Sunday 12th October

The first Dartford Warbler of the year, an immature, was in brambles around the Cuckoo's Nest early morning but other grounded migrants were limited to seven Chiffchaff and a couple of Blackcap. Overhead however visible migration continued with 197 Skylark, 154 alba Wagtail, 58 Meadow Pipit, 34 Jackdaw, 11 Rook, nine Swallow, six Reed Bunting, four Siskin, two Snipe and a Golden Plover mostly heading west. Elsewhere the adult Bonaparte's Gull reappeared offshore for its third winter (assuming out lingers), the Arctic Tern was again present, three Great Northern Diver included a summer plumaged adult that flew high south from upriver, the first Water Rail of the autumn were at the Main Pond and the Slavonian Grebe remained off Cockwood.

Bonaparte's Gull - Lee Collins