3rd October 2024

 Weather: SSW force 1     E 3/4 in the afternoon

 A really good autumn migration day, with beautifully calm conditions on the sea. The first 'nice' bird was a female Pintail followed by 2 Brambling flying south west and lots of passage birds travelling through the islands including 2 Chaffinch ,9 Pied Wagtails and a White Wagtail, about 50 Meadow Pipits, 5 Sklylarks and 2 Song Thrush.

 The next excitement of a brilliant day was a Marsh Harrier that came in from the south, circled and drifted high off towards north Wales and was lost to view, 2-3 minutes later it came in over north end and headed over east Hoyle then south down the estuary and dropped low landing on Tanskies.

 

The first Purple Sandpiper of the autumn was at the north end, on a normal day this would be the headline.

 

 

There were limited numbers of the other regular waders seen but a Snipe was in the SK paddock, 2 Peregrines and the Kestrel were logged, also 4 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. The flat calm sea made spotting birds on the sea a little easier than usual,

On the sea list were 6,000 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Divers and 9 Great Crested Grebes, while 200 or so Brent floated around the islands with 4 Eiders. In the afternoon the second Yellow-browed Warbler of the year arrived in the obs garden, even if it immediately disappeared after a few minutes, not to be seen again. A few records shots were obtained during the brief visit.

Fifty Pink-footed Geese flew over and a Stonechat was found on the island. A great end to a perfect day.

Photos SRW
 

2nd October 2024

 Weather: NE force 3,  ENE 4 in the afternoon

It was worth the visit today just to see one of the two Peregrines that has been around the islands for a while now dive into the Oystercatcher roost and take its prey, it was surprising how quickly the other birds returned once the Peregrine began feeding.

 

There were about 8,000 Oystercatchers in the roost today so safety in numbers may apply but only for 7,999.

 The Brent Geese count had increased to 217, and 488 Shelduck were on the sand in front of the marsh on the ebb tide. Three Common Scoter and 4 Eiders were logged. Two Grey Heron were noted and the 5 Little Egret included the colour ringed bird that has been previously seen.

There were 220 Curlew, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 55 Turnstone, 4 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 60 Redshank and 150 Knot.

 There were no small migrants today but still present were 3 Swallows, 3 Robins, 2 Blackbirds, 7 Wrens, 4 Rock Pipits, 3 Meadow Pipits and 5 Linnets. A Red Admiral and a Small White butterfly were on the wing.

Photos AS

1st October 2024

 Weather: N force 3/4,   drizzle at first,  NNE 4 mid-afternoon.

After the deluge just a slight drizzle to start the day which soon brightened up. A very slow begining to October bird wise. A single Goldcrest again and a Grey Wagtail passing through were the migrants. The wildfowl impressed with 132 Brent, 450 Shelduck, 185 Common Scoter and 3 females of our regular Eiders. Five Swallows included the juvenile from an island nest which is doing well.

 Other residents were 3 Blackbirds, 9 Linnets, 2 Robins and 4 Rock Pipits. A Peregrine flew around here again, there were 8 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons on the shore. Waders included 425 Curlew, 14 Ringed Plover, 58 Turnstone, 50 Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 62 Redshank.

Photos SRW