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.