8th October 2025

 Weather: NW force 3,    W4 by noon

 A Raven was over middle early but no birds of prey were seen this morning. Eight Red-breasted Mergansers were by the west hoyle (where they often are). Brent increased again to 236 birds, maybe later in the winter we may achieve a record count. Other wildfowl were 450 Common Scoter on the sea, 56 Shelduck in the estuary, a female type Eider was about and then a male was in the gutter as observers left the island ahead of the incoming tide. A Reed Bunting landed briefly in the obs garden while calling, 6 Skylarks went straight over and there were 3 Goldcrests on the island. It's been noted previously that Goldcrests can arrive on a north westerly airstream in a way that the warblers seldom do. The same applies to Wheatears to some extent, in their case almost any direction will do, there was 1 today. Some of the 5 Robins will also the migrants.

 Wader counts included 70 Turnstone,

 ... 162 Curlew, 25 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 96 Redshank. 

 Nine Little Egrets fed about the shore with 2 Grey Herons. 

 Photos AS