Wednesday 31st October

The first hour early morning saw some movement overhead with 240 Wood Pigeon south and 115 Goldfinch, 80+ Chaffinch, two Siskin and a Redpoll north. A Coal Tit was in the bushes with eight Cirl Bunting and two Chiffchaff.

Tuesday 30th October

Four Barnacle Geese in the estuary briefly were the clear highlight. Presumably wild birds driven south by the weather. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood whilst two Great-crested Grebe and an Eider offshore.

Sunday 28th October

The first Black-necked Grebe of the year was offshore with other news limited to the resident Slavonian Grebe in the Bight at high tide and offsite six Cattle Egret again in fields at Eastdon.

Saturday 27th October

Vis mig started up again today with 11,560 Wood Pigeon counted overhead along with 89 Jackdaw and 58 Stock Dove. Also overhead 25 Chaffinch, 14 Siskin and two Redpoll. Elsewhere four Red-throated Diver and two Eider were offshore and just outside the recording area, but visible from the hide, four Cattle Egret were in fields at Eastdon.

Friday 26th October

Counts from the estuary included 285 Dunlin, 230 Curlew, 226 Dark-bellied and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 31 Grey Plover, 31 Greenshank, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, seven Sanderling and a Golden Plover. Elsewhere the two Eider remain offshore where there were two Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver.

Thursday 25th October

Migration continued overhead with 2025 Wood Pigeon, 160 Goldfinch, 58 Jackdaw, 53 Stock Dove, 25 Skylark, 23 Siskin, 22 Chaffinch and a late Swallow. On site highlights included a Tawny Owl behind the Crocus Compound and the Merlin around the Bight.

Merlin - Lee Collins

Elsewhere a high site count of 24 Greenshank were in the estuary with 290 Dunlin, 90 Black-tailed Godwit, 26 Grey Plover, six Red-breasted Merganser, two Pale-bellied Brent Geese and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere two Eider and 12 Common Scoter were offshore.

Wednesday 24th October

The Merlin remained onsite being seen anywhere between the Visitor Centre and Warren Point but it was quieter overhead although two Redpoll and a Brambling were recorded. In the estuary 306 Curlew were again present with 1265 Oystercatcher, 800 Wigeon, 130 Dunlin, 100 Brent Geese, 25 Grey Plover, 12 Greenshank, eight Red-breasted Merganser and the Slavonian Grebe. The two Eider and single Red-throated Diver remain offshore.

Tuesday 23rd October

The vis mig highlight was a decent count of 63 Greenfinch, also overhead 200 Wood Pigeon, 95 Goldfinch, 15 Jackdaw, just three Chaffinch, two Siskin, two Redpoll and a Buzzard. Elsewhere a single Short-eared Owl and a Merlin were on Warren Point with two Eider and a Red-throated Diver were off the seawall.  

In the estuary the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood and wader numbers increased with 413 Dunlin, 306 Curlew, 201 Redshank, 31 Turnstone, 29 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Grey Plover, five Sanderling, four Greenshank, two Knot and a Curlew Sandpiper.

Monday 22nd October

Visible migration continued overhead with 850 Wood Pigeon, 383 Jackdaw, 153 Goldfinch, 42 Greenfinch, 16 Siskin, 14 Chaffinch, six Redpoll, five Stock Dove, two Mistle Thrush, a Brambling and the first Crossbill of the year.

Elsewhere 1380 Wigeon, 235 Teal, 143 Dunlin and two Greenshank were in the estuary and five Chiffchaff, two Coal Tit and a Wheatear were on site.

Sunday 21st October

The fog held off just enough to record the overhead migration, heading west were 7080 Wood Pigeon, 143 Jackdaw and 23 Stock Dove with 125 Goldfinch, 68 Chaffinch, 49 Skylark, nine Lapwing, six Reed Bunting, four Siskin, two Redpoll, two Redwing and a Mistle Thrush heading east.  

Elsewhere the two Eider, two Sandwich Tern and a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver were offshore, a site record 11 Cirl Bunting, a Wheatear and four Coal Tit were on site and 265 Brent Geese and 12 Black-tailed Godwit were in the estuary.