Monday 31st October

Counts from the estuary included 753 Wigeon, 415 Teal, 73 Brent Geese, 60 Knot, two Greenshank, a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 36 Chaffinch and 11 Jackdaw passed overhead, 10 Chiffchaff were on site and 54 Common Scoter were offshore.

Wildlife News: With the summer weather and temperatures it was no surprise to see a few late insects on the wing with a couple of migrant Rush Veneer and five Red Admiral along with Peacock, Small Copper and a couple of Common Darter. Elsewhere a Grey Seal was on Bull Hill.

Peacock - Alan Keatley

Sunday 30th October

A quieter day on site with a Dartford Warbler on the Golf Course and a brief presumed Northern Wheatear at first light the pick of the sightings. Elsewhere c120 Common Scoter and two Eider were offshore with 1530 Herring Gull feeding on the sandbars at low tide and counts from the estuary including c800 Dunlin, 71 Grey and 20 Ringed Plover, 46 Knot, six Red-breasted Merganser and three Mediterranean Gull.

Saturday 29th October

The Bonaparte's Gull made one of it's increasingly erratic appearances, sat on the 2nd groyne early morning before heading out in to the bay, also offshore three Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, 76 Common Scoter and the two Eider. Records from the estuary included a Purple Sandpiper on Finger Point, a Curlew Sandpiper with 415 Dunlin, the latest record since 2000; 328 Brent Geese, 70 Grey Plover and the Slavonian Grebe.

Overhead it was relatively quiet until 11am when an hour of passage saw the first Brambling if the year head NE with 278 Chaffinch and four Siskin. Elsewhere two Dartford Warbler were in Greenland Lake, a Snipe was on Warren Point and eight Stonechat, five Chiffchaff and two Blackcap were on site.

Thursday 27th October

A smart male Black Redstart was on the seawall early morning, the second this week, but the highlight was a grey goose sp that flew low north at day break, probably a young White-fronted Goose. Elsewhere 70 Goldfinch were on site, four Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and a Coal Tit were in the bushes and  61 Common Scoter were offshore.

Wednesday 26th October

The two Eider were still offshore and large numbers of Goldfinch were on the move but no other news was received.

Tuesday 25th October

The first Black Redstart of the autumn was briefly on the seawall this morning with an Eider offshore occasionally appearing out of the murk. The misty conditions remained for much of the day and limited overhead movement and scans of the estuary but two Short-eared Owl were found on Warren Point and six Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes.

Monday 24th October

Heavy rain most of the day hampered birding opportunities but a couple of wet hours in the field did reveal four Pintail and the lone Eider offshore with 88 Dunlin, 85+ Great Black-backed Gull, 53 Grey and six Ringed Plover, two Mediterranean Gull and two Red-breasted Merganser in the estuary.

Sunday 23rd October

A Merlin heading across the bay towards Orcombe Point mid morning was the highlight as the strong easterly wind removed any chance of vismig with just 17 Goldfinch and four Chaffinch overhead. Counts from the estuary included 1827 Wigeon, 392 Curlew, 363 Teal, 96 Brent Geese, 45 Dunlin, 21 Common Gull, a noticeable increase, 16 Shelduck, two Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Eider was off the seawall, a Buzzard was in the Entrance bushes with just three Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.

Saturday 22nd October

Counts from the estuary included 1420 Wigeon, 332 Curlew, 145+ Redshank, 97 Grey Plover, 58 Dunlin, 49 Knot, 33 Turnstone, three Mediterranean Gull, two Greenshank and two Snipe. Elsewhere the Eider and a Red-throated Diver were offshore, vismig included 118 Wood Pigeon, 22 Chaffinch, a Siskin, a Mistle Thrush and a late House Martin with four Chiffchaff, two Blackcap and a Coal Tit in the bushes.

Friday 21st October

Counts from the estuary included 1514 Oystercatcher, 114 Dunlin, 91 Grey Plover, three Mediterranean Gull, two Snipe and two Greenshank. Elsewhere two Red-throated Diver were offshore with a Pintail amongst 45 Common Scoter and vismig was limited to 13 Chaffinch, a Siskin and a Swallow.

Turnstone & Sanderling - Greg Bradbury