22nd October 2012

The first Purple Sandpiper of the winter has arrived, it was found this afternoon at the north end and is about the expected date although in some years odd birds have appeared in summer and early autumn but have seldom stayed for very long. Several Blackbirds were about first thing in the morning but another visit in the afternoon found 10 more in the paddocks. A large flock of 78 Starlings landed in the old obs trees, while a Reed Bunting was in the trapping area with 2 Chaffinches. Apart from the regular Merlin other birds noted were 5 Little Egrets, 2 Wigeon and a Skylark.
(DB)