Sunday, 19 November 2017

19th November 2017

Weather: S E force 1/2

The weather could not have been better for a November day and despite the temperature never getting above 8 centigrade it felt warm. It was a 'webs' count day so it was pleasing to find 8 Purple Sandpipers in two different roosts. There were 5 in a roost on the north west cliffs (first picture) but the second picture shows the second roost of 3 birds at the north end.
 Three Eiders turned up over the tide, 
There was also a single Common Scoter lounging about but no Red-throated Divers, Grebes or Auks and it was very quiet approaching the high tide, just a few Cormorants about, although some Brent Geese roosted on the south end of the main island with the Oystercatchers.
The southerly wind probably accounted for the movement of 4 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes and 9 Meadow Pipits. One of the Song Thrushes was an adult, the majority we get are first years, but this one can be seen to have no thorn shaped orange tips to the greater coverts, one of the indicators of an adult.
A Merlin made an appearance and was the only raptor noted today.
Ringed: 1 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrushes       [ 624-35 ]
photos JE

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