6th November 2014

Weather: SE 4/5, later SSE force 7, slight drizzle at times
An excellent day with 47 species recorded with sea birds, shore birds and small migrants all featuring. A Pomarine Skua was found on Middle in some distress, possibly with a strained wing, but could not be taken into care in the strong near gale. Sea birds in their usual element were 7 Red-throated Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 39 Common Scoter, 20 Guillemots and 4 Razorbills. Increased wader counts today were 8,000 Oystercatchers, 7,000 Knot and 140 Redshank, while Cormorants also peaked with 1422 exiting the estuary at dawn. Six Fieldfares were the first seen this year, with 2 Redwings and a Song Thrush also present, and finches excelled today with 76 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches and 2 Siskins on the log. Notable other visitors included 2 Wigeon, a Lapwing and a Golden Plover flying west. Over 500 Starlings passed through, and a single Grey Wagtail added to the variety.
(DB)