Saturday 17th October

 A varied morning of visible migration, although the clear blue skies mean that most of the smaller species pass unheard or too high overhead to identify. Woodpigeon were tallied at 5,700, most high W over the sea, Corvids were also on the move, mostly over the estuary, with 255 Jackdaw and 26 Rook. Amongst these 40+ Skylark, at least six Stock Dove and a Snipe.

Heading east the first Brambling of the year with 70 Linnet, 35 Goldfinch, 25 Greenfinch, 13 Chaffinch, three Reed Bunting, three Siskin, a Grey Wagtail and a Golden Plover, the latter circled calling overhead before dropping into The Bight, eventually heading up river.

Few counts from the estuary on a neap tide but 34 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Mediterranean Gull were in The Bight, 22 Sanderling were on Bull Hill and in Shutterton Creek, 16 Greenshank, nine Black-tailed Godwit, a female Pintail, a Spotted Redshank and a Whimbrel.

Elsewhere a Short-eared Owl was on Warren Point, a Kingfisher was at the Main Pond, with a reduction to four Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in the bushes.

Short-eared Owl - Ethan Billing

Year List addition:
174. Brambling

Other Wildlife: Although bright and sunny throughout the day, cooler temperature suppressed flying insects, although these did include a new ichneumon for the Recording Area, Perithous scurra, a relatively common parasite wasp of wood nesting solitary wasps.

Also noteworthy, several tachinid Dune Bristlecheek Periscepsia carbonaria, a parasitoid fly of noctuid moths. A nationally scarce dune specialist with several pairs displaying on bare sand. The late date probably indicates a third-generation.

Dune Bristlecheek Periscepsia carbonaria - Alan Keatley

Also on the wing a Locust Blowfly, a dozen Common Darter and single Migrant and Southern Hawker, with seven butterfly species including four Clouded Yellow, two Red Admiral and single Holly Blue, Small Copper, Large and Small White.

Holly Blue - Alan Keatley

A late Common Lizard was basking under gorse near the Dune Pond.