September 2005

An interesting day with some passage at sea as well as overland, less migrants than yesterday even with a huge thunder storm overnight, and good numbers of Golden Plover 1500 on the humber. The highlight of the day being a Corncrake that possibly came in of the sea at 1920 at the old Scrape Bank near the Blue Bell and after walking around for a while it hid under a tussock and was flushed out for all to see flying towards Sandy Beaches, other migrants included a Cuckoo (Warren), 1 Tree Pipit (Triangle), 6 Whinchat, 9 Willow warbler & 2 Pied Flycatcher (Point/Wire Dump).

Heading south were 3 Grey Heron, 8 Wigeon, 116 Teal, 1 Pintail, 5 Marsh Harrier, a Ruff onto the Humber, 21 Snipe plus 24 onto the Humber, 6 Swift, 60 Sand Martin, c900 Swallow, 300 House Martin.

At sea 6 Arctic Skua (5 S &1 blogging), 1 Bonxie & a Little Gull S, the resident Yellow-legged Gull was present at the Crown whilst terns of to roost were 36 Sandwich, 2 Roseate, 2200 “Commic” & 3 Black.

An interesting record was a Brown Hawker dragonfly that was seen at the Warren before probably heading south.

A day of E-SE winds with high hopes of some migrants, it soon became clear that no huge numbers had arrived as the weather was too nice, but hopes of a goodie were soon to become a reality!

A LESSER GREY SHRIKE was found north of the Point in the early afternoon and gave great views feeding on insects and Lizards, other migrants of note were a Red backed Shrike (point), Cuckoo (kew). 4 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, a Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Pied Flycatcher (Point), 2 Siskin (Crown) the first of the autumn and a juvenile Bullfinch at the Warren which headed north. Southerly passage was slow with 2 Grey-lag Geese in, 6 Teal, 9 Common Scoter, 12 Oystercatcher, 7 Grey Plover, 3 Snipe, 16 Sand Martin, 30 Swallow, 6 house Martin. Nothing much at sea today. North of the area news arrived late in the evening of a wing barred Phylloscopus Warbler in Easington, it was probably an Arctic Warbler, the bird was seen but only in poor light so was left unidentified.

With the weather conditions a small arrival of common migrants was expected and low and behold a Tree Pipit (Chalk Bank), 1 Redstart (Kew), 10 Whinchat, 6 Wheatear, 2 Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Red-backed Shrike both juveniles one being extremely tame down to a couple of feet (Point/Warren), a juvenile ROSE COLOURED STARLING was in with the Starling flock and was seen in the area from time to time, elsewhere there were 31 Teal, 2 Pintail south along with 16 Oystercatcher, 73 Knot, 50 Dunlin also south, 2 Curlew Sandpiper on the Humber, along with a Wood Sandpiper (Clubley's) also very approachable, tern passage was poor with little of note except 4 Roseate Terns.

With an SE wind blowing expectations were high, the day was OK although could have been better, with a Short-eared Owl (Sheep Field), a Kingfisher flew out over the sea at the Blue Bell, 3 Wryneck (Point/Wire Dump/Church Field), 7 Redstart, 26 Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, 2 Barred Warbler (Point/post 63), 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 20 Pied Flycatcher and 2 Red-backed Shrikes both at the Point.

Passage on the sea included 78 Teal plus 7 in, 1 Shoveler, 6 Pintail N plus 3 in, 103 Grey Plover, 7 Little Gull, 3 Roseate Terns, 537 Common Tern.

Other notable sightings were a Curlew Sandpiper (Humber), 1 Spotted Redshank (Clubley's) & a Greenshank on the Tank Blocks.

Conditions promised much but failed to produce with the only new migrant of note being an Icterine Warbler (Kew), other left over migrants included 1 Cuckoo, the Wryneck at the Point, 2 Tree Pipit, 15 Redstart, 17 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 24 Whitethroat, 7 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, a Spotted Flycatcher (Point), 7 Pied Flycatcher, and the very approachable Red-backed Shrike at the Point.

Southerly passage was poor with 18 Wigeon & 13 Teal, 15 Swallow and a Siskin. Other birds of note were a Merlin (Warren), a Peregrine (Humber), 3 Curlew Sandpiper (Chalk Bank), 1 Greenshank (Humber).

A clear out of birds overnight leaving a quiet day with the Wryneck still at the Point, 6 Redstart, 5 Whinchat, 9 Wheatear, 12 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Goldcrest (a sign of Autumn), a Spotted Flycatcher (Church), 6 Pied Flycatcher, 5 Siskin (Triangle). Movement was also quiet with a Marsh Harrier NW, 22 Swallow, 13 Meadow Pipit south the first real movement of the autumn, 11 Siskin. While off the Warren there was a 1st year Med Gull and at sea 134 Sandwich Tern, 4 adult Roseate Tern, 760 Common Tern and an Arctic Tern went south.

The first real passage day of the autumn with 15 Teal, 3 Pintail, 2 Marsh Harrier (1 NW), 6 Sparrowhawk, 2 Osprey, 12 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 1 Ruff, a BUFF BREATSTED SANDPIPER at 10.40 past the Narrows, 1 Turtle Dove, 5 Swift, 82 Sand Martin, 4016 Swallow, 1931 House Martin, 451 Meadow Pipit, 16 Flava Wagtail, 7Grey Wagtail, 64 Tree Sparrow, 21 Greenfinch, 195 Siskin, 63 Linnet. Grounded migrants included a Wryneck (Point), 2 Whinchat, a Goldcrest (Narrows), 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Point), Pied Flycatcher (Warren). On the sea movement was about normal for the time of year, 2 Red-throated Diver, 9 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie, 3 Med Gulls (1 1st year, 2 Ad), 1 Little Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (regular ad at Crown + 1 S), 132 Sandwich Tern, 2700 Common Tern, 7 Roseate Tern, 13 Arctic Tern, 1 Arctic Tern. Outside the recording area there were 2 Gadwall (Long Bank) & the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, a Pectoral Sandpiper (Beacon Ponds) and a Wryneck at Sammie’s.

A much quieter day with some passage both at sea and overland with new grounded migrants few and far between.

On the sea 8 Red-throated Divers, 102 Pink-footed Geese went south the first of the autumn with flocks of 70 & 32, 4 Shoveler S, 1 Ruff, 2 Snipe, 25 Redshank, 5 Arctic Skua, 4 Med Gull (1 S, 3 N), 4 Little Gull N, 142 Sandwich Tern, 3 adult Roseate Tern, 4300 Common Tern, 6 Arctic Tern all south, 11 Black Tern (5 N, 6 S). Passage overland consisted mainly of hirundines with 2 Marsh Harrier, 7 Sparrowhawk, 25 Sand Martin, 200 Swallow, 86 House Martin, 70 Meadow Pipit, 6 Grey Wagtail, 25 Tree Sparrow, 41 Siskin, 39 Linnet. New migrants included a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Point), 5 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, a Garden Warbler (Point), 8 Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest (Point), 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Point), 3 Pied Flycatcher (2 Point, 1 Warren).

Most of the action was at sea today with some good Skua passage and a juvenile Sabine's Gull, an increase in grounded migrants but little southerly passage.

On land new birds were 4 Tree Pipit which left south of the Point, 7 Redstart, 14 Whinchat, a Stonechat (Point) 1st of the autumn, 8 Wheatear, an Icterine Warbler was reported at the Point but remained elusive, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 23 Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 12 Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest (Wire Dump), 2 Spotted Flycatcher (Point/Wire Dump), 18 Pied Flycatcher, a Siskin (Crown). At sea were most of today's excitement was included 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Sooty shearwater N, 29 Gannet, 5 Pomarine Skua, 33 Arctic Skua, 3 Long-tailed Skua, 8 Bonxie, 1 Little Gull a juvenile Sabine’s Gull at 18.10, 2 Roseate Tern all south. Other birds of note were 296 Shelduck (Humber), 3 Whimbrel, a Greenshank (Humber), 2 Common Sandpiper a Swift (Blue Bell).

With very favourable conditions a fall was expected and did not fail.

Grounded migrants were the main expectation with 2 Turtle Dove (Warren), 4 Wryneck, c70 Tree Pipit all over the place, 25 Redstart, 34 Pied Flycatcher, a Stonechat (Potato Fields), 37 Wheatear, a Fieldfare 1st of the autumn, 4 Song Thrush, a Redwing which could have been the summering bird, an Icterine Warbler (Point), 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 25 Willow Warbler, 2 GREENISH WARBLER one at North Hedge and the other between the Canal Zone which moved to the Warren where it was trapped and ringed, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 20 Pied Flycatcher, 22 Siskin and 5 Crossbill went south. On the sea 12 Red-throated Diver, 38 Fulmar, 5 Sooty Shearwater N, 2 Leach's Petrel one either way, 84 Gannet, 2 Pomarine Skua, 25 Arctic Skua, 3 Long-tailed Skua all south, 2 Bonxie, an adult Med Gull N, 1 Roseate Tern in, and 2 Arctic Tern S. Other birds of note include 11 Pink-footed Geese S, 61 Teal S, an Osprey at 0715, 3 Merlin along the peninsula, a Greenshank (Humber), 2 Green Sandpiper (Point/Warren), a slight increase of Robins of a continental origin. North of the area there were 2 Wryneck (Sammie's/Pancho Pond), another GREENISH WARBLER at the south end of Beacon Ponds, a Wood Sandpiper (Sammie's) and a Spotted Redshank (Beacon Ponds).

An excellent day birding with good numbers of rare migrants unfortunately not a really big one, passage was all right with some ducks and seabirds with good N-NE winds helping in most ways. Grounded birds included 15 Wryneck in the area plus another 10 in the surrounding area, a RED THROATED PIPIT (Church Field), 20 Tree Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit the first of the autumn, 30 Robin, 25 Redstart, 45 Whinchat, a Stonechat, 22 Wheatear, 2 Ring Ouzel in Little Hedge, 11 Song Thrush, a Grasshopper Warbler (Warren), an Icterine Warbler (Point), 2 Barred Warbler (Wire Dump/Canal Hedge), 17 Garden Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, a Greenish Warbler at the Warren, 43 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 25 Pied Flycatcher, 85 Siskin blogging around, 2 Common Rosefinch both juveniles which headed north from the Warren, a Hawfinch that landed at the Warren. Two large Pipit sp. were also seen but unidentified.

Passage birds at sea and overland recorded were 33 Sooty Shearwater N, 13 Grey Heron S, 165 Pink-footed Geese S, 159 Wigeon S plus 60 N & 70 on the Humber, 229 Teal S plus 27 in, a Common Buzzard S, 9 Sparrowhawk around, a Peregrine (Point), 9 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Grenshank, 34 Arctic Skua S plus 4 N & 1 out, a Med Gull (Wire Dump), 35 Little Gull, 2 Roseate Tern N, 2 Black Tern N, 70 Meadow Pipit S.

Outside of the recording area along with the above was 26 Whinchat, 32 Wheatear, 8 Pied Flycatcher, 20 Willow Warbler, 1 Wood Warbler (Sammie's), a Barred Warbler (Beacon Lane), 9 Redstart and 3 Ruff.

Another excellent day for birding with more new grounded migrants but a lot left overnight, a good movement of pipits, sea watching was average with quite a few terns late on

Migrants observed a Long-eared Owl north of the Lighthouse was the 1st of the autumn, only 6 Wryneck today, 3 Tree Pipit, 100 Meadow Pipit around the Triangle, 29 Robin, 18 Redstart down on yesterday, 23 Whinchat, 6 Song Thrush, 3 Sedge Warbler (2 Point, 1 Canal Zone), 6 Reed Warbler, the Icterine Warbler was still at the Point, 2 Barred Warbler (Point/Warren) both of these birds were very elusive as always, 15 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Whitethroat, 30 Garden Warbler, 15 Blackcap, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler (Point/Chalk Bank) a very date for this species, 20 Willow Warbler, 7 Goldcrest, a Spotted Flycatcher (Crown), 13 Pied Flycatcher, yesterdays Hawfinch was seen briefly fly from the Warren North. Southerly passage overland had 89 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Marsh Harrier, 17 Skylark, 41 Sand Martin, 8 House Martin, 1400 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 23 Grey Wagtail, 61 Tree Sparrow, 6 Siskin & 15 Redpoll.

At sea birds of note included 9 Red-throated Diver, 6 Sooty Shearwater N, a Storm Petrel blogging on the sea, 108 Gannet, 2 Red-breasted Merganser N, 30 Little Gull, 5 Roseate Tern (1 N, 4 S), 2880 Common Tern, 17 Arctic Tern, 5 Little Tern N the first for over 10 days, 3 Black Tern. Other birds of note were a female Peregrine over the Humber, a Turtle Dove (Warren), a Tawny Owl calling at Kew at 03.05 waking the warden up!

Whilst north of the area there was a Wryneck, Greenish Warbler & Yellow-browed Warbler on Beacon Lane, another Wryneck at Sammie's and 2 adult Med Gull blogging about.

A good passage day south as SW winds prevailed for the first time in ages, one of the weekends Greenish Warblers was still here but a big clear out overnight. Migrants were thin on the ground with a Swift over Clubley's, 60 Meadow Pipit, 6 Yellow wagtail, 19 Robin, 2 Redstart, a Whinchat (Wells Field), 4 Wheatear, 4 Song Thrush, a Sedge Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 5 Garden Warbler (Point), a Blackcap (Point), ), the Greenish Warbler on Beacon Lane came into the area on a few occasions showing well feeding in some Poplar trees, 8 Willow Warbler, 7 Goldcrest, 2 Pied Flycatcher (Warren), the Hawfinch was still very jumpy in North Field.

Passage south was good today with 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Sparrowhawk plus 1 u-turning, 2 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 7 Oystercatcher, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, 14 Snipe, 17 Curlew, a Spotted Redshank N, 3 Collared Dove, 3 Skylark, 34 Sand Martin, 1200 Swallow, 790 House Martin, a Tree Pipit, c1000 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 13 Flava Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 2 Blue Tit! 8 House Sparrows, 114 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 376 Siskin, 92 Linnet, 7 Redpoll.

At sea birds were still moving with 9 Red-throated Diver, 41 Gannet, 3 Brent Geese the first birds south of the autumn, 23 Wigeon, 45 Teal, 7 Arctic Skua, an adult Long-tailed Skua north, an adult Med Gull, 3 Little Gull, 7 Roseate Tern south only one juvenile, 2731 Common Tern, 14 Arctic Tern, 1 Black Tern S.

Passage south was the only highlight today with mainly hirundines, Pipits & finches moving but quiet elsewhere.

Southerly passage produced 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk and 11 Kestrel, a Merlin, a Curlew Sandpiper came in, 13 Snipe and 1 came in, 12 Sand Martin, 320 Swallow, 652 House Martin, 570 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 22 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 116 Siskin, 55 Linnet & 8 Redpoll. Other grounded migrants of note were a Swift over the Blue Bell, a Redstart (Point), a Wheatear (Middle Camp), 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatcher (Point/Warren). At sea 14 Red-throated Diver, a Balearic Shearwater went south at 10.30, 104 Gannet, a flock of 6 Pomarine Skua went south, two with full "spoons", 9 Arctic Skua S, a Long-tailed Skua N, 4 Bonxie S, and a Black Tern S. Other birds of note included 9 Ruff, and a Spotted Redshank N.

A quiet day all round with just a trickle of Pipits heading south before the rain, a few interesting birds at sea later in the day, grounded migrants were hard to come by in poor bird watching conditions.

Sea watching produced 15 Red-throated Diver, 8 Fulmar, 2 Sooty Shearwater N, 2 Leach's Petrels one either close in, 44 Gannet, 25 Pink-footed Geese, a Pomarine Skua S, 41 Arctic Skua S, a Long-tailed Skua S, 2 Little Gull N and just a handful of terns.

Southerly passage included 2 Kestrel, 2 Swallow, 656 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Flava Wagtail, 2 Alba Wagtail, 16 Starling, 12 Greenfinch, 18 Linnet & a Redpoll. The few grounded migrants were 2 Wheatear (Point/Warren), 2 Song Thrush, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, a Pied Flycatcher (Churchyard), 8 Siskin (Gate).

With a strong force 6 N-NE wind an amazing day at sea especially for Sooty Shearwater plus a few other rare seabirds, migrants were hard to come by in these conditions although a Common Rosefinch was found at the Point.

A good Red-throated Diver movement with 225 S, 39 N, a Red-necked Grebe S, 278 Fulmar, 1520 Sooty Shearwater which smashed the previous highest day total by over 1100!! 44 Manx Shearwater, 33 Leach's Petrel's, 304 Gannet, 2 Shag, a Grey Phalarope went N at 11.24 but was hard to pick out in the swell, 30 Arctic Skua, 5 Long-tailed Skua, 2 Bonxie, 42 Little Gull, 192 Kittiwake.

Southerly passage was mainly Geese and ducks with 53 Pink-footed Geese, 16 Wigeon, 22 Teal plus 20 N, 3 Pintail N, 1 Eider. Hiding migrants of note were a Whinchat (Clubley's), 1 Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Pied Flycatcher (Kew), a Brambling at Kew first of the autumn, 2 Siskin (Kew) and a Common Rosefinch at the Point which flew north towards the Lighthouse.

A much quieter day for sheer numbers with some Pipit passage and a few new grounded migrants especially Buntings with a Little Bunting (Point), some movement at sea but nowhere like yesterday.

At sea 104 Red-throated Diver, a Red-necked Grebe went north before landing on the sea, 8 Sooty Shearwater, 4 Manx Shearwater, a Leach's Petrel out of the Humber and then north, 1 Shag, 24 Arctic Skua, a Long-tailed Skua north at 10.40, 1 Bonxie, 36 Little Gull, 21 Kittiwake.

Passage bird included 1 Grey Heron, 688 Pink-footed Geese S, 34 Wigeon, 167 Teal N, 18 Pintail N, 298 Common Scoter N, 10 Snipe in, 5 Skylark S, a Tree Pipit S, 650 Meadow Pipit S, 1 Rock Pipit, 8 Siskin, 7 Redpoll, 3 Lapland Bunting.

Grounded migrants of note were a Turtle Dove (Little Hedge), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 350 Meadow Pipit, 2 Redstart Point), 6 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, a Reed Warbler (Blue Bell), an Icterine Warbler (Point) possibly the bird from last week, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler7 Goldcrest, 2 Pied Flycatcher (Point), a Brambling (Churchyard), 17 Siskin, a Twite (Warren), 42 Redpoll, a Snow Bunting (Blue Bell), 1 Yellowhammer (Church Field) a Little Bunting was found in the Point dunes and showed well very occasionally, but was mostly just seen in flight when flushed, also at the Point was a Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

North of the area 9 Med Gulls and 3 Curlew Sandpiper.

Some light southerly passage over land with 8 Skylark, 56 Swallow, 905 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 3 Flava Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 14 Rook, 285 Starling, 63 Tree Sparrow, 31 Greenfinch, 12 Siskin, 2 Redpoll & 10 Reed Bunting.

Grounded Migrants were virtually the same as yesterday with a tail-less Turtle Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Flava Wagtail, 3 Redstart, 5 Whinchat, 3 Stonechat (Point/Wire Dump/Triangle), 4 Wheatear, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Reed Warbler, the Icterine Warbler at the Point, a new Barred Warbler by the Gate, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 12 Goldcrest, 2 Pied Flycatcher (Point) & the Little Bunting was still in the same area on the Point as yesterday. Other birds of any note include a Great Crested Grebe S at sea, 90 Gannet, 3 pale-bellied Brent Geese S, 556 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 26 Teal, 70 Mallard, 4 Pintail, 2 Shoveler, a juvenile female Peregrine over the Humber, a Ruff, 6 Med Gulls on the Humber (3 adult, 1 x 2nd winter, 2 x 1st winter), 10 Little Gull N, the usual Yellow-legged Gull (Crown).

A disappointing day with some southerly passage over land with 40 Pink-footed Geese, 11 Skylark, 10 Sand Martin, 450 Swallow, 45 House Martin, a Richard's Pipit at 07.15, 305 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Flava Wagtail, 7 Grey Wagtail, 15 Dunnock, 99 Starling, 220 Siskin, 52 Linnet, 23 Redpoll

Very quiet at sea with light winds elsewhere grounded migrants included a Turtle Dove, 100 Meadow Pipit, a Redstart (Point), 6 Whinchat (Triangle), a Stonechat (Point), 1 Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, yesterdays Barred Warbler was still present around the Canal area, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 10 Goldcrest, a Yellowhammer (Church Field).

A good day for southerly passage overhead but little else with few migrants and little at sea.

Southerly passage consisted of 117 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Teal, 6 Pintail, 1 Sparrowhawk, a Merlin, 27 Lapwing, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Skylark, 9 Sand Martin, 740 Swallow, 46 House Martin, 1005 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 16 Alba Wagtail, 17 Dunnock, 1 Blue Tit, 10 Jackdaw, 26 House Sparrow, 97 Greenfinch, 47 Goldfinch, 29 Siskin, 297 Linnet, 16 Redpoll, 11 Reed Bunting.

Grounded birds of note were a Spotted Redshank & a Greenshank (Humber), a Tree Pipit (Warren), 1 Redstart, singles of Whinchat & Stonechat, 7 Wheatear, a Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 8 Goldcrest, a Pied Flycatcher (Point0, a Brambling (Cliffe Farm), the Snow Bunting from Sunday reappeared by the Blue Bell, An unconfirmed report of the Little Bunting was made.

A Curlew was seen to be bludgeoned to death by a group of GBB Gulls, and then presumed eaten!

With southerly winds a good passage day was expected but produced rather little, a dissapointing day all round.

Birds heading south over land consisted of 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 1 Swift, 27 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 58 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 525 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 8 Alba Wagtail, 1 Great Tit, 3 Jackdaw, 103 Greenfinch, 27 Goldfinch, 18 Siskin, 242 Linnet, 11 Redpoll. Movement at sea was also quiet with 251 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Wigeon, 7 Knot, 2 Snipe, 31 Sandwich Tern & 7 Common Tern.

Other birds of interest included 226 Shelduck (Humber), 150 Ringed Plover (Point), 220 Golden Plover, a Curlew Sandpiper (Chalk Bank), a Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), 1 Spotted Redshank, 7 Med Gulls (2 adult, a 2nd winter & 4 1st winter), a Stonechat (Wire Dump), 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Goldcrest.

A good day for southerly passage with 16 Shelduck, 16 Wigeon, 61 Teal, 135 Common Scoter, 2 Snipe, 43 Skylark, 3 Sand Martin, 250 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 3050 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 2 Flava Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 11 Alba Wagtail, 4 Dunnock, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Great Tit, 345 Starling, 8 House Sparrow, 14 Tree Sparrow, 87 Greenfinch, 283 Goldfinch, 134 Siskin, 355 Linnet, 3 Redpoll, 1 Lapland Bunting, 1 Snow Bunting, 3 Yellowhammer, 12 Reed Bunting.

At sea movement was fairly quiet with 10 Red-throated Diver, 25 Gannet, a Yellow-legged Gull (Crown), 5 Kittiwake S, 135 Sandwich Tern (6 out, 125 S), 46 Common Tern.

Other notable birds were a Peregrine (Humber), 18,000 Knot, 1 Whimbrel, 3000 Redshank, a Greenshank, 2 Redstart (Point), a Whinchat (Warren), 1 Wheatear (Point), 4 Song Thrush, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, single Whitethroat & Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 10 Goldcrest.

With SW winds all day southerly passage was the order of the day with a Great Crested Grebe, 187 Wigeon, 308 Teal, 11 Pintail, 3 Shoveler, 24 Common Scoter, 2 Lapwing, 22 Knot, 6 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 1 Sand Martin,288 Swallow, 19 House Martin, 175 Meadow Pipit, 3 Flava Wagtail, 2 Dunnock, 410 Starling, 55 Greenfinch, 28 Goldfinch, 62 Siskin, 325 Linnet, 15 Redpoll.

Grounded birds around were the Tawny Owl at Kew calling at 11.30 & 01.30, a Short-eared Owl (Balck Hut), 60 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit (Clubley's), 1 Wheatear (Cliff Farm), 1 Song Thrush, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap (kew), 8 Goldcrest.

The sea was rather quiet with 7 Red-throated Diver, 40 Gannet, 3 Arctic Skua blogging, 5 Little Gull, the highlight of the day being a juvenile Sabine's Gull which went north past the Narrows at 09.30, 96 Sandwich Tern, 26 Common Tern S, 1 Arctic Tern S, 8 Guillemot.

An interesting day with some light passage and a few more grounded birds including the second Lesser-grey Shrike of the year! Southerly passage over head included 14 Skylark, a Sand Martin, 23 Swallow, 160 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 3 Flava Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagatil, 3 Alba Wagtail, 14 Tree Sparrow, 20 Goldfinch, 101 Linnet, 8 Siskin, 11 Redpoll and a blue Budgie!

At sea noteworthy birds were a Manx Shearwater S, a Leach's Petrel N at 15.05, 2 Arctic Skua, a juvenile Sabine's Gull in onto the Humber at 10.10, 26 Sandwich Tern, 27 Common Tern.

New migrants in were 150 Meadow Pipit, 3 Flava Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Redstart, 6 Whinchat (Triangle), a Stonechat, 4 Wheatear, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 10 Goldcrest, 3 Spotted Flycatcher (2 Point, 1 Potato Fields), a Pied Flycatcher (Little Hedge), a LESSER-GREY SHRIKE appeared on the telegraph wires at Middle Camp between posts 37-47 late in the afternoon.

Some Geese and Ducks moving south at sea today with 119 Pink-footed Geese with skiens of 50, 40 & 29, there were 52 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 280 Teal, 10 Pintail, 4 Tufted Duck & a Scaup.

Passage over head was average with a Swift, 11 Skylark, 5 Sand Martin, 42 Swallow, 678 Meadow Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 Alba Wagtail, 7 Tree Sparrow, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 72 Goldfinch, 290 Linnet all south.

Grounded migrants were few and far between with a Rock Pipit, 1 Redstart (Churchyard), 2 Whinchat (Triangle), 2 Stonechat (Sunnycliffe), 3 Wheatear, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, a Redpoll (Warren). The Lesser-grey Shrike was still present and trapped itself at Wire Dump in the heligoland, on inspection it was re-growing most of its tail (about 1/3 grown and had lost its centre tail feathers giving a tailless impression) it was also aged as a 2nd winter bird as it has some retained secondary feathers and it was a female due to lack of black across the forehead, it was released back at Wire Dump where it showed well all day. Other birds of note were 1 Sooty Shearwater N, an adult Hobby (Point), a Peregrine (Point), 3 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit in, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Little Gull out, a Barn Owl (Church Field), the Tawny Owl at kew was noisey at about 04.00. Outside of the area there was a Jack Snipe (Shooting Pond) and 2 Short-eared Owl (Beacon Ponds).

A good movement of Pipits and finches south but very little else occurring. On the sea there were 5 Red-throated Diver, 20 Gannet blogging, 13 Wigeon S, 10 Teal S, 4 Tufted Duck S, 6 Eider S, 7 Common Scoter S, 20 Golden & 3 Grey Plover, 8 LBB Gull S, 47 Herring Gull S, 118 Sandwich Tern & 28 Common Tern.

Over head passage south included 3 Kestrel, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Skylark, 7 Sand Martin, 84 Swallow, 402 House Martin, 1 Tree Pipit, 3378 Meadow Pipit, 10 Rock Pipit, 2 Flava Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail,23 Alba Wagtail, 11 Dunnock, a Mistle Thrush, 10 Rook, 34 House Sparrow, 85 Tre Sparrow, 291 Greenfinch, 458 Goldfinch, 102 Siskin, 395 Linnet, 17 Redpoll, 25 Reed Bunting.

Grounded birds were thin on the ground with 50 Meadow Pipit, a Stonechat (Triangle), 2 Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, 8 Goldcrest, a Snow Bunting (Blue Bell shoreline), the Lesser-grey Shrike frequented the same spots as yesterday between the Poiont and Chalk Bank. Waders of note were 3 Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit, 400 Bar- tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, 1 Grenshank.

Another day of southerly passage in stiff SW winds with 59 Pink Footed Geese. 56 Wigeon, 32 Teal, 8 Comon Scoter, 7 Pintail, an Osprey at 15.00 which drifted further out to sea, 9 Kestrel, 2 Snipe, 3 Swift, 12 Sand Martin, 104 Swallow, 156 House Martin, 583 Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, 4 Alba Wagtail, 20 Greenfinch, 140 Goldfinch, 22 Siskin, 354 Linnet, 1 Redpoll, 5 Reed Bunting.

Whilst at sea there was 32 Red-throated Diver (12 S, 20 blogging), a Leach's Petrel S at 08.40, 197 Gannet (22 N, 175 S), 8 Cormorant, 4 Arctic Skua N, 4 Bonxie S, 5 Little Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull (Wire Dump), 9 Kittiwake, 55 Sandwich Tern, 190 Common Tern, 83 Auk sp. & 3 Guillemot S.

Grounded migrants were very scarece with a Whinchat (Wire Dump), a Barred Warbler (Lighthouse) was a new bird in, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, 16 Goldcrest and the Lesser-grey Shrike was still present feeding well between the Lighthouse and Potato Fields.

With no change in the wind direction southerly passage was again the highlight of the day, with 101 Pink-footed Geese, 13 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, a Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, a Hobby at 13.45, 2 Snipe, 38 Skylark, 4 Sand Martin, 119 Swallow, 147 House Martin,2827 Meadow Pipit, 12 Rock Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtail, 190 Alba Wagtail, 12 Dunnock, 128 House Sparrow one of the best movements in years for this species, 33 Tree Sparrow, 2 Brambling, 162 Greenfinch, 675 Goldfinch, 88 Siskin, 537 Linnet, 42 Redpoll, 29 Reed Bunting.

Grounded birds included 2 Whincaht & 2 Stonechat (Triangle), 2 Wheatear (Point/Narrows), 2 Song Thrush, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler (Point), 3 Blackcap (Point), 4 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, a Snow Bunting on the beach at the Blue Bell, and the Lesser-grey Shrike around the Lighthouse area giving excellent views. Other birds of note were a Shag S, a Jack Snipe (Canal Scrape), 1 Whimbrel, a Wood Sandpiper in (a rather late date for this species), 4 Arctic Skua, 1 Arctic Tern S. Two unusual animals occurred yesterday one being a Hedgehog at the Lighthouse, they normally get squashed before heading that far south! and the other a Grey Squirrel at Kew on the feeders!

A much quieter day all round with a gusting SW veering W wind making birding difficult, some passage early on which petered out.Birds seen whilst sea watching were 18 Red-throated Diver, single Sooty & Manx Shearwater, 200 + Gannet, 2 Arctic Skua N, 14 Bonxie S, 9 Little Gull N, a few gulls on the move, 54 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern and a few Auk's about.

Passage over head south included a Grey Heron, 150 Pink-footed Geese plus another 40 in and then up river, 2 Wigeon, 1 Pintail in, 1v Sparrowhawk, 5 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 8 Skylark, 3 Sand Martin, 40 Swallow, 36 House Martin, 246 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Grey Wagatil, 42 Greenfinch, 45 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin, 78 Linnet, 6 Redpoll, 4 Reed Bunting.

Grounded Migrants were noticable by there absence with a Barn Owl (Point), the Tawny Owl returned to Kew at 22.30, 30 Meadow Pipit, two of Whinchat & Stonechat (Trinagle), a Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, the Lesser-grey Shrike was still around the Lighthouse area giving good views,46 Goldfinch, 5 Redpoll. Yesterdays Hedgehog made it to the Lighthouse before being killed by a car.

Another day of mainly southerly pasage with 12 Wigeon, 15 Teal, 3 Pintail,1 Tufted Duck, a Goldeneye the first of the autumn, a Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Golden Plover, 11 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Collared Dove, 7 Skylark, 37 Swallow, 90 House Martin, 564 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtail, 5 Alba Wagtail, 16 Dunnock, 398 Greenfinch, 773 Goldfinch, 5 Siskin, 215 Linnet, 13 Redpoll, 4 Reed Bunting

On the sea there were 38 Red-throated Diver, 65 Gannet, 7 Arctic Skua, 2 Bonxie, 329 Little Gull (93 in, 236 S), 134 Black-headed Gull S, 87 Sandwich Tern S. Other birds of note included 2 Grey Heron in, 2 Sparrowhawk, 5 Kestrel and a Peregrine (Humber), 13.000 Knot.

Grounded birds are still very few with only 2 Swallow blogging, 30 Meadow Pipit, a Whinchat (Triangle), 3 Stonechat, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush (North Field), a Lesser Whitethroat (Point), 3 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 5 Chaffinch, and the Lesser- grey Shrike showing very well still around the Lighthouse area.