Many migrants had departed, but still 100 Blackbirds, 30 Song Thrushes, 5 Ring Ouzels, 30 Redwings, 20 Fieldfares, 2 Waxwings, 3 Woodcocks, 30 Robins, 4 Chiffchaffs, 15 Goldcrests, 22 Bramblings, Merlin, Hen Harrier, 3 Kestrels, 1,800 Starlings, 1,600 Golden Plovers, 90 Lapwings, 3 Whooper Swans, 100 Brent Geese and 5 Rock Pipits.

This blog will next be updated on the 1st November due to a few days away on Scilly

A bit quieter today, but still some good numbers in evidence. 800 Redwings, 450 Fieldfares, 300 Blackbirds, 100 Song Thrushes, 11 Ring Ouzels, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2,200 Starlings, 90 Robins, 40 Goldcrests, 6 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Common Redstart, Black Redstart, 2 Woodcocks, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 10 Bramblings, 13 Swallows, 3 Snow Buntings, 40 Pinkfeet, Greylag, 400 Brent Geese, 8 Whooper Swans, 2 Gannets, 2 Little Egrets, 35 Teal, 1,600 Golden Plovers and 30 Lapwings. Also a Lesser Whitethroat, possibly of eastern origin, was west of Stonebridge (BC).

At Quad 3 were 630 Fieldfares, 1,000 Redwings, 300 Blackbirds, 40 Song Thrushes, 6 Ring Ouzels, 65 Goldcrests, 140 Robins, 9 Siskins, 12 Bramblings, 4 Twite, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Woodcocks, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Swallows, 9 Whooper Swans, 400 Golden Plovers, 70 Lapwings, 1,800 Starlings, Sparrowhawk and 2 Kestrels.

 

Stonebridge to Pye's from PE and AS:

5,000 Starlings
1,000 Redwings
500+ Blackbirds
500+ Fieldfares
50 Song Thrush
7 Ring Ousel
2 Mistle Thrush
150 Robins
50 Goldcrests
20 Reed Buntings
1 Lapland Bunting
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Blackcap
1 Swallow
1 ringtail Hen Harrier
1 Spotted Redshank
200 Brent Geese

The fog was even denser and made identification impossible in quite a few cases. The counts for today include Quad 3 and Pye's Hall. Totals were 900 Redwings, 310 Fieldfares, 430 Blackbirds, 55 Song Thrushes, 10 Ring Ouzels, 200 Robins, 160 Goldcrests, 21 Bramblings, 14 Siskins, 13 Chiffchaffs, one Willow Warbler, 1,300 Starlings, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Black Redstarts, Richard's Pipit, 2 Blackcaps, Lapland Bunting, Jay, 4 Common Snipe and Woodcock.

A huge thrush fall today.

For Quad 3 the totals are 6,500 Redwings, 1,500 Fieldfares, 700 Blackbirds, 100 Song Thrushes, 8 Ring Ouzels, 50 Robins, 40 Goldcrests, 100 Chaffinches, 63 Bramblings, 2 Siskins, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Grey Wagtails, Chiffchaff, Lapland Bunting, Common Redstart, 2,500 Starlings, 3 Jays and 9 Whooper Swans.

Additions between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall as recorded by Graham Catley included 1,500 Redwings, 500 Blackbirds, 300 Song Thrushes, 15 Ring Ouzels, 6 Chiffchaffs, Siberian Chiffchaff, Woodcock, Mealy Redpoll, Common Redstart, Woodlark, 2 Blackcaps, 100 Goldcrests and 70 Robins.

Main birds were 20 Blackbirds, 10 Redwings, 4 Fieldfares, 15 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 16 Siskins, 12 Lesser Redpolls, 4 Twite, 3 Brambling, 5 Lapland Buntings, Woodcock, 3 Water Rail, 5 Jay, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, Peregrine, Merlin, 1,200 Starlings, 180 Skylarks, 63 Pink-footed Geese, 9 Whooper Swans, Kittiwake, 2nd cy Mediterranean Gull, 45 Dunlin, 20 Sanderlings, 50 Oystercatchers, 63 Curlews and 60 Common Scoters.  A Spotted Redshank at Pye's Hall again.

The best bird today was a Woodlark on the Outmarsh at the south end. I found the bird with Skylarks at 1105. I note that one flew south from Spurn at some time this morning, so there is a possibility that both records refer to the same bird. 130 Pinkfeet flew NW in the early morning and later there were 840 in 5 skeins heading south. An unusual party of 5 Sparrowhawks sailed around the Coastguard cottages drawing the consternation of the local crows and later there were 3 more single birds arriving in from the sea. A Great Spotted Woodpecker also came in from the sea and continued south along the dunes.

Other birds of note were the first 4 Twite of the autumn, 36 Lesser Redpolls, 13 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Redwings, a different Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Jays, Short-eared Owl, 250 Skylarks, 120 Carrion Crows, 3 Snipe, 70 Curlews, 69 Sanderling, 16 Cormorants, Peregrine, 55 Common Scoters and 9 Whooper Swans.

The most significant today were 230 Oystercatchers, 310 Golden Plovers, 15 Lapwings, 53 Curlews, 6 Cormorants, adult Mediterranean Gull, 24 Blackbirds, 3 Mistle Thrushes, one Song Thrush, 7 Robins, 3 Goldcrests, one Coal Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tits, one Tree Sparrow, 18 Reed Buntings, 26 Lesser Redpolls, 7 Crossbills, 800 Starlings, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, one Merlin and one Jay.

The most significant today were 230 Oystercatchers, 310 Golden Plovers, 15 Lapwings, 53 Curlews, 6 Cormorants, adult Mediterranean Gull, 24 Blackbirds, 3 Mistle Thrushes, one Song Thrush, 7 Robins, 3 Goldcrests, one Coal Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tits, one Tree Sparrow, 18 Reed Buntings, 26 Lesser Redpolls, 7 Crossbills, 800 Starlings, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, one Merlin and one Jay.

Quieter than yesterday. Best were 580 Oystercatchers, 42 Curlews, 320 Golden Plovers, 7 Sanderling, 11 Cormorants, one Guillemot, 12 Blackbirds, 5 Goldcrests, 6 Siskins, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Swallows, Merlin and Barn Owl.

The wind made today's observations almost impossible. The only items of note were 10 Whooper Swans, one Pink-footed Goose, 1,200 Golden Plovers, 29 Lapwings, one Little Egret, 8 Cormorants, 3 Gannets, 38 Curlews, 50 Oystercatchers, one Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, one Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 Goldcrests.

Not much to report. 20 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 20 Redwings, 10 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes, 5 Lesser Redpolls, one Brambling, one Great Spotted Woodpecker, one Kingfisher, 16 Long-tailed Tits one Sparrowhawk, 240 Golden Plovers, 15 Lapwings, 47 Curlews, 120 Oystercatchers, 55 Knot and 5 Cormorants.

Waders on the WEBS count between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall were very disappointing as on yesterday's count at the south end. Relevant counts were 71 Curlews, 93 Lapwings, 140 Golden Plovers, one Spotted Redshank, 2 Whooper Swans, 338 dark-bellied Brent Geese, one pale-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Gannets, one Red-throated Diver, 8 Little Egrets, one Peregrine and 12 Rock Pipits. Birds on the dunes included 3 Jays, 2 Goldcrests, one Chiffchaff, 10 Blackbirds, 2 Redwings and a Ring Ouzel. Betweem Sea Lane, Saltfleet to the RAF base this afternoon were (CA):
1 Yellow-browed Warbler (with a tit flock in the willow hedge at Quad 3)
60 Dark-bellied Brents (off Sea Lane)
3 Short-eared Owl (a few birds noted in off along the east coast today so at least 2 of these were presumably fresh in having been flushed from the outer saltmarsh)
1 Peregrine
1 Merlin
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays (2 at base, 1 at Quad 2)
8 Redwing

 

A Lapland Bunting also flew over the RAF base and 3 Brambling, Blackcap and two more Jays were also noted along with 10 Goldcrests, 8 Redwing, Chiffchaff and two Sparrowhawks.
A Great Skua was seen at Pye's Hall (GW)

 

1,800 Common Scoter passed at sea along with a Bonxie and c15 Little Gulls.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed along with 2 Blackcaps and Belgium controlled Goldfinch. Other highlights included a Lapland Bunting 5 Jays, 10 Redwing, 25 Goldcrests, Merlin, Peregrine, 3 Brambling and 3 Sparrowhawks.

120 Golden Plovers, 3 Lapwings, 24 Curlews, Rock Pipit, the first Snow Bunting, 6 Blackbirds, Mistle Thrush, 3 Robins, 4 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff, 4 Kestrels, 4 Gannets, 6 Little Gulls, 12 Brent Geese, 6 Wigeon, 3 Tufted Ducks and 100 Common Scoters. A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported.

10 Goldcrests were the only birds of any note in the bushes, also 3 Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin south, 27 Lapwings, 300 Golden Plovers, 2 Common Buzzards, 25 Common Scoters, 22 Brent Geese and an adult Pomarine Skua, the last heading south along the tideline. This afternoon, a Firecrest appeared in the garden (SL).

A Richard's Pipit was seen at Stonebridge before flying south (GPC).   Jay passage totalled 13 birds today. The rest of the measly list is one Grey Wagtail, 5 Goldcrests, 7 Lesser Redpolls, Rock Pipit, 1,400 Starlings, 200 Skylarks, 8 Little Gulls, 71 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Brent Geese, 3 Red-throated Divers, 43 Curlews and 420 Golden Plovers.

Bit disappointing today; it looks more promising for tomorrow...

Best today were 20 Goldcrests, 10 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 5 Robins, 1,200 Starlings, 4 Tree Sparrows, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, 2 Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, 5 Brent Geese, 21 Pink-footed Geese, 55 Common Scoters, Goldeneye, Red-throated Diver and 39 Curlews.  


Also additional from yesterday 7.10.

I have checked and found that yesterday's Little Gull total was a record count for Donna Nook.. For quite a few years now, these large assemblages of Little Gulls were a feature out from Hornsea. Annoyingly they never seemed to come south of the Humber mouth. Perhaps this may be about to change now. The birds over the weekend were feeding as they went by, so a change in the distribution and availability of food items would appear to be the cause of this movement.

The dunes at the south end were also unremarkable, hence 2 Redwings, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Blackbirds, 5 Robins, Wheatear, 400 Starlings, 200 Skylarks, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, Water Rail, 5 Grey Partridges and 2 Common Buzzards.

At sea 0830-1230 (HT 1010) moving north were 290 Little Gulls, Kittiwake, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 130 Herring Gulls, 76 Gannets, 32 Brent Geese, 7 Wigeon, Pintail, 28 Teal, Mallard, 57 Common Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Red-throated Divers, 2 Guillemots, Razorbill, 7 auks sp., 2 Common Terns and an Arctic Skua. To the south were 131 Gannets, Shelduck, 2 Eiders, Goldeneye, 72 Pink-footed Geese, Guillemot, 4 auks sp. and 3 Sandwich Terns. 32 Cormorants on the sea or on the shore where waders included 35 Knot, 29 Dunlin, 4 Sanderling, Little Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit and 47 Curlews.

Another quiet morning. two lapland Bunting were at Pye's and also noted were 4 Brambling, 10 Goldcrests, 6 Brent Geese, 180 Dunlin, 26 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Sparrowhawk in-off the Humber.

A sea watch 0915-1130 (HT0930) proved interesting. Moving north were 40 Gannets, 8 Cormorants, 8 Brent Geese, 12 Teal, one Eider, 31 Common Scoters, 4 Wigeon, 21 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Terns, one Slavonian Grebe, 2 Red-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver, one Guillemot and 5 distant auks. To the south were 49 different Gannets, 9 Cormorants, 5 Brent Geese, 4 Common Terns, 5 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes and a Great Skua. A feeding movement of Little Gulls was also observed. Ca. 80 in one flock came in from the north, leisurely picking from and pattering along the surface of the sea. They gradually drew further out to sea and returned to the NE in buoyant twisting and turning flight.

A further 45 Common Scoters and a Red-throated Diver were seen on the sea, as was the Slavonian Grebe initially. Birds onshore included 10 more Cormorants, 11 Sanderling, 80 Dunlin and 146 Curlews.

Earlier 42 Pink-footed Geese and 11 Whooper Swans flew south. Of note on the dunes between Stonebridge and Quad 3 at the south end were 4 Wheatears, 21 Goldcrests, 8 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Common Redstart, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Song Thrushes, Brambling, 35 Reed Buntings, 250 Skylarks 550 Goldfinches, 4 Kestrels and 2 Common Buzzards.

On the landward side were 2 Jays, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Kestrels, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, 26 Lapwings, 26 Golden Plovers, Water Rail, Little Egret, 100 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, Lapland Bunting, 5 Swallows, 4 House Martins, Redstart, 2 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 2 Blackbirds, Song Thrush, 4 Goldcrests, 250 Skylarks and 120 Meadow Pipits. At sea were 54 Gannets, 56 Common Scoters, 20 Brent Geese, 6 Eiders, 10 Teal, 7 Mallard, 4 Red-throated Divers, Great Skua and Arctic Skua. Onshore were 9 Cormorants, 12 Dunlin, 36 Oystercatchers, 64 Curlews and 7 Bar-tailed Godwits

A few more birds apparent at the south end this morning mainly attributable to the lighter wind. 410 Pinkfeet in six skeins flew south and another skein was heard, but not seen. The best birds on the landward side were 3 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jay, Water Rail, 9 Grey Partridges, 3 Robins, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Common Redstarts, 6 Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests, 6 Long-tailed Tits, Rock Pipit, Lapland Bunting, 4 Lesser Redpolls, 160 Goldfinches and 250 Skylarks. 19 Gannets, 19 Cormorants, 3 Sandwich Terns and a Red-throated Diver were seen at sea and a Mediterranean Gull was on the shore.

The quiet theme continues with only a meagre tally at the south end. Most significant on the dunes were 2 Common Redstarts, 3 Robins, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, Pied Flycatcher, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Water Rail. Only 6 Gannets seen to head north at sea and 2 Red-throated Divers south. In the early morning, 180 Pink-footed Geese flew NW.

The quiet theme continues with only a meagre tally at the south end. Most significant on the dunes were 2 Common Redstarts, 3 Robins, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, Pied Flycatcher, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Water Rail. Only 6 Gannets seen to head north at sea and 2 Red-throated Divers south. In the early morning, 180 Pink-footed Geese flew NW.

Quiet start to the new month. Best were 7 Robins, 5 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff, 2 Common Redstarts, 10 Long-tailed Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Lesser Redpolls, Common Crossbill, 200 Skylarks, Water Rail, 12 Gannets and 6 Sandwich Terns.