Not much to report, although it was very pleasant down there today. The only birds of note were 14 Whooper Swans, 4 Barnacle Geese, 150 Golden Plovers, 120 Lapwings, 13 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Yesterday, there was a Hen Harrier south at dusk.

The wind had been replaced by steady rain all morning. Much less variety than yesterday hence 25 Blackbirds, 4 Song thrushes, Fieldfare, Chiffchaff, Woodcock and 13 Whooper Swans.

                                                                                  

23rd Nov
 The weather was much more pleasant today. The Ring Ouzel was still here, but perhaps it might make a break for it in this better weather...
   Other birds of note were 15 Blackbirds, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 60 Skylarks, Merlin, Common Buzzard, 4 Grey Partridges, Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 240 Golden Plovers, 110 Lapwings, 13 Whooper Swans and 210 Pink-footed Geese.

 Blustery conditions went against recording birds in the bushes. The willows that normally hold the Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were not very sheltering for anything. Only 10 Blackbirds today, but the Ring Ouzel is still present, plus a Crossbill which left to the south, 4 Grey Partridges, Woodlark, 13 Whooper Swans, 27 Curlews, 240 Golden Plovers, 40 Oystercatchers, 20 Dunlin, 20 Knot and 5 Sanderlings. A Woodcock kill near the Coastguard cottages may have been the result of a Peregrine.

The most significant birds were 1,550 Knot, 222 Redshanks, 67 Grey Plovers, 340 Golden Plovers, 485 Dunlin, 71 Sanderlings, 258 Lapwings, 88 Bar-tailed Godwits, 37 Curlews, 480 Oystercatchers, 9 Turnstones, 19 Mallard, 41 Teal, 5 Common Scoters, 48 Shelducks, 380 Brent Geese, 290 Pink-footed Geese, 16 Whooper Swans, 2 Red-throated Divers, 4 Cormorants, 6 Little Egrets, 18 Rock Pipits, 140 Goldfinches, 30 Linnets, one Bullfinch, 2 Pied Wagtails, one Merlin, one Peregrine and 2 Short-eared Owls.

The weather was not as bad as the forecast, so consequently it was better birding than expected. 25 Blackbirds, Ring Ouzel, Redwing, 3 Robins, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, Woodcock, 2 Water Rails, 14 Mute Swans, 12 Whooper Swans, Hen Harrier, Rock Pipit, 16 Snow Buntings, 85 Redshanks, 650 Oystercatchers, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 134 Curlews, 270 Dunlin, 12 Grey Plovers, 980 Knot, 100 Sanderlings, 30 Golden Plovers, 30 Lapwings, 17 Cormorants, 3 Red-throated Divers, 10 Teal, 5 Eiders and 7 Common Scoters.

Quite a bit colder now.   The Ring Ouzel was back at the original spot again today, also 45 Blackbirds, Song Thrush, 3 Robins, Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrests, Woodcock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Peregrine, 2 Water Rails, Little Egret, 12 Whooper Swans, 300 Golden Plovers, 80 Lapwings, 170 Oystercatchers, 180 Knot, 50 Dunlin, 9 Bar-tailed Godwits, 35 Curlews, 25 Common Scoters, 5 Teal and 25 Pink-footed Geese.

Late news was 2White-fronted Geese last Sunday which flew NW over the area.

Its quite pleasant wandering around in these almost windless conditions. At least most birds can be watched reasonably well. A few thrushes were about today, hence 50 Blackbirds, 5 Redwings and 3 Fieldfares, also 6 Robins, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Bramblings, 80 Goldfinches, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Merlin, 2 Kestrels, 2 Water Rails, Little Egret, 12 Whooper Swans, 130 Brent Geese, 150 Golden Plovers, 53 Lapwings, 40 Knot, 150 Dunlin, 280 Oystercatchers, 18 Curlews, 47 Redshanks and 7 Turnstones.

Today there were 3 Chiffchaffs (the only warblers unfortunately), the same Ring Ouzel as 12th, 5 Robins, 10 Blackbirds, 195 Goldfinches, 14 Whooper Swans, 320 Brent Geese, Little Egret, 26 Curlews, 60 Redshanks, Greenshank, 240 Lapwings, 640 Golden Plovers, 9 Turnstones, 150 Dunlin, 200 Knot, 5 Cormorants and 19 Shelducks.

In the willows around Quad 3 were a few good birds.  Yellow-browed Warbler, the latest ever Willow Warbler, at least 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests and a male Ring Ouzel. Elsewhere were 14 Whooper Swans plus 2 more south, 140 Lapwings, 300 Golden Plovers and 26 Curlews.

Most of yesterday's migrants had passed on in the clear overnight conditions. 15 Blackbirds, 2 Redwings, 7 Robins, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 13 Lesser Redpolls, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Merlin, Woodcock, 40 Sanderlings, 550 Golden Plovers, 130 Lapwings, 46 Redshanks, 4 Turnstones, 48 Curlews, 2 Rock Pipits, 580 Pink-footed Geese, 550 Brent Geese and 14 Whooper Swans.  

Very quiet today with hardly any birds in the bushes. Only 10 Blackbirds, plus 2 Goldcrests, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret, 11 Curlews, 300 Golden Plovers, 7 Mute Swans, 14 Whooper Swans and 2 Bewick's Swans.

Not many highlights today. 19 Whooper Swans, 450 Brent Geese, 7 Shelducks, 2 Red-throated Divers, Little Egret, 54 Golden Plovers, 39 Lapwings, 20 Redshanks, 4 Turnstones, 6 Knot, 3 Sanderlings, 34 Curlews, 4 Snipe, 12 Greenfinches, 20 Goldfinches, male Bullfinch, 20 Blackbirds, 4 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tits, Waxwing and Swallow.

 Rather less about today. 60 Blackbirds, 10 Robins, 4 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Goldcrest, 2 Waxwings (different from yesterday), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, 2 Bramblings, 12 Greenfinches, 115 Goldfinches, 20 Chaffinches, Woodcock, 2 Water Rails, 1,400 Golden Plovers, 100 Lapwings, 12 Redshanks, 27 Curlews, 40 Sanderlings, 20 Dunlin, 8 Oystercatchers, 9 Shelducks, 490 Brent Geese, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 7 Whooper Swans, 2 Kestrels and 2 Peregrines.

 A few more migrants present today, though the thrushes, in particular, soon moving westwards inland. 170 Blackbirds, Ring Ouzel, Song Thrush, 8 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings, 3 Robins, 50 Chaffinches, 18 Greenfinches, Siskin, 2 Waxwings, Chiffchaff, Woodcock, 2 Merlins, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret, 147 Brent Geese, 150 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Whooper Swans, 130 Lapwings, 300 Golden Plovers, 13 Redshanks, 19 Oystercatchers, 22 Curlews, 61 Dunlin, 5 Shelducks and 12 Common Scoters.

20 Blackbirds, Ring Ouzel, 3 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Siskins, Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Egrets, 700 Golden Plovers, 230 Lapwings, 7 Whooper Swans, 54 Oystercatchers, 28 Sanderlings and 20 Dunlin.

Not so cold today. 30 Blackbirds, 3 Fieldfares, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Owl, 5 Siskins, Brambling, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Egrets, 170 Lapwings, 800 Golden Plovers, 4 Whooper Swans, 53 Oystercatchers, 18 Bar-tailed Godwits, 22 Curlews, 5 Knot, 75 Dunlin, 96 Sanderlings, 7 Redshanks, 2 Red-throated Divers, Gannet, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Scoters and 25 Kittiwakes.

Highlights today were 30 Blackbirds, 2 Ring Ouzels, 4 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Goldcrests, 3 Lapland Buntings, 7 Whooper Swans, Little Egret, 200 Lapwings, 2,500 Golden Plovers, 68 Sanderlings, 55 Dunlin, 45 Oystercatchers, 37 Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwit, 22 Pink-footed Geese, 110 Common Scoters, 8 Gannets, 11 Red-throated Divers, 17 Cormorants and 3 Guillemots.

 

A ringing session produced a Ring Ouzel and a Portuguese ringed Chiffchaff.

Best today were 60 Blackbirds, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, Lapland Bunting, 5 Robins, 2 Water Rails, Little Egret, Hen Harrier, 1,500 Golden Plovers, 200 Lapwings, 8 Redshanks, 35 Curlews, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, Mediterranean Gull, 50 Brent Geese, 270 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Cormorants, Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannets and 7 Whooper Swans.

Better conditions brought some improvement. 1,100 Pinkfeet flew south, also 85 Blackbirds, 2 Redwings, 3 Fieldfares, 3 Song Thrushes, 7 Robins, 6 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Woodcock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Water Rails, 170 Lapwings, 28 Curlews, 18 Redshanks, 18 Shelducks, 90 Brent Geese, 5 Little Egrets, 24 Oystercatchers, 60 Common Scoters and 7 Whooper Swans.