13th November 2022

 Weather:  ESE force 5    mostly cloudy in the morning.

 A morning that was considerably cooler and breezier than forecast had thrushes passing through early including 22 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 8 Redwings and 4 Fieldfares, also a steady stream of Starlings moving south through the island chain.

Two Skylarks flew over, 3 Chaffinches called and a Siskin and Brambling were identified. As the tide rose a Lapwing rested amongst the Shelduck south of Little Eye. Red-throated Divers again featured greatly at the sea watch with 32 counted, also 8 Gannets, 19 Common Scoter, 11 Great Crested Grebes and 38 auks, 8 of which were definitely Guillemots.

at the same time the star performer out to sea was a Harbour Porpoise which was swimming in the swash to the west of the island. On the ebb tide 2 female Eider appeared west of Middle and over 8,000 Dunlin were all across shore between islands and mainland after tide. A flock of 14 Bar-tailed Godwits then flew west, 2 others had already been feeding on the north shore. Just 10 Purple Sandpipers were about, other waders included 148 Turnstone, 130 Redshank, 12 Ringed Plovers and 2 Grey Plovers. Six Little Egrets and the Kestrel seem like regular residents now. The sun was out by midday until the fading evening light.

 Photos AS