.

Visible Migration

4 Snipe east, 1 Swift east, 3 Sand Martins east, 717 Swallows east, 561 House Martins east, 7 Tree Sparrows east, 2 Grey Wagtails east, 9 Alba Wagtails south and 6 Meadow Pipits south.

Grounded Migrants

1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats and 3 Wheatears.

Others 

13 Wigeons, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail, 48 Ringed Plovers, 62 Sanderlings, 55 Dunlins, 1 Snipe, 260 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 135 Turnstones and 40 Goldfinch.

 

 Whimbrel

Ringing 

16 Swallows.

 

 Speckled Wood

Tuesday, 8th September 2015

Offshore

52 Shelducks east, 4 Wigeons west, 42 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west, 2 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west and 6 Sandwich Terns west.

 

 Shelducks

Visible Migration 

2 Sand Martins south, 111 Swallows south, 6 Grey Wagtails south, 14 Alba Wagtails south, 2 Tree Pipits south, 38 Meadow Pipits south and 1 Siskin south.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Wheatear and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Others

2 Little Egrets, 47 Ringed Plovers, 500 Lapwings, 51 Sanderlings, 75 Dunlins, 325 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 85 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull and 3 Stock Doves.

Ringing

1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats and 1 Goldfinch.

 

 Chiffchaff

 

Great Black-backed Gull

Monday, 7th September 2015

Offshore

6 Shelducks east, 16 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 8 Gannets west and 11 Sandwich Terns west.

Visible Migration

1 Sparrowhawk south, 1 Sand Martin south, 57 Swallows south, 3 House Martins east, 16 Grey Wagtails south, 18 Alba Wagtails south, 11 Meadow Pipits south, 12 Siskins south and 1 Redpoll south.

Grounded Migrants

1 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers and 2 Wheatears.

Others 

4 Wigeons, 2 Shovelers, 2 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 53 Ringed Plovers, 36 Knots, 42 Sanderlings, 85 Dunlins, 360 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Spotted Redshank, 125 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull and 40 Goldfinch.

 

 Black-tailed Godwit

Ringing 

2 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 27 Swallows,1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Starlings and 1 Dunnock.

 

 Reed Warbler

Migrant Hawker