Monday 31st October

Seawatching from first light revealed two Velvet Scoter flying around the bay, they evidently left east unseen soon after. Also passing offshore, a Balearic Shearwater, 460 Gannet, 236 Kittiwake, 24 Common Scoter, three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver.

Something of a seawatching prize locally, these 2 Velvet Scoters past West Bay at 08:09. They had passed Seaton (E Devon) at 07:45 and were also picked up off West Bexington at 08:17. Nice bit of observer communication. 😎👍 pic.twitter.com/hE0VzoNb67

— Gavin Haig (@NotQuiteScilly) October 31, 2022

In the estuary, a late Little Stint and two Curlew Sandpiper in the Bight and 35 Cattle Egret off Cockwood. Counts included 748 Dunlin, 694 Oystercatcher, 386 Teal, 322 Black-tailed Godwit, 322 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 281 Redshank, 82 Turnstone, 76 Great Black-backed, 44 Common and three Mediterranean Gull, 50 Grey and 43 Ringed Plover, five Great Crested Grebe and a Pintail.

Cattle Egrets at Cockwood Steps. Makes a change from seeing them in fields. pic.twitter.com/9P0liPrXaE

— Chris Gladman (@AnchorBirder) October 31, 2022

Elsewhere only the second Jay of the year was on the Golf Course with 10 Chiffchaff, eight Goldcrest and a Blackcap in the bushes.

Wildlife News: A very late Southern Hawker was the first confirmed record this year so was perhaps a migrant? Also on the wing three Common Darter and a Red Admiral.

Sunday 30th October

The bushes were generally blown out in the strong winds and no sign of yesterday's warbler but five Goldcrest and two abietinus type Chiffchaff were present with single Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail at the Main Pond and a Merlin through. 

In the estuary three Curlew Sandpiper and the Ruff with counts including1766 Wigeon, 514 Black-tailed Godwit, 449 Dunlin, 300 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 274 Teal, 222 Redshank, 137 Curlew, 43 Ringed Plover, 39 Shelduck, 35 Common Gull, 33 Turnstone, 27 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Greenshank, seven Sanderling, seven Mediterranean Gull, four presumed Scandinavian Rock Pipit, three Red-breasted Merganser, three Great Crested and a Little Grebe.

Offshore heading south 398 Gannet, 82 Kittiwake, seven Knot and single Grey Plover and Common Scoter.

Saturday 29th October

An eventful day, with a probable Greenish Warbler heard calling and brief views a few times between 09:30 and 11:30 near the First Pond. It remained very elusive often just seen as movement high in the canopy during that time and was not seen or heard for the rest of the day. It sounded good, but unfortunately views in the branches as it moved through were inconclusive.

Also present in Entrance Bushes, two presumed abietinus race birds amongst the other Chiffchaff, two Bullfinch and a Blackcap, with two Cetti's Warbler at the Main Pond and overhead eight Redwing and two Siskin.

With attention focussed on the mystery warbler the rest of the site went largely unvisited but 70 Cattle Egret were off Cockwood Steps mid afternoon and early morning sea watching saw 45 Gannet, 26 Kittiwake, two Mediterranean Gull and a Common Scoter head south in 1.5 hours.

Wildlife News: A third Crimson Speckled of the autumn was found roosting by the Crocus Compound.

Crimson Speckled - Guy Freeman

Dicyrtomina saundersi, a globular springtail - Alan Keatley

Friday 28th October

A quiet day with little reported but four Pintail were flushed out of the estuary with the Wigeon, with 20 Meadow Pipit, six Chiffchaff and four Goldcrest on site.

Late news included another high count of 423 Black-tailed Godwit and the associated Ruff in the estuary, Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl over and a Black Redstart on the sea wall.

Raven - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: A Common Lizard basking on Warren Point was unseasonal and at least five Common Darter were also flying in the warm weather. 

Common Lizard - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 26th October

Seawatching for 90 mins from first light saw 500 Gannet head south along with single Arctic and Great Skua but there was little else noted. In the bushes the elusive Firecrest appeared within a tit flock by First Pond with six Chiffchaff and four Goldcrest also on site and a female-type Merlin flew SW along dune ridge.

Merlin - Luke Harman

Firecrest - Luke Harman

In the estuary a Curlew Sandpiper was with the Dunlin, which included four returning Exe ringed birds. At least 350 Black-tailed Godwit were again present with their accompanying Ruff. 

Dunlin AU - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: Single Painted Lady and Small Copper on the wing with four Common Darter and around five Rush Veneer.

Tuesday 25th October

Little sign of the hoped for movement overhead with just eight Chaffinch, four Redwing, four Rook and two Grey Wagtail noted. A Swallow emerged from an unseen roost in the Entrance Bushes and headed south early morning with at least 25 Long-tailed Tit also departing a roost to fed in smaller groups across the site. 

Often found within these flocks, 11 Chiffchaff and eight Goldcrest, with a Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond and Greenfinch numbers down to 35 after yesterday's high count. 

Records from the estuary included 213 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, three Knot, three Pintail with the Wigeon, two Red-breasted Merganser and the Spotted Redshank. Also present a German-ringed Common Gull. 

Wildlife News: With the unseasonably warm weather continuing , insects are still active with plenty of Common and a few German Wasp nectaring on late flowering Ivy, in the company of a few remaining Ivy Bee. 

Also today, recorded for first time this year, the ichneumon wasp Apechthis compunctor, searching for butterfly and moth pupae in which to lay its eggs, and the less conspicuous Three-spotted Opomyzid Geomyza tripunctata, a tiny wing waving Picture-winged fly.

Apechthis compunctor - Alan Keatley

Geomyza tripunctata - Alan Keatley

Monday 24th October

Another day of variety with passerines slightly more notable than yesterday, but very quiet offshore. A Firecrest in the Entrance Bushes was the first of the year, with mixed flocks of 80+ Greenfinch, 80+ Linnet and 40+ Goldfinch across site along with 12 Chiffchaff, four Goldcrest, three Reed Bunting, a Redwing, a Blackcap and a Dartford Warbler. 

Overhead 60+ Skylark, 32 Jackdaw, nine Rook, a few Chaffinch, two Siskin, a Lesser Redpoll and a late Swallow.

In the estuary, a Purple Sandpiper on Finger Point this afternoon was another first for the year, also there 63 Great Black-backed and two Yellow-legged Gull (ad & sw). A Ruff present over the morning tide was the bird that has been accompanying Black-tailed Godwit at Mudbank, Exmouth, a very high count of 520 of the latter were present in the Railway Saltmarsh, so it no doubt arrived with them. 

Other counts included 399 Dunlin, 324 Curlew, 264 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, including 66 juvs, 237 Redshank, 58 Turnstone, 53 Bar-tailed Godwit, 39 Ringed Plover, 37 Shelduck, 23 Mediterranean Gull, 11 Greenshank, three Knot, the Spotted Redshank and single Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Pintail and Little Grebe.

Wildlife News: Two Grey Seal were in the estuary. Late news from yesterday of a second Crimson Speckled. 

Came across one today just beyond the visitor's centre - I understand that this species is a very rare migrant (?) pic.twitter.com/FfP9cQJksJ

— Matthew Rogers (@mattrogers70) October 23, 2022

Sunday 23rd October

A total of 85 species were recorded today despite a lack of noticeable passerine migration, the lone exception being a fem/imm Black Redstart briefly around the Go-karts before being seen off by a persistent Robin. Elsewhere on site, 45 Greenfinch, 12 Chiffchaff, four Goldcrest and a Blackcap with a Cetti's Warbler still at the Main Pond and at least one Dartford Warbler on the Golf Course.

Seawatching first thing revealed a steady southerly passage of 260 Gannet along with two Balearic and a Sooty Shearwater, 11 Mediterranean Gull and three Sandwich Tern. All passage dried up just before 9 am with the fem/imm Eider, 12 Common Scoter and a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver also offshore.

In the estuary the Spotted Redshank was again present with counts of 1120 Wigeon, 364 Teal, 291 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, including 53 juveniles, a high count of 209 Black-tailed Godwit, presumably displaced by flood water upriver, 110 Dunlin, 48 Turnstone, 39 Ringed Plover, 33 Sanderling, 29 Shelduck, 19 Snipe, 14 Greenshank and single Little Grebe, Knot and Pintail.

Little movement overhead with two Rook west and a few Skylark in various directions, three Sparrowhawk west in close succession early afternoon and a Great White Egret SW within a flock of five Grey Heron late afternoon.

Wildlife News: The central part of the day was sufficiently warm and sunny to see four Common Darter and three Red Admiral and a Small Copper on the wing. Over 40 Rush Veneer and a couple of Rusty-dot Pearl were flushed around site and a Vestal was on the greenkeeper's shed, with a female Dark Bush-cricket on the clubhouse.

Vestal - Kevin Rylands

A further foray on the Golf Course added four new fungi to the Recording Area taxa, Mauve Bonnet Mycena meliigena on sallow, Tawny Lactarius fulvissimus and Oakbug Milkcap L. quietus under oak and the striking but invasive alien Orange Ping-pong Bat Favolaschia calocera on dead gorse. 

Mycena meliigena - Kevin Rylands

Orange Ping Pong Bat (underside) - Kevin Rylands

Saturday 22nd October

The two Cetti's Warbler remain at the Main Pond, with two Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a small roost of 20 Starling. Also on site 35 Greenfinch, 14 Chiffchaff, six Goldcrest, single Redwing and Blackcap and a Tawny Owl roosting in Dead Dolphin Wood.

Overhead 35 Jackdaw and six Rook west with two Siskin, a Grey Wagtail and an adult Mediterranean Gull also through. Elsewhere 169 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were in the estuary and early morning saw two Whimbrel head south off the seawall with two Sandwich Tern and the fem/imm Eider also offshore. 

Wildlife News: Very few inverts on the wing but still some to be found, especially under wood. Rosy Woodlouse Androniscus dentiger was the highlight, a new species for the Recording Area, along with numerous woodlice, Common Earwig and a Barkfly nymph Pteroxanium kelloggi.

Pteroxanium kelloggi - Alan Keatley

The recent rain has brought a flush of fungi to wooded areas with Pale Milkcap Lactarius pallidus around scrub edges and in the woodland, Collared Parachute Marasmius rotula and Tripe Fungus Auricularia mesenterica, both last recorded in the 1950's.

Friday 21st October

A thoroughly wet and windy day, with the forecast breaks in rain rarely materialising. A check of the afternoon tide saw a lot of flood water in the river and the immature female Peregrine again trying her luck with various waders and wildfowl.

Counts from the estuary included 1,636 Wigeon, 600+ Teal  227 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 98 Dunlin, c60 Great Black-backed Gull, 40 Bar-tailed Godwit, 26 Shelduck, 16 Greenshank,14 Ringed and eight Grey Plover, two Kingfisher, a Whimbrel, a Red-breasted Merganser, a late juv Common Tern and the first returning Little Grebe.

Elsewhere a Cetti's Warbler called from Dead Dolphin Wood and a few Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were present in the blown out bushes. 

Thursday 20th October

An excellent day with 83 species recorded, but despite this the highlight was non-avian. Pushing this close though was the first ever multiple record of Marsh Harrier with three different individuals heading south in a 40 minute period mid morning. Also through a Merlin, 235 Redwing, 64 Skylark, 10 Siskin and a group of six Arctic Skua (including at least two pale phase adults) which flew from the estuary, low over Warren Point and out to sea early afternoon.

Arctic Skua (imm) - Luke Harman

Around the bushes, 110 Goldfinch, 15 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap and four Goldcrest with two Cetti's Warbler at the Main Pond and a Dartford Warbler in the Buffer Zone.

Stonechat - Luke Harman

Elsewhere a Balearic Shearwater, three Common Scoter and the Eider were offshore with counts from the estuary included 861 Oystercatcher, 121 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 95 Dunlin, 74 Ringed and 16 Grey Plover, 25 Bar-tailed Godwit, two Sandwich Tern and single Knot and Whimbrel. 

Wildlife News: A Crimson Speckled was discovered nectaring on Ivy on the Golf Course late afternoon, the second site record of this North African migrant, following one in Oct 2017. Further signs of migration included a Vestal and 80+ Rush Veneer also recorded during the day, most roosting up in grassland but some just resting on the beach.

Crimson Speckled - Luke Harman

Vestal - Luke Harman

Other insect activity was limited with the leaf beetle Chrysolina banksii, just single Red Admiral and Speckled Wood on the wing and Ivy Bee only recorded from the same patch of Ivy as the Crimson Speckled. 

Chrysolina banksii - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 19th October

Seawatching early morning saw most birds heading east into the wind including a Balearic Shearwater, 300 Kittiwake, 120 Gannet, 60 Common Scoter, 10 Mediterranean Gull, two Red-throated Diver and three Red-breasted Merganser, the first of the winter. 

The overnight rain and windy conditions saw a build up of waders and gulls in the Bight, which remained unflooded on the low high tide. At least 150 Great Black-backed Gull moved through, the highest site count since 2018 for this rapidly declining species, at least six were ringed, with them 26 Lesser Black-backed Gull, including at least two intermedius birds and a second winter Yellow-legged Gull.

Wader numbers included 430 Dunlin, 70 Turnstone, 64 Ringed and 10 Grey Plover, 13 Sanderling and a late juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. Also in the estuary two Lapwing, only the second record of the year, 330 Redshank, six Pintail, five Sandwich Tern, a Golden Plover and with the Canada Geese, a single Bar-headed Goose.

Ringing News: One of today's Sandwich Tern was a blue colour-ringed juvenile, although too distant it was likely the bird recorded on Saturday. This bird, Blue TAK, was ringed in the nest in late August on Texel in the Netherlands. 

Sandwich Tern - Lee Collins

The lateness of this record is because the adult birds deserted their colony due to Avian influenza. Some surviving birds, these included, relocated to a new site and successfully raised broods. 

Amongst the six colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull seen today two were new birds from northern France and the Channel Islands, with four regulars/returnees, from Norway, France, Portland and Looe, Cornwall.

Tuesday 18th October

More welcome signs of movement with highlights single Osprey and Swallow south with counts of 90 Goldfinch, 33 Siskin, 26 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, 18 Skylark, 17 Meadow Pipit, 17 Chaffinch, seven Rook, two Lesser Redpoll and a Bullfinch.

Also on site a Redwing was in Dead Dolphin Wood, the two Cetti's Warbler are still present with eight Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest, a Blackcap and a Wheatear.

Elsewhere a fem/imm Eider and a Red-throated Diver were offshore, with two Sooty Shearwater, a Storm Petrel and three Arctic Skua south late afternoon. A juvenile Arctic Tern was in the Bight with counts from the estuary including 1409 Wigeon, 292 Teal, 79 Dunlin, 59 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Shelduck, 19 Ringed and eight Grey Plover, 15 Mediterranean Gull, 12 Greenshank, nine Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, two Pintail and a Sandwich Tern.

Wildlife News: Aside from wasps and a few Buff-tailed Bumblebee very little on the wing. On Warren Point, the remaining Gannet carcass was hosting the large rove beetle Philonthus politus.

Philonthus politus - Alan Keatley

Cochlicopa lubicella - Alan Keatley

Sunday 16th October

A chilly start, soon warming up due to the lack of cloud cover, this limited recording but not necessarily actual migration, with many birds heard but unseen against the blue skies and potentially part of larger flocks. Skylark was again the main mover with at least 80 but this included two flocks of 20+ along with many heard only birds, also over two Redpoll, at least eight Siskin, two Bullfinch, small numbers of Chaffinch, Linnet, Greenfinch and Goldfinch, 30+ Meadow Pipit, four Jackdaw, three Rook, three Reed Bunting and a Golden Plover.

On site, two Dartford Warbler were present, one seen briefly on Warren Point and one calling on the Golf Course, with the Cetti's Warbler was still vocal around the Main Pond. More usual suspects in the bushes included 17 Chiffchaff, four Blackcap, three Goldcrest and a Coal Tit, a site record 16 Cirl Bunting, a White Wagtail in the Buffer Zone and the House Sparrow roosts holding at least 145 birds first thing.

Elsewhere eight Balearic Shearwater flew distantly south and counts from the estuary included 362 Teal, 287 Redshank, 44 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 28 Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Greenshank, 17 Grey Plover, six Turnstone, just five Dunlin - the rest roosting on the sea wall north of Cockwood, four Sandwich Tern and three Knot.

Wildlife News: A bull Grey Seal was in the estuary, Ivy Bee were again on the wing along with a Migrant Hawker, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and a fresh Meadow Brown. A new species for the Recording Area was the powdery mildew Phyllactinia guttata found on the underside of Silver Birch leaves.

Phyllactinia guttata - Kevin Rylands

Saturday 15th October

Seawatching early morning saw six Balearic Shearwater head south along with 220 Gannet, two Arctic and a Skua sp, c2,900 Razorbill, c170 Guillemot; based on 3388 auks S in total, with those identified 95% Razorbills; and 24 Common Scoter.

The early conditions were not conducive to significant vis mig with 35 Meadow Pipit, 32 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, eight Rook five Jackdaw, four Siskin, four Swallow and a late House Martin through and later in the day, 103 Skylark west.

 

In the estuary two different first winter Caspian Gull were on Finger Point over high tide, the first multiple record, with them 53 Great Black-backed Gull and feeding in the river, 775 Black-headed and seven Mediterranean Gull. 

Mediterranean Gull - Dave Jewell

Other counts included 507 Wigeon, 500+ Teal, 328 Redshank, 190 Curlew, 147 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, including 42 juveniles, indicating a much needed positive breeding season; 115 Dunlin, 24 Ringed and nine Grey Plover, 14 Greenshank, 12 Shelduck, eight Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit, six Sandwich Tern, two Knot and two Kingfisher.

In the bushes, another first multiple record with two Cetti's Warbler on site, one calling at the Main Pond and the other singing in Dead Dolphin Wood. Also around the bushes, 90 Goldfinch, 15 Greenfinch, 15 Chiffchaff, eight Cirl Bunting, four Goldcrest and single Blackcap and Bullfinch.

Wildlife News: Not great weather for flying insects but two new groundbugs for the Recording Area were discovered, both widespread species, Peritrechus geniculatus and Scolopostethus thomsoni.

Peritrechus geniculatus - Alan Keatley

Scolopostethus thomsoni - Alan Keatley

Thursday 13th October

A late morning start meant the tide was missed but so to was the mist as it cleared, developing into a pleasantly warm day. The highlight was a Great White Egret in the Railway Saltmarsh, also in the estuary a Pintail amongst the Wigeon and 131 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Kestrel - Alan Keatley

Elsewhere nine Chiffchaff and single Blackcap and Goldcrest were in the bushes, a lone Siskin passed overhead and at the Main Pond, two Water Rail and a Kingfisher.

Chiffchaff - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: Insects included one or two Tiger Helophilus pendulus and Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger, Humming Syrphus S. ribesii and Slender Melanostoma M. scalare, plus a few Ivy Bee on the remaining Ivy flowers.

Aphodius prodromus, a Dung Beetle - Alan Keatley

Noon Fly - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 12th October

A quick visit early afternoon and a Dartford Warbler was on the Golf Course, a welcome sight, although mostly heard, recorded for the second autumn running after a gap of three years.

In the estuary 700+ Teal, 96 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, six Greenshank and a Kingfisher. Overhead three Chaffinch and a Rook, hinting at earlier movement.

Tuesday 11th October

A chilly start to the day with dawn temperature less than 4c with small numbers of birds on the move overhead, but the crystal-clear sky meant many more passed over unheard. Counts of birds heading NE and on ground included 120 Goldfinch, 68 Meadow Pipit, 56 Linnet, 35 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, 18 Greenfinch, 18 Chaffinch, seven Jackdaw, seven Rook, three Reed Bunting, two Siskin and a Snipe. Heading west, and later in the day as usual, 20 Skylark.

As it warmed up up to 22 Chiffchaff began the move through the bushes with mixed tit flocks that included three Goldcrest, 26 Long-tailed and a Coal Tit. A vocal Cetti's Warbler and a hunting Kingfisher were at the Main Pond with at least three squealing Water Rail somewhere in the reeds.

In the estuary 363 Teal, 311 Wigeon, 218 Curlew, 120 Dark-bellied and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 22 Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit, eight Pintail, five Shelduck, four Sandwich Tern, three Great Crested Grebe and a Knot.

Wildlife News: Following the coldest night of the autumn so far, there was a noticeable drop off in insect numbers with just a few hoverflies and Ivy Bee, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter and just one butterfly - a Red Admiral.

Sunday 9th October

Seawatching early morning saw a Sooty Shearwater head south with 68 Balearic Shearwater, 995 distant auk sp, eight Mediterranean Gull and a fully spooned adult Pomarine Skua.

Elsewhere 287 Curlew, 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, three Turnstone, two Sandwich Tern and a Knot were in the estuary, with other counts again interrupted by a visiting Osprey. Overhead, seven Skylark, three Swallow and a Grey Wagtail.

Saturday 8th October

Visible migration picked up with the switch to NW winds with 106 Skylark heading mainly SW, along with a Golden Plover, four Swallow, four Reed Bunting and a Mistle Thrush.

Elsewhere no records were received from high tide visits to the estuary but a Kingfisher was at the Main Pond with 28 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap and two Goldcrest in the bushes.

Kingfisher - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: Both Migrant Hawker and Common Darter were on the wing with Small White and a Red Admiral. Also still on the wing White-zoned Furrow Bee Lasioglossum leucozonium, Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis, Three-banded Mason Wasp Ancistrocerus trifasciatus and Trilobed Boxhead Wasp Crossocerus podagricus.

Trilobed Boxhead Wasp - Alan Keatley

Thursday 6th October

Seawatching first thing was much quieter but still saw three Balearic Shearwater, single Pomarine and Arctic Skua, 32 Sandwich Tern and a pair of Gadwall, that later relocated to the estuary. These are only the third site record in the last two years. 

In the estuary a Cattle Egret was in the Railway Saltmarsh and an unringed juvenile Osprey played havoc with the counts but the 101 Dark-bellied Brent and the associated Barnacle Goose were less concerned. Also over a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and the first Merlin of the year, making a rare six raptor day.

Wildlife News: A late Meadow Brown was on the wing with Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Small White and Red Admiral as well as Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.

Wednesday 5th October

Seawatching for two hours from first light saw an excellent passage with 2000+ Kittiwake, 1150 Gannet and 500 auks all west. None of the Great Shearwater seen off Berry Hd made it this far into the bay but there were 173 Balearic, two Sooty and a Manx Shearwater along with 30+ Sandwich Tern, 25 Arctic Skua, another 14 distant skua sp, a Red-throated Diver and a probable Grey Phalarope. 

Another hours watch in the evening saw 32 Balearic Shearwater and an Arctic Skua south.

Tuesday 4th October

Seawatching from first light saw an impressive 272 Balearic Shearwater head south, just 15 shy of the site record, with many close in, before the movement petered out around 9am. There was a nearly a constant stream of birds with 1000+ auks passing, made up of groups numbering up to 40+, the vast majority too far out to identify, although closer ones were all Razorbill. Other seabirds included 500+ Gannet, 300+ Kittiwake, 25 Common Scoter, 14 Sandwich Tern and six Arctic Skua.

In the Bight a lone Barnacle Goose with 45 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, was presumably a different bird to the one recently with Canada Geese, and presumably more 'wild'. Also in the estuary, 140 Wigeon, 29 Sandwich Tern and five Shelduck. Further counts were today prevented by a Sparrowhawk which successfully pursed the small waders. 

Barnacle Goose - Alan Keatley

Elsewhere a Wheatear was on Warren Point with eight Chiffchaff, four Rock Pipit and a Goldcrest on site and 20 Meadow Pipit and two Rook overhead. 

Wildlife News: Insects were in short supply, with a queen Red-tailed Bumblebee nectaring in Greenland Lake, the most notable. In addition to a late flush of fresh Autumn Lady's-tresses in Greenland Lake, the Grey Willow in Soft Sand Bay, after dying back during the drought, has sprung (or should that be Springed) back in life with blossom staring to appear!

Red-tailed Bumblebee - Alan Keatley