Thursday 31st October

A noticeable increase in waders and wildfowl overnight, with small flocks of Wigeon, Teal and Dunlin continuing to arrive during the morning. The first five Greylag Geese of the year were on Finger Point over high tide, presumably part of this movement, rather than more local birds. Counts from the estuary included 830 Dunlin, 330 Dark-bellied and four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 77 Grey Plover, 14 Sanderling, seven Pintail, three Greenshank, a female Shoveler, a Whimbrel, a Kingfisher, and the Slavonian Grebe.

Elsewhere a record 12 Cirl Bunting were on site, two Lapwing and a late Wheatear were on the Golf Course, a Merlin was on Warren Point, a Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes and a Red-throated Diver and an Eider were offshore.

Wednesday 30th October

The Recording Area's 19th Hoopoe, the first since 2016, was seen briefly around the Buffer Zone late morning but there was no further sign as conditions worsened. Other highlights included three Pochard, a fem/imm in the estuary with a drake Tufted Duck and a pair which flew south over Greenland Lake early afternoon; two other drake Tufted Duck were offshore.

Seawatching saw an adult Little Gull head east with a Great Skua, a Great Northern Diver, 75 Common Scoter, three Pintail and two Eider also offshore. In the estuary counts included 510 Dunlin, 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 36 Grey Plover, 35 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Knot, 22 Shelduck, seven Red-breasted Merganser, three Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was sheltering in Shutterton Creek at high tide.

Sunday 27th October

After yesterday's stormy deluge, today by complete contrast was calm and sunny. Taking advantage of the benign spell, 'vis-mig' resumed with 515 Woodpigeon with 20 Stock Dove mixed in; and some counts that also include grounded migrants, 27 Skylark, 13 Jackdaw, 11 alba wagtail, ten Meadow Pipit, nine Chaffinch, a flock of eight Lesser Redpoll, eight Bullfinch, five Siskin, three Lesser Black-backed Gull (flew S), a Rook, a Redwing, and also overhead four Raven passed through and a Buzzard circuited the site.  Mixed flocks of 65 Goldfinch and 39 Greenfinch foraged on Evening-primrose heads.  On scrub, edge habitats and grasslands, six Stonechat, four Cirl Bunting, two Song Thrush, two Reed Bunting and a late Wheatear.  The usual Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were present. In the woodlands and sallows, the flock of nine Long-tailed Tit and mixed tits carried three Goldcrest and two Chiffchaff (one singing in the sunshine) and elsewhere a Blackcap.

Too few birders on site today to cover all areas and the high tide period was missed, instead 610 Herring Gull and 135 Black-headed Gull, as well as lots of Brent Goose, Wigeon and waders were seen foraging at low tide on the mudflats, along creeks and offshore sandbars, where also a Carrion Crow was observed to repeatedly forage for mussels, commute with prey to Warren Point and cache each item by digging holes in the sand and covering over, or covering the item with a pile of seaweed. 

Eider (Alan Keatley)

Offshore was uneventful with seven Common Scoter, three Eider, including an adult male, and a diver sp.  The Scandinavian Rock Pipit was again present around the rocks, Go-Kart and promenade area.  Details are that is was ringed on 6th March 2019 on Giske, Møre & Romsdal, Norway, 1,440 km NNE; yesterday was its first recovery. 

Saturday 26th October

Only about 1.5 hours of birdable light was available before the rain front descended and shrouded the site in mist and gloom. Heading into the fresh southerly, 280 Gannet, 270 Kittiwake, 90 auk spp., eight Common Scoter, three Arctic Skua (plus two skua spp.), two Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver plus another very close in from the seawall later in the afternoon, by which time the open sea was nearly birdless.

In the estuary, 2,040 Wigeon, a four-figure count of Oystercatcher, 249 Redshank, 162 Great Black-backed Gull (the highest count here this year, bolstered by birds sheltering from the weather), 83 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 62 Curlew, 29 Turnstone, 27 Cormorant, 17 Dunlin, 16 Mute Swan, 12 Canada Goose, 11 Shelduck, ten Teal, ten Greenshank, six Red-breasted Merganser, six Sanderling, five Little Egret, four Great Crested Grebe, two each of Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Tern and the pair of Black Swan. Also, a Golden Plover flew over, one Grey Heron, and the resident Slavonian Grebe was accompanied for a while by a Little Grebe.

A roaming party of nine Long-tailed Tit, mixed tits, a Chiffchaff and a Chaffinch hugged the leeward side of wooded areas. The immature Sparrowhawk was again seen exhibiting its hunting tactic of skimming the ground, but apart from a flock of c40 Goldfinch, potential passerine prey was sparsely visible with only a few Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail out exposed and braving the unsettled conditions.

The day's highlight a was Scandinavian Rock Pipit near the lifeguard hut this afternoon, sporting a yellow-ringed coded '632', ringed on Giske Island, Norway.

Friday 25th October

Seawatching for 2.5 hours from before dawn before the heavy rain set in saw a remarkably heavy movement of birds heading SW, with counts of 1,950 auk spp. (mostly Razorbill), 1,080 Gannet, 1,005 Kittiwake, 162 Common Gull, 14 Mediterranean Gull, nine Common Scoter, five Arctic Skua (and a skua sp.), three Great Northern Diver, two Red-breasted Merganser, one Red-throated Diver and the highlight a Sooty Shearwater through at 10:00. 

The Common Gull count was the largest here in 5.5 years and the Kittiwake and auk spp counts were the highest of the year here so far.

Thursday 24th October

A dank and mizzly dawn greeted four over-optimistic observers stationed on the dune ridge from where 'vis-mig' was almost non-existent, and including grounded birds, meager totals were c.30 Meadow Pipit, 11 alba wagtail, eight Skylark, six Song Thrush, four Chaffinch, three Rook and a Siskin, with c.120 Goldfinch roaming the site the only notable count. 

At sea, rafts of Wigeon, two Shoveler and a Teal sought refuge from a burst of fireworks at 07:40 near the estuary corner, which put up all waterbird in the local area and also startled the nature reserve's livestock. Authorities will be  informed of this kind of behaviour. Also at sea, three Common Scoter, two immature Eider, a Great Northern Diver and a Sandwich Tern flew in off.

The bushes held three Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Goldcrest and two Chiffchaff; and the usual single Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were present.  The day's highlight was an immature Black Redstart on the seawall and Go Karts fence briefly - the first of the autumn and second of the year here.

Wednesday 23rd October

Fog scuppered any attempt at birding this morning and the only reports from today were two Eider and a Pomarine Skua that flew S over the site.

Tuesday 22nd October

In a light NNW breeze and after fog banks had rolled out of the estuary mouth and dispersed, visible migration resumed with counts of c.3,900 Woodpigeon, 254 Jackdaw, 138 Goldfinch, 72 Stock Dove, 28 Meadow Pipit, 25 alba wagtail, 12 Rook, five Siskin, three Skylark, three Song Thrush, two Swallow, and singles of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kestrel (plus the resident male), Collared Dove and a Chaffinch.  Migration orientations of these species were typical for this time of the year.  In the bushes, three Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest and the immature Sparrowhawk again hunted low over the ground.

The Aylesbury Duck accompanied 33 Mallard as they rose from the Main Pond and headed down the coast towards Dawlish town at dawn.  Casual scans at the sea picked up eight Common Scoter, five auk spp, a Sandwich Tern and a Red-breasted Merganser. 

Monday 21st October

From shortly after dawn, small clouds of birds approached from over Exmouth and continued overhead in a WSW or W direction with totals during 2h:20m of 3,351 Woodpigeon, 849 Jackdaw (2nd highest ever site count), 412 Stock Dove (5th highest ever site count), c.20 alba wagtail, eight Rook, four Skylark, and singles of Swallow and Golden Plover. Heading high S out to sea in V-formations were 40 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and heading up the spit in a NE direction were 55 Goldfinch and three Siskin; all typical orientations for these species here at this time of the year.

The 10.9% of Stock Dove among the pigeon spp flocks overhead was quite high.  Not too dissimilar numbers and 8.7% was noted over East Sour today (via DBS).  A few thousand pigeon ssp. also headed in a similar direction over Exeter (6 miles NW of here) during the same time today. 

Off Orcombe Point, hundreds of Black-headed Gull milled around, mixed with smaller numbers of other birds.  Thirty Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver flew SW at sea. The fourth and perhaps most surprising max count of the year to appear today was 31 Mallard, most of which departed at dawn from their roost on the Main Pond, accompanied by an Aylesbury Duck.  A Kingfisher called from the Main Pond and single Coal Tit and Chiffchaff were heard in the bushes. 

The high tide was reportedly uneventful with a Lapwing being the only highlight.

Sunday 20th October

Dawn broke to the coolest morning of the autumn so far and in the face of a stiffening NNW breeze, steadfast 'vis-mig' observers were rewarded with a Great White Egret that nonchalantly drifted south, circling the site once at height before it departed at 08:06; the third to pass the site this year. Also on the move, 137 Jackdaw, 116 Woodpigeon, 94 Goldfinch, 47 Skylark, 46 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 28 'alba' Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, 18 Shelduck, eight Chaffinch, six Song Thrush, four Stock Dove, three Rook, two Golden Plover, a Sparrowhawk (another hunted the bushes) and a Lesser Redpoll.

Combined WeBS and counts during the ebbing tide in the estuary were c.980 Oystercatcher, 377 Redshank, 349 Wigeon, 247 Curlew, 172 Teal, 144 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (10 juvs), 96 Black-tailed Godwit, 37 Turnstone, 35 Bar-tailed Godwit, 32 Cormorant, 28 Grey Plover, c.20 Dunlin, 16 Mute Swan, 15 Greenshank, 12 Canada Goose, ten Little Egret, ten Knot, only nine Great Black-backed Gull, eight Sanderling, six Common Gull, three Grey Heron, the pair of Black Swan, two Mediterranean Gull, two lingering Sandwich Tern; also the Slavonian Grebe, just a single Ringed Plover, the late Whimbrel and a Kingfisher.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese (juvenile) - Martin Overy

Details of the colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit seen today was ringed as a pullus in Iceland in 2007 and has since accumulated a long sightings history, having been seen in Dublin Bay in a few springs, overshot a couple of times into N France in early autumn and it typically winters on the Exe Estuary. 

The Cetti's Warbler was again heard chattering from the Main Pond. The bushes were quiet, holding four Goldcrest, two Chiffchaff, two Reed Bunting, less Linnet and scattered individuals of Stonechat and Cirl Bunting. A glary sea only revealed two Red-throated Diver and awareness to the presence still of a large feeding flock of gulls and seabirds far offshore.

Saturday 19th October

Given a respite after eight straight days of rain and showers, before dawn observers assembled on the dune ridge and looked skyward, encouraged by the calmer, dryer conditions. Movement began slowly then picked up with the day's highlight through at 08:30, the site's ninth Richard's Pipit. It called a few times and passed by so low to suggest it may have taken off from Greenland Lake before flying off southwest. An impressive 391 Jackdaw flew WSW (the site's eighth highest count, all higher counts were also in October); also on the move with some birds having dropped in for a while were 66 Pied/White Wagtail, 55 Goldfinch, c.50 Meadow Pipit, 26 Skylark, 14 Rook, seven Song Thrush, five Chaffinch, two Lesser Redpoll, two Siskin and a Golden Plover circled around before it then flew off south.  The abundance of bird-life drew in the interest of a single Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk, but the semi-resident male Kestrel ignored being harried by Linnets and concentrated on hovering in its hunt for voles.

The Cetti's Warbler was calling from the Main Pond and another was tentatively reported in bushes, which otherwise supported only two Reed Bunting, two Blackcap and a Chiffchaff, in addition to the usual Cirl Buntings.  There was nothing to report at sea. A couple of Water Rail squealed from the Main Pond reed-beds.

During the late morning high tide, the Warren Point roost sites, The Bight and estuary corner supported 955 Wigeon, 386 Redshank, 322 Curlew, 236 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 171 Teal, 120 Black-tailed Godwit (a red flag and multi-colour-ringed bird was likely from an Icelandic scheme); 55 Bar-tailed Godwit, 49 Turnstone, 26 Cormorant, 19 Knot and 16 Dunlin, although an additional 147 decided instead to roost on the railway embankment north of Cockwood Harbour and outside the recording area. Also present were 15 Great Black-backed Gull, 14 Greenshank, 12 Mute Swan, five Little Egret, four Grey Heron, four Sanderling, three Mediterranean Gull, three Sandwich Tern, the pair of escapee Black Swan, two Red-breasted Merganser, a Great Crested Grebe, the resident Slavonian Grebe, a Ringed Plover, a Ruff and a late Whimbrel. 

Friday 18th October

Counts from the estuary 1160 Oystercatcher, 770 Wigeon, 308 Redshank, 190 Curlew, 103 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 51 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, 41 Grey Plover, 38 Turnstone, 11 Greenshank, three Sanderling and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 40 Jackdaw were overhead with just a single Goldcrest in the bushes.

Thursday 17th October

A light but varied passage continued overhead with 63 Jackdaw, 40 Meadow Pipit and 12 Raven west, two Great Northern Diver high north up the estuary, 14 Snipe and three Siskin. A Firecrest was the pick of the grounded migrants along with a Coal Tit, a high count of 29 Long-tailed Tit, four Goldcrest and four Song Thrush.  

Long-tailed Tit - Alan Keatley

 
Counts from the estuary included 195 Curlew, 123 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, including 10 juveniles, 46 Bar and four Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Dunlin, 10 Knot, nine Greenshank, five Sandwich Tern, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wednesday 16th October

Three juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in the Bight were new arrivals with 1379 Wigeon, 258 Redshank, 166 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 73 Black and 62 Bar-tailed Godwit, 33 Dunlin, 29 Grey Plover, eight Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe also in the estuary.

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was by the Main Pond and overhead there were 122 Jackdaw, 81 alba Wagtail, 28 Skylark, seven Chaffinch, five Rook, three Siskin, a Lesser Redpoll and a Swallow.

Wildlife News: A female Vagrant Emperor was seen briefly on Warren Point, the fourth site record.

Tuesday 15th October

A morning of thick fog under clear blue skies ruined any chance of visible migration overhead although several groups of Meadow Pipit and Skylark were heard passing over along with around 10 Chaffinch, three Siskin and a Golden Plover. The lack of visibility hampered counts from the estuary but 227 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were in the Bight along with 169 Curlew, 28 Grey Plover, 10 Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond, 90 Linnet and 60 Goldfinch were on Warren Point and 10 Blackcap, four Goldcrest, two Chiffchaff and a Wheatear were on site.

Wildlife News: There was a steady passage of Red Admiral west during the day with 30+ noted, also on the wing a Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Large and Small White. Late dragonflies consisted mainly of Common Darter but Southern and Migrant Hawker were also still flying. A lone Hornet was on Ivy and a single Rosemary Beetle was a first for the Recording Area.

Monday 14th October

A mostly wet and miserable day but even in drier periods there was little to be found in the bushes with just three Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff noted, although the Cetti's Warbler was again by the Main Pond. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 17 Sandwich Tern.

Slavonian Grebe 09/10/19 - Lee Collins

Sunday 13th October

The Siberian Lesser Whitethroat presumed blythi remained around the Entrance Bushes with eight Blackcap, five Chiffchaff and two Wheatear also on site. Other migrants included a mobile flock of 170 Goldfinch and 40 Greenfinch feasting on Evening Primrose, no doubt helping to attract a passing Merlin.

Siberian Lesser Whitethroat - Lee Collins

Elsewhere two Shoveler and an Arctic Skua were offshore and records from the estuary included a Curlew Sandpiper, 290 Redshank, 161 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 47 Dunlin, 33 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 28 Sandwich Tern, 23 Ringed, 20 Grey and a Golden Plover, 16 Knot, eight Greenshank, a Whimbrel and the Slavonian Grebe.

Saturday 12th October

A Siberian Lesser Whitethroat, presumed blythi, was around the Entrance Bushes most of the day, a first for the Recording Area. It arrived along with at least eight Blackcap and four Song Thrush, with a Wheatear, four Chiffchaff and three Goldcrest also on site and 13 House Martin overhead.

 Lesser Whitethroat blythi  - Alan Keatley

Lesser Whitethroat blythi  - both Luke Harman

Counts from the estuary included 875 Wigeon, 264 Redshank, 139 Teal, 86 Turnstone, 32 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 28 Dunlin, 21 Sandwich and two Common Tern, eight Grey, four Ringed and a Golden Plover, seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, six Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Red-throated Diver, three Arctic and a Pomarine Skua were offshore.

Wildlife News: Three Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal were offshore.

Parasol - Alan Keatley. With the recent rain fungi are out in abundance on site.

Friday 11th October

Seawatching from just after 8am saw 17 Arctic, three Pomarine, a Great and the year's first Long-tailed Skua head south along with a Puffin, three Red-throated and two Great Northern Diver.

Elsewhere there was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher in the estuary but species present included seven Golden Plover, 100 Turnstone, 85 Sandwich, five Common and two Arctic Tern, 40 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, four Red-breasted Merganser and the Slavonian Grebe.

Thursday 10th October

The first Long-billed Dowitcher for the Warren was discovered associating with Oystercatcher on the afternoon's rising tide. It was soon flushed by a Merlin but was eventually relocated in front of the hide and occasionally feeding on the Golf Course. The hide should be accessible along the beach throughout the tide cycle tomorrow, there is no access to the Golf Course.

Long-billed Dowitcher - Alan Keatley

Long-billed Dowitcher - Luke Harman

Also in the estuary a good total of 1401 Wigeon, 165 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 67 Sandwich, five Common and an Arctic Tern, 17 Grey and two Golden Plover, 15 Mediterranean Gull, six Greenshank, four Red-breasted Merganser, a Pintail and a Slavonian Grebe.

Cirl Bunting - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 9th October

The feeding flock offshore was still present and estimated to comprise of 1,700 birds.  Two Arctic Skua in attendance chased around the Kittiwake and terns. Large numbers of terns remain on site with 112 Sandwich and a Common Tern in the estuary along with 82 Turnstone, 24 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, six Mediterranean Gull, five Grey Plover, three Knot, a Red-breasted Merganser and the Slavonian Grebe.

A Cetti's Warbler called a few times from reed-beds around the Main Pond. The bushes and dunes were quieter than yesterday, holding six Blackcap, five Chiffchaff, five Goldcrest and a Wheatear.  Overhead there were 162 Meadow Pipit, 41 alba Wagtail, 25 Jackdaw, 18 Skylark, 10 Chaffinch and three Siskin.

Tuesday 8th October

A Great White Egret leisurely flew along the coastline and headed up the spit at dawn. The massive seabird melee was still present far offshore, comprising mostly of Black-headed Gull, Kittiwake, Gannet, four Mediterranean Gull and terns, which totaled 141 Sandwich, seven Common and two adult Arctic Tern. In addition, passage south included two Balearic Shearwater. 

The first Red-breasted Merganser of the winter was in the estuary with 189 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 71 Turnstone, 36 Dunlin, 27 Ringed Plover, eight Grey Plover and four Sanderling.

Movement overhead 470 Meadow Pipit, 35 Skylark, 20 Swallow, four Rook, three Grey Wagtail and a Jackdaw with a clear arrival of 21 Blackcap in the bushes.

Wildlife news: two pods of four and five Common Dolphin joined the feeding frenzy offshore.

Monday 7th October

Good feeding conditions remain offshore attracting at least 96 Sandwich, two Common and an Arctic Tern with at least 10 Arctic and four Great Skua passing south. Elsewhere a Ruff was a new arrival in the Bight with counts from the estuary including 366 Wigeon, 217 Teal, 100+ Great Black-backed Gull, 63 Turnstone, 48 Ringed Plover, 37 Dunlin, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe.

Sunday 6th October

A Short-toed Lark was reportedly seen briefly along the Dune Ridge before flying to the Golf Course mid afternoon, but there was no further sign. Grounded migrants were limited to 12 Goldcrest, six Chiffchaff and three Blackcap, although overhead passage picked up with a late Tree Pipit amongst good number of Meadow Pipit, 115 alba Wagtail and a steady movement of Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet. The year's first Merlin also passed through.

In the estuary numbers of terns increased considerably with a minimum of 159 Sandwich and five Common Tern on Bull Hill, with a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 374 Curlew, 143 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 24 Dunlin, seven Greenshank, eight Mediterranean Gull and two Pintail also present. Elsewhere at least six Arctic Skua were off the seawall harrying the terns and hundreds of gulls feeding offshore.

Saturday 5th October

Good feeding conditions remain offshore with the large numbers of gulls attracting in at least three Arctic Skua, whilst further out in the bay 19 Balearic Shearwater flew south in three groups. Counts from the estuary included 154 Teal, 143 Dunlin, 51 Ringed Plover, 45+ Sandwich Tern, 27 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Grey Plover, eight Greenshank, four Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

Overhead passage was limited by the lack of cloud but small parties of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Linnet were heading east along with 75 Swallow, 50 Meadow Pipit, 45 Skylark, three Chaffinch and a Siskin. Grounded migrants included six Chiffchaff, four Goldcrest and a Wheatear.

Chiffchaff - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: A pod of eight Common Dolphin were offshore early morning with the usual late autumn butterflies and dragonflies on the wing including four Painted Lady, a Wall and several Migrant Hawker.

Friday 4th October

A Cetti's Warbler in the Entrance Bushes was seemingly the only new migrant, just the 10th for the Recording Area. Elsewhere just four Chiffchaff, three Goldcrest and a Wheatear were also on site with 11 House Martin and a Swallow overhead.

Seawatching was rewarding considering the relatively benign conditions, a juvenile Little Tern was the most notable record with 490 Gannet and 120 Kittiwake also heading south with two Pomarine, four Arctic and a Great Skua. In the estuary 78 Sandwich Tern, including a colour-ringed juvenile from Cemlyn Bay on Anglesey, and 47 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, including two juveniles.

Thursday 3rd October

Counts from the estuary included an exceptional October tally of 89 Sandwich Tern, 120 Dunlin, 76 Dark and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Greenshank, nine Grey Plover, four Mediterranean Gull and two Black Swan.

Elsewhere single Wheatear and Goldcrest were on site, 25 Swallow flew west and 150 Gannet, 35 Kittiwake, four Arctic and a Great Skua were lingering off the seawall.

 Grey Plover (and Dunlin) - Alan Keatley

Mediterranean Gull (2nd winter) - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 2nd October

Counts from the estuary included 419 Curlew, a high count of 72 Sandwich Tern, 25 Turnstone, 22 Dark and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Knot, 12 Grey Plover, six Greenshank, a Shoveler and the Slavonian Grebe. 

Elsewhere vismig was limited by a lack of cloud cover but 60 Meadow Pipit, 38 House Martin, 20 Skylark, 10 Swallow and a Grey Wagtail were overhead. Grounded migrants included five Wheatear, four Goldcrest and a Whitethroat whilst four Balearic Shearwater and an Arctic Skua headed south offshore. 

Tuesday 1st October

An evening visit on a rising tide saw counts of 517 Wigeon, 368 Redshank, 25 Knot, six Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Geese, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe from the estuary.