Thursday 12th November

The increasing wind and continuous mizzle meant the hoped for vismig didn't happen over the Warren, but 55+ Goldfinch, 30+ Greenfinch and at least two Siskin were grounded in Greenland Lake. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was still in song despite the weather, the Great Northern Diver and the first Goldeneye of the winter was in the estuary and at least three Chiffchaff were in the bushes.

Wednesday 11th November

Counts from Shutterton Creek included just 527 Wigeon (perhaps the continued disturbance from Eels Dock has caused numbers to drop?), 251 Brent Geese and a Bar-headed Goose with 36 Canada Geese. From the hide there were 285 Dunlin, 156 Curlew, 10 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, seven Grey Plover and a Sanderling were in the Bight with six Rock and the Water Pipit. Elsewhere a Cirl Bunting was in bushes behind the hide with three Redpoll and a Dartford Warbler in Greenland Lake.

Monday 9th November

The only news received was this stunning Short-eared Owl that flew in and then roosted by the hide late afternoon.

 Images by Lee Collins

Sunday 8th November

A fem/imm Long-tailed Duck in the mouth of the estuary was the pick of the days sightings with a winter plumage Great Northern Diver and the Slavonian Grebe also in the river. Counts from the hide included 1010 Oystercatcher, 436 Brent Geese, 231 Dunlin, 170 Redshank, 111 Great Black-backed Gull, 58 Bar-tailed Godwit, 28 Grey Plover, 13 Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plover and three Knot. Elsewhere a Water Pipit was in front of the hide, 105 Kittiwake and 40+ Gannet were offshore and 55 Common and six Mediterranean Gull were in the roost.

Saturday 7th November

The overnight wind and rain lasted most of the morning but despite the conditions it remained quiet offshore with just 50 Gannet, seven Kittiwake and two Fulmar passing, although a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was a new arrival. In the estuary a good count of 470+ Great Black-backed Gull was no doubt weather related, also present single Slavonian, Little and Great-crested Grebe, 330 Brent Geese, 47+ Turnstone, 23 Ringed Plover, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit and nine Greenshank.

Friday 6th November

Stormy wet conditions restricted observations this afternoon to the high tide and among the 270 Great Black-backed Gull roosting on Finger Point was a first-winter Caspian Gull, only the second record for the recording area.  Also present in the estuary, a Great Northern Diver, 13 Shelduck, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 20 Grey Plover, 31 Turnstone, 13 Sanderling, c.490 Dunlin, a Greenshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Of the Great Black-backed Gulls, only 3.6% were 'first-winters'.

first-winter Caspian Gull (Lee Collins)

Wednesday 4th November

A gloomy morning later with rain saw no discernible overhead migration.  In the bushes and dunes, a Short-eared Owl, two Dartford Warbler, seven Stonechat, 50+ Meadow Pipit, only one Chaffinch, c.40 Greenfinch, c.70 Goldfinch, c.30 Linnet, a singing male and an immature Cirl Bunting. The sea was again exceptionally quiet and offered only three Gannet and two Great Crested Grebe.  A lone Tufted Duck on the estuary flew off north (only the second.record of 2015). An intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull stood with Great Black-backed Gulls on Bull Hill until pushed off by the rising tide.

Tuesday 3rd November

Light visible migration, most heading NE, plus foraging birds produced totals of 27 Woodpigeon, a Fieldfare, ten Redwing, fewer Meadow Pipit and Skylark, 44 Chaffinch, 27 Greenfinch, 85 Goldfinch and 33 Siskin.  Also in the bushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, 21 Long-tailed Tit (the highest count this year), 3 Chiffchaff, four Song Thrush and a Bullfinch. Two Golden Plover flew south. A Shoveler was with the hundreds of Wigeon roosting in the estuary beside the railway.

Monday 2nd November

Visible migration continued overhead this morning but despite the cloud the numbers passing at sea level remained lower than at other coastal sites. Numbers included 448 Redwing, 422 Chaffinch, 53 Goldfinch, 35 Siskin, 24 Fieldfare, four Brambling, three Bullfinch and a Redpoll. Counts from the estuary included 930 Wigeon, 246 Dunlin, 122 Brent Geese, 65 Teal, 45 Grey Plover and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Green Sandpiper over the Saltmarsh corner was only the third ever November record, a Water Pipit was in the Bight, a Firecrest flew along the Dune ridge and a Dartford Warbler and a Short-eared Owl were on Warren Point.

Sunday 1st November

An overcast day but the fog held off allowing some excellent visible migration throughout the morning. Thrushes were the main species on the move with c4,500 Redwing and 130+ Fieldfare heading north or east over the spit. The majority of the Redwing came through in half an hour after 8 o'clock but the largest Fieldfare flock wasn't until after 11 o'clock. Also overhead 100+ Chaffinch, 80 Siskin (mostly in two flocks), seven Redpoll, four Snipe, two Brambling, a Mistle Thrush, a Golden Plover and a Swallow. On the deck a Yellow-browed Warbler was again elusive in the Entrance Bushes, with two Firecrest and two Dartford Warbler also on site. Elsewhere 1375 Wigeon and two Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary.

Wildlife News: Red Admiral, Common Darter and Southern Hawker all made it into November.