23rd October 2019

Weather:SE force 3    cool breeze

A check at Little Eye at dawn could not locate the Snow Bunting that was there yesterday. In recompense quite a lot of interesting birds came through during the morning. Several parties of Starlings and a few Skylarks flew by, one of the Skylarks landed on Middle. No less than 28 Carrion Crows were about, also a flock of 8 Rooks flew west over the obs at the same moment that 38 Redwings were doing the same but at a much greater height. Two asio Owls (probably Short-eared) flew across the island chain south of Middle, initially mobbed by a Crow as they went. Among finches today were 3 Chaffinches, 6 Linnets, a Siskin, a Goldfinch and a Repoll while the only thrush on the ground was a female Blackbird. More of a surprise was a male Blackcap in the gardens and a single Goldcrest was heard in the obs garden. Both single Pintail and Sparrowhawk were seen flying off the east of the island. Four Rock Pipits were counted and a few dozen Meadow Pipits moved through. Yesterdays high count of Brent was confirmed with 200 on the log today along with 7 Little Egrets, 160 Shelduck by Tanskies. best of the waders were 2 Grey Plover, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit and a flock of 7 Sanderling flying passed the north end. Also at the north end a late flying Red Admiral fluttered late morning.
Ringed: 1 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird     [ 751-36 ]