Plymouth

Devils Point, Plymouth 16:30 08/10/11:
12 Mediterranean gulls roosting; 11 adult winter and 1 2nd winter.

[Tom Forster]

Prawle - today and recent past

8/10; Seawatch 07.00 - 10.00 (JL, TM, FS); Great Northern Diver, Large Shearwater sp (probably Cory's) west, 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 11 Common Scoters, 2 Great Skuas, Skua sp (probably Long-tailed) east, 4 Sandwich Terns.

Vis Mig watch 07.30 - 10.30 (PM); 71 Skylarks, 78 Pied/White Wagtails, 165 Meadow Pipits, 112 Swallows, 18 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 240 Siskins, 665 Linnets, 200 Goldfinches, 440 Chaffinches and 13 Greenfinches.

Also while watching, a Great Northern Diver flew west overland, and a Short-eared Owl passed over. Later in the day, at about 13.00, a ringtail Hen Harrier flew west over Gammon Head (same as at Soar?). Also today, a Merlin, 4 Wheatears, Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 20 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests.

7/10; Vis Mig watch 07.30 - 10.30; 91 Skylarks, 84 Pied/White Wagtails, 780 Meadow Pipits, 370 Swallows, 18 House Martins, 275 Chaffinches, 1470 Linnets, 330 Goldfinches, 11 Lesser Redpolls, and 830 Siskins, probably a site record in what has so far been a fantastic autumn for this species. Also today, a male Hen Harrier flew over high to the west, 2 Wheatears, Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and 6 Goldcrests. (Also a Clouded Yellow).

6/10; Short seawatch turned up an Arctic Skua, 2 Med Gulls, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 4 distant waders that were probably Golden Plovers. Over the land, 24 Crossbills, 105 Siskins and 2 Lesser Redpolls flew west. Other counts today included 220 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 14 Wheatears, 8 Blackcaps, 15 Chiffchaffs and 5 Goldcrests.

Chivelstone Wryneck

I keep tripping over Wrynecks at the moment! Driving home from Prawle this evening, passed one feeding on the roadside verge at Chivelstone Cross (about 1.5 miles north of East Prawle). Parked up to see it flying back up the road before landing back on the side of the road. A car went past on the opposite side, feet away, and it didn't flinch, only when a car came on it's side of the road did it fly up into the hedge!

Bowling green marsh

After a busy week at work and having watched England lose the rugby this morning took a trip over to the bowling green marsh this afternoon and what a cracking afternoon got to the hide at 14:45 and soon was looking at a little stint and curlew sandpiper in with 65+ Dunlin there were 2 spotted redshank with a few greenshank on far side. A nice surprise was 3 golden plover and the brief appearance of a hobby flying over.2 more spotted redshank flew in including a juv and 40+ bar tailed godwit was a good count and 600+ black tailed godwit flew in on mass then around 17:00 an adult spoonbill flew in this one is ringed on left leg green yellow flag green and right leg blue yellow White. Just after the spoonbill flew in a couple birders came in reporting a grey phalarope from the viewing platform so quickly got to the viewing platform and there in with the black headed gulls an adult grey phalarope. Popped back to the hide for another look at the spoonbill and a juv ruff had popped in a very enjoyable afternoon.

A couple of birds missed off in earlier post included 5 avocet, 250+ teal , 16+ greenshank, 200+ redshank dunlin final total 80+ and 1 whimbrel and a steady straem of meadow pipits all afternoon.

Soar

A bit of movement for the first 3 hours of light, with the following mainly heading west 0725-0945: Meadow Pipit 140; Alba wagtail 35; Linnet 120; Goldfinch 7; Greenfinch 3; Siskin 99; Skylark 110; Redpoll 4; Crossbill 2; Chaffinch 22. Otherwise, only 1 Wheatear, 1 Snipe, 1 Hen Harrier (ring tail over Bolt Head), 20 Swallow, 1 Little Egret, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Peregrine and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

To coin a phrase of Perry's - the bushes were dire!

Powderham

Not a bird, but a report of an otter seen between 7:30 and 8:00 this morning, by the railway line close to Powderham Castle.

Berry Head

Early morning visit with Jake Wood, 8 Wheater, 9 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 9 alba Wagtail, 43 Goldfinch, 8 Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, 3 House Sparrow, 5 Siskin, 5 Linnet, 5 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 7 Swallow, 7 Skylark and the bird of the morning a Dartford Warbler in the scrub below the cafe at the Northern Fort associating with the Stonechats.

Just to add to Bills totals 2 Crossbill; another Yellowhammer, 40 + Swallow and 1 House Martin, 1 Merlin >W at 1pm (Bill saw another at 3.20pm>W), 8 Cirl Buntings. M Langman

Passage House and Hackney Marshes

Early morning stroll. Cetti's warbler sang briefly from reeds by the edge of the racecourse. Four little egrets in Hackney Channel alongside a single redshank. Kingfisher perched momentarily by the shoreline. Tide reasonably well out, so birds rather distant - oystercatcher and curlew in small numbers, nine more little egrets plus numerous BH and herring gulls and a few lesser blacks (including a dead one). Smaller birds included groups of meadow pipits overhead, grey wagtails, and a couple of reed buntings in and out of the reeds adjacent the hotel.

Axe Estuary

The Whooper Swan still on the river when I left at 18:20, N of the tower hide. It did have a little fly round, bugling gently, so may be a bit restless. Most unusual was an adult Arctic Tern on the river all evening. More predictable were 2 Med Gulls (adult and 1st-winter) and a dark-mantled large 2nd/maybe 3rd-winter type gull which had me stumped. Here's a naff photo...

 Arctic Tern

Woodbury Common

1600 - 1800 - no sign of any harriers this evening but interesting to see a steady trickle of migrants all heading west so late in the day. These included several meadow pipits and linnets, a few siskin and chaffinch, 8+ redpoll, 1 golden plover, 2 swallow and either lapland or snow bunting giving just the mournful clipped 'tew' call. I was also very pleased to get a brown fem or juv dartford warbler, the first I've seen up there in about a year. Let's hope it survives this winter! Also 2+ goldcrest, 2+ coal tit and 3+ stonechat with a fw mediterranean gull on Backhill Quarry Pool.

Lower Tamar Lake

At Lower Tamar Lake early afternoon - 1 female Garganey keeping close company with Mallards.

[Harvey Kendall]

Soar

07:00 - 17:00. Clear skies early hours of morning, c85% cloud cover by dawn. Weather brightening from mid-morning on but a fresh northwest wind all day.

Started with a vis. mig. watch on the eastern end of the Warren from 07:25 - 10:00. Heading northwest into the wind were 84 Swallows, 200 Meadow Pipits, 52 alba Wagtails, 197 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 4 Greenfinch, 24 Chaffinch, 300 Linnets and 41 Goldfinch. A more leisurly NW movement to midday in the East Soar area brought the totals to 350 Meadow Pipits, 228 Siskins and 4 Lesser Redpolls. In addition a single Crossbill and by the end of the day 142 Swallows and 6 House Martins. Elsewhere single Golden Plover heard, 5 Wheatear and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Birding in the bushes not surprisingly dire, single Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest and a possible Blackcap ! Unfortunatly did not connect with Rob's Wryneck but saw presumably the same female Merlin at mid-Soar.
Finally an ' helice ' Clouded Yellow at East Soar Ponds.

Soar

Starhole Bottom - wryneck in ash tree. Female merlin hunting slopes here.

Also: Mainly westerly movements and grounded

120 swallow; 110 skylark; 260 meadow pipit; 116 linnet
23 siskin (but 200 seen earlier by another obs).

Clouded yellow and a few red admirals.

Barnstaple long bridge 14:30

Walking into town over the Long bridge this afternoon there was an interesting Grebe in the water on the park side of the bridge . Black head with white neck, black back and grey lowers, looked distinctly bigger than a Little Grebe - must have been a Slavonian or Black-necked I guess (purely on size I would plump for Slavonian). When walking back over the bridge it had gone from that side anyway. Maybe worth any Barnstaple birders (Maurice!) keeping their eyes peeled tomorrow.

Exminster Marshes

An immature Spoonbill flew from the lagoon towards Exeter and M5 at 10.30. The bird had pronounced black tips to the wings, a pale bill but very dark/black legs. Wigeon numbers slightly up (40) and 29 shoveller on the lagoon. Also one tufted duck asleep. Two wheatears nearer the canal and I had  my best view of a Cettis for a long time, about 50m south of the canal-side car park on the cycle track.

At mid-day I did look in briefly at Matford Pools to see if the spoonbill had landed there. No sign and the pools are very low. Only managed to see a few teal.

Whooper Swan Axe Estuary

This adult Whooper Swan (found by Sue Smith) dropped in in front of the Tower Hide at about 09:20. Just after 10am, it was flushed by the first tram, went for a fly round then pitched back down on the Estuary off Coronation Corner...


Yesterday morning, I had a couple of Crossbills fly over my house, before spending most the day around Thurlestone/South Milton/South Huish. Many thanks to Vic and Nick for being the guides - what a incredible place full of great habitat and amazing potential!

I came back home in time to have a quick look along the Estuary, where two adult Med Gulls (my first for a while) were in the gull roost north of Coronation Corner.

Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe

The first returning golden plover of the autumn this evening with 18 birds circling the area. At the same time all the skylarks got up and came past, probably flushed by an unseen raptor, which allowed me to estimate their numbers at 300+.
2 wheatears also present.

Turf & Exminster Marshes

A windy walk along the canal rewarded with a Spoonbill off Turf (around 1130) feeding & then tucked its bill out of sight; no tags, & right leg looked larger than left - but that might be the angle; 30 Little Egrets, inc. 21 lined up against the wall on the Topsham side. 1 Bar tailed Godwit.

The lagoon - we could count only 119 Coots this morning plus 16 Shoveler.
4 Swallow going thro' at intervals

Dartmoor - Venford

FIRECREST - 10:15 this morning at Venford Res; amongst mixed flock.
(Paul Stubbs)



Also a report from Plymouth of a goldcrest and two firecrest on Saturday 1st Oct. The male firecrest was very striking and bright and was interacting with the goldcrest - both displaying their head crests.

(Robert Hurrell)

Exminster Marshes

The number of coots has risen rapidly recently and today I counted 131. Also on the lagoon c20 shoveller, c30 teal and a few wigeon. At 09.30 a juv. goosander flew in and drank for a few minutes and then flew out to the north. It had quite pronounced markings between its bill and eye.

Elsewhere 1 wheatear, 8+ chiffchaffs and a few skylarks heard overhead. Local exotic waterfowl now include one barnacle goose, one black swan and a Canada goose that thinks it is a swan.

Seaton Area

Nice surprise today was a line of 4 Whinchats along a fence just N of A3052 at Bridge Marsh.

A short seawatch this afternoon produced 6 Common Scoters, 1 Razorbill, 7 auk sp. and 1 juv Common Tern. That's why it was short.

From the BHM tower hide later: 3 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Knot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12+ Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Bar-tailed. Among the gulls were a juv/1st-winter Common Gull (my first of that species for ages here) and 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls. One or two of the latter were maybe dark enough to start thinking about intermedius...

L to R: poss intermedius, obvious graellsii, GBB

Exminster Marshes

A frustrating bit of bird-watching this morning. First was a medium sized wader (no white rump) that dropped into the edge of the lagoon from a great height and subsequently vanished. Next was a warbler that flew across the canal into the reeds and vanished - probably a reed warbler, size, colour looked right but you never know at this time of the year. It fanned out its tail in flight!

I had more luck with a common sandpiper at Turf, one wheatear on the marshes and 3 calling Cettis. Otherwise quiet but still lots of green finches in the bushes.

Harpford - yesterday 4/10

12+ Siskins and a Grey Wagtail [Pete Adey]

Easy to see why non-birders can't understand why this is called a Grey Wagtail!

Berry Head

Having failed to see the Pallid Harrier at Black Down yesterday it was back to Berry Head this morning. In blustery conditions visible migration South mainly Meadow Pipits 100 + with 6 Wheater, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 24 Swallows, 5 House Martin, 14 alba Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldfinch, 9 Siskin (Dave Norman had another 20+) and a Green Woodpecker.

Thurlestone Bay

Joshua M - many thaks for the link to BB- whilst I am a subscriber the back cat. covers many years when I wasn't.

Early am on the Golf Course/Church high point - 3 Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 10 Skylark, 20 Linnet, 50 Meadow Pipit 17 Wheatear, 30+ LBB Gull,

09.45 -12.15- S M Ley/ S H marsh/ Bay

12 Siskin, 7 Wheatear, 1 jv Whinchat, 1 jv Pied Flycatcher, 1 m Merlin, Dunlin, Ringed Plover.

16.00 Thurlestone Marsh - still 2 Blk T Godwit, 1 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 47 Teal, 21 Wigeon

Resource for Devon Birders

Here is a link to the British Birds magazine website which now incorporates the entire back catalogue of BB from the first issue up until 2007. It is a fully searchable facility.

http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/search

You just need to register for the website which is free. No need to subscribe to BB. Maybe a handy resource for some interested people.

Woodbury Common

1600 - 1800 - trip up to search for pallid but found 3 hen harrier (ad male and 2 juv). All three showed on and off for two hours beneath the fort. Both juvs disconcertingly orangey beneath but that's where the similarity to pallid ended although one juv distinctly smaller and darker than the other. Also 1+ crossbill, several redpoll, siskin and meadow pipits and 1 snipe.

Berry Hd

Despite the clear conditions a few birds around  0710-0930hrs:

1 Firecrest, 8 Goldcrest, 13 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 4 Redpoll, 4 Crossbill - heard only so probably more in flocks), 25 Siskin, 3 Wheatear, 1 Spotted flycatcher, 8 Sandwich Tern over the top of the headland high! 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted woodpecker on Headland and small numbers of Swallow, Alba Wagtails, Greenfinch, linnet, Goldfinch and Chaffinches over >N.
Right: Spotted Flycatcher.
Below: Waiting and watching for the flock of Long-tailed Tits turned up both Spotted Flycatcher and Firecrest.

Dawlish Warren

A rare twitch and birding excursion out of Torbay to see the Barred Warbler with Bill Macdonald. The bird showed briefly on and off between 1000-1100 hrs along the golf course fence line preferring the brambles. Events before, during, and after helped to confirm to me the reasons why I don't twitch birds

Prawle

Main feature today was vis mig up to mid morning, from the hilltop behind the Point .Most birds going SW. Several groups of Crossbill over invisible high, then a group of 28 over low, combined total 40+, also 260+ Siskin and 10 Redpoll, plus 300 Meadow Pipit , 200+ Goldfinch and 50+ alba wagtails. On the ground pretty quiet , no more than 10 each of Wheatear and Chiffchaff.

Beer Head

07:00 -10:00 Five birders was a midweek surprise! Other than totting up people my counting was pretty lazy...

More Skylarks around (maybe 20+) and a smattering of Meadow Pipits and alba Wagtails (at least one on the deck looked like a White, but the vast majority that touched down were unequivocal Pied) - many of which were moving SW. Siskins numbered 40+, though invisible birds would increase that total. Grounded were c8 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails with the sheep, 4+ Stonechats, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest and a handful of Chiffs and Blackcaps. A little gang of thrushes (several Blackbirds and Song Thrushes) in the Sheepwalk, but otherwise the bushes were very quiet. The busiest area by far was the S end of the track which leads from the top of Common Hill towards the old lookout. The hedge and open ground here was alive with bits and bobs - mostly Linnets, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits, but a Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Buntings were 'oddities' (especially the latter) and the area was clearly a bird-magnet.

A Painted Lady was my first for ages.

Bolberry Down to Bolt Head

O6:45-17:00.
Clear night, sea fog by dawn, clearing to a hot sunny day. Fog returning mid afternoon ( vis < 100 mtrs ) with a strengthening w-sw wind.
No transport ( payback for sending the wife off to work ) but able to get a lift out to Bolberry first thing ( after reading Ivan's post wish i'd gone to East Soar first instead ). Like Rob no vis mig where i was at Bolberry because of the fog.
3 Sparrowhawks, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Swallows ( poor hirundine day ), Whinchat, 29 Wheatear, 14 Blackcap, 25 Chiffchaff, 18 Goldcrest, 52 Siskins, 8 Lesser Redpoll ( scattered ), 15 Common Crossbills ( NE over Soar Mill Cove mid morning).
Nice to see this great area getting some good coverage.

Soar and Averton Gifford

Soar

Missed the goodies but managed - 6 Whinchats, 6 Siskins, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 3 Redpolls and 10+ Swallows.

Averton Gifford

One Yellow-legged Gull (ad) and 3 Greenshanks.

Bolt Head to Soar Mill Cove area

08:00-14:30. Quite foggy til 10:00, lots of birds present early on, but many left as fog lifted. Fog returned from 14:00. Early on - 1 Ortolan Bunting (circling fields calling beside track to East Soar Farm), 1 Ring Ouzel (Starehole Bay), 8 Crossbill, c.130 Siskin, 16 Redpoll: 'vis mig' was in a SW'ly direction. Still present later (in the warm sunshine) - 1 Wryneck (Soar Mill Cove), 1 G S Woodpecker, 10+ Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 29 Stonechat (seems a lot, just local breeders?), c.30 Chiffchaff, 10+ Blackcap, c.10 Goldcrest, 440 Linnet (mostly in fields as large flocks, some as 'vis mig'), a few Goldfinch amongst them; many Skylarks and Meadow Pipits around; also a few 'alba wags', Swallows, Cirl Buntings.

1 Clouded Yellow, a few Silver Y, 100s Red Admirals.

Soar

0915 - 1340 hrs; Sunny and warm.

Still reasonable numbers but little vis mig:

140 skylark; 13 swallow; 50 meadow pipit; 27 alba wagtails; 20 robin; 2 whinchat;
17 stonechat;9 wheatear; 25 goldfinch; 8 siskin; 260 linnet; 2 cirl bunting.

Also: 110 house sparrow.

Exminster Marshes

Warm, sunny and chiffchaffs singing - it did not feel like October. Cettis calling from close to the railway line and about 6 chiffchaffs seen. At Turf a single wheatear and a jay. On the main marshes a further 6 wheatears, c20 linnets and a single flock of 20 siskins flew over going west. On the lagoon wildfowl numbers are increasing; c200 wigeon, c50 teal, a few mallard and almost 100 coot. Otherwise the only other bird of interest was a black swan on the lagoon and another flying towards Topsham (there were 2 yesterday on the canal).

Dawlish Warren

A couple more pics of the Barred Warbler from today

Wembury - quantity not quality

Interesting to see the subtle differences between Soar and Wembury in the composition of migrants today: 150+ Alba wagtail, 15 Wheatear, 400 Meadow Pipit, 30+ Skylark, 300+ Linnet, 20+ Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 7 Siskin, 2 Sparrowhawk and 20+ Yellowhammer.


Quantity













Quality, almost (Common Darter). Coastal headland far from water after southerlies should really have been a Vagrant Darter but then again, there should have been at least 2 Pallid Harrier!

Prawle

A good selection of birds today. Prawle's 6th Wryneck of the autumn was at Gammon Head (one reported yesterday on the coastpath at Prawle Point was presumably a different bird). 2 Hen Harriers graced the area, with a juvenile passing high over, and out to sea at 11.55, and a male quartering the Airfields this evening. The rest of the day's list comprised 200+ Swallows, 2 House Martins, 2 Grey Wagtails, 24 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 2 Common Redstarts, Black Redstart, 15 Siskin over (seen), with many others heard only, Coal Tit, 22 Blackcaps, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, 64 Chiffchaffs, 11 Goldcrests and 3 Firecrests. Also today, a Clouded Yellow and 100's of Red Admirals.

Yesterday evening (1/10), single Merlin and Yellow Wagtail were recorded.

Seaton

The Semipalmated Sandpiper was on the Axe estuary this evening, with a single Ringed Plover and no Dunlin, viewable fairly distantly from the Black Hole Marsh tower hide. Also a Med Gull. On BHM were 2 Ruff, a Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank.

Budleigh Salterton

The long-staying Glaucous Gull on the beach at 17:00, feeding on scraps from the fishing boats with other large gulls.

[Steve Oliver]

Bolberry,Soar & Hope Cove

Fairly quiet really but good numbers of Wheater: 57 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 White Wagtails, 23 Alba Wagtail sp, 22 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 19 Stonechat, 20 + Cirl buntings, 15+ Crossbill > SE in two groups, 1 Redpoll, 43 Siskin, fair number of Skylark and Meadow pipits but no real movement. 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth and 1 Clouded Yellow (only my 2nd of the year!), 150+ of Red Admiral Butterflies.

Right: White Wagtail, Soar Mill Cove beach.

Beer Head

07:00-09:00 with Phil Abbott this morning. Modest overhead movement of Meadow Pipits, alba wagtails, finches etc, not counted, though 10+ Skylarks, several Siskins and a Redpoll were noted. At least 5 Goldcrests in the bushes, plus a few Chiffs, a Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler, and 5+ Wheatears on the deck.

Also this Pheasant, reminding us why all bramble clumps need checking for Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Northern Orioles and other assorted vagrants from fantasy-land...

Plym Estuary

The juv Spotted Sandpiper still present and showing well on the narrow part of the river, c200m down stream of the railway bridge. Also at least 1 Common Sandpiper, but very little else!

Bowling green marsh

Another beautiful morning on the marsh arrived at the hide at 09:35 over the high tide were 1 juv curlew sandpiper in with 50+ Dunlin but was rather elusive. 1 spotted redshank in winter plumage, 14+ knot, 1 juv male ruff showed well as did a kinfisher mid morning. A count of the the godwits resulted in 622+ black tailed and 8+ bar tailed. 16 greenshank and 100+ redshank, 4 whimbrel and 150+ curlew and 2 green sandpiper. Nice to see the wigeon numbers building up with 26 this morning and 2 pintail one male still in eclipse and a female, 2 shoveler and good numbers of teal. 33 little egrets in the field to the right of the hide and 1 wheatear flew in late morning and juv sparrowhawk, 67 black headed gull and a 3rd winter herring gull.

Dawlish Warren

A couple of photos of the (seemingly elusive!) Barred Warbler from Simon Thurgood...

Soar, Sat 1/10/11

No great movements but Linnet numbers up to c800 in fields near East Soar car park, 1 Firecrest (Paul Kemp only), c60 Siskins over, 2 Whitethroats, 15 Chiffchaffs, 3 Whichants, 20 Wheaters, 12 Peregrines, and 10+ Cirl Buntings.

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 0700 - 1045 - c 100+ siskin, c150+ alba wagtail, c2/300+ linnet, fem/juv marsh harrier (south out to sea 0705), 32+ redpoll, 2 grey heron, c1/200+ meadow pipit, 3 goldcrest, 8+ chiffchaff, c30+ chaffinch, c30+ goldfinch, 15+ skylark, 5+ wheatear, 5+ reed bunting, 2 collared dove, 3 grey wagtail, 2 blackcap, 2+ great spotted woodpecker, 3 sparrowhawk, 1+ yellow wagtail, 4 house sparrow, 1 starling, 1 stonechat, 2 swallow, 1 rock pipit, 1 kestrel, 1 prob tree pipit, 1 grey plover, 1 skua sp, 2 manx shearwater, 1 guillemot, 11 dark-bellied brent goose and 1 fw mediterranean gull. Also of note a steady passage of red admiral butterflies south out to sea.
A beautiful morning with loads of movement. Numbers probably conservative but it's difficult to know for sure because although most birds were moving east, linnets seemed to be going west and several finches, pipits and wagtails were pausing to feed in the newly rolled field at the top of Gore Lane. The grey plover was walking around the same field producing a surge of adrenalin when first picked up in the bins! It was cursed several times, as you can imagine, given the autumn Britain has had for American waders!

E Allington

Wryneck this morning 0745-0845+ in Laburnum Way! (Mr Jeffrery's back garden.  Also 'a bit off a blocker on my mothers garden list (haven't told her yet!)