17th October 2009

That's more like it ! For the first time in weeks it really felt like autumn with some thrushes and finches etc. down on the ground, and although we couldn't compete with the large movements taking place this morning at Red Rocks it turned out to be a really nice migration day.



About 30 Redwing were heard over before dawn and logged on the ground during the morning were 4 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Reed Buntings, 4 Rock Pipits (above right), 4 Dunnocks (above left), 5 Greenfinches, 3 Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, and a Blackcap. Fly overs were 45 Skylarks (left), 6 Starlings and a Grey Wagtail.











Bird of the day was on the sea when a Slavonian Grebe (left and above) appeared near to the obs and gave close views for 2 minutes before flying out to telescope distance and staying about the estuary mouth for some time. Shortly afterwards a female Long-tailed duck was sighted off to the south east and later a male was off the north end before travelling west.


More mundane sightings off shore were 6 Red-throated Divers, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 50 Great Crested Grebes, 210 Shelduck, 64 Common Scoter, 4 Guillemots, 17 Brent Geese (right) and a Little Egret.














Ringed:- 2 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Goldfinches (right), 1 Chaffinch (left), 1 Blackcap (middle).
(GB,JE,CJ,PSW,SRW) [565] photos CJ, PSW.