30th October 2024

 Weather: SW force 3,   WSW 3 in afternoon

A single Fieldfare was around for most of the morning but other than that and a Chaffinch there was little on the island, so it was surprising that a Merlin turned up and was about for a while, mostly on the west side. Two Skylarks flew through. On the sea was a Guillemot and a Great Crested Grebe and on the shore 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron and 3 Eiders, while the Kestrel was airbourne around the island. A good count was made of 414 Brent Geese, most along the edge of the Swash.  Around the edge of the incoming tide were 530 Shelduck and 2 first winter Swans flew north out of the estuary, unfortunately too far away to be positively identified. Three Purple Sandpiper roosted on the north end of middle eye. Other waders today were 8,000 Knot, 30 Dunlin, 340 Curlew, 140 Turnstone, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 50 Redshank. There was evidence about the island that both Weasel and Fox are still here.