September 2005

Friday 30th:

During the morning 58 Sandwich Tern flew south offshore, with another 20 present in the evening. Also offshore in the evening an Arctic Tern and a very late Roseate Tern. Overhead there were five Grey and a Yellow Wagtail with 190 Swallow and 80+ House Martin. Other records included eight Brent Goose, a Grey Plover, nine Sanderling, eight Turnstone, four Sparrowhawk and the first Dartford Warbler of the autumn.
 

Thursday 29th:

A Nightjar was found roosting In Dead Dolphin Wood on the edge of Greenland Lake, but was unfortunately not seen until it was flushed at close range. This is only the ninth record for the recording area.

Wednesday 28th:

Two Whitethroat and a party of eight Great Tit moving through the site was the only news received.

Tuesday 27th:

No news was received for today.

Monday 26th:

The continued presence of the Marsh Tit was the only news received.

Sunday 25th:

The Wryneck was still present on Warren Point with two Whinchat. Elsewhere the Little Stint remained in the Bight and 12 Coal Tit were recorded moving along the sandspit with small flocks in Sycamores on Warren Point before continuing northeast.

Saturday 24th:

The third Wryneck of the autumn was found in a Sycamore on Dune Ridge towards Warren Point. Elsewhere the Little Stint remained in the Bight, three Yellow Wagtail and seven Siskin flew over and the first returning Brent Goose was present in the estuary.
 

Friday 23rd:

A Little Stint was present at the high tide with nine Grey Plover and 18 Little Egret. during the morning 490 Swallow flew east in one and a half hours.

Thursday 22nd:

Good numbers of warblers remained around site with 14 Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap and a Whitethroat recorded, along with 12 Long-tailed Tit and the long-staying Marsh Tit near the First Pond.  Two Whinchat were in Greenland Lake and on Warren Point. Very little was moving overhead dead only c20 Meadow Pipit, five Grey Wagtail and five Swallow. At the high tide a single Ruff was in front of the hide with two Curlew Sandpiper, selected wader counts included c100 Ringed Plover, c100 Dunlin, 300+ Curlew, 213 Redshank and single Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit. Other records included two Peregrine, two Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and on the Main Pond a Kingfisher. The Tawny Owl was calling again from the entrance bushes during the night.

Wednesday 21st:

There were a few more migrants about today, both in the bushes and overhead. At least one Goldcrest was present with 12 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler and a Reed Warbler, the highlight though were four Coal Tit, flying through the site and only pausing briefly near the Main Pond, these were first records for the year. Overhead before 9am there were at least 30 Meadow Pipit, eight Siskin, six Grey Wagtail, two Tree Pipit, a Reed Bunting, a Yellow Wagtail and the first Redpoll of the year. Other records included single Golden Plover, Whimbrel and Greenshank calling from Shutterton Creek and the Tawny Owl again heard near the Main Pond.

Tuesday 20th:

The highlight was the second Wryneck of the year, seen along the Back Path in Greenland Lake, although there was no sign of it after 8am. Another second record for the year was a Jay heard near the Tractor Compound, also on site the first Goldcrest of the autumn, 12 Chiffchaff, nine Blackcap and three Wheatear. Light overhead passage included 12 Siskin, three Grey and two Yellow Wagtail with single Chaffinch, Rook and Jackdaw. In the estuary there 161 Wigeon, 143 Redshank, 46 Knot, 30 Mute Swan (in the Bight), 20 Little Egret, two Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank and a Red-breasted Merganser. Other records included up to five Sparrowhawk, including a bird in off the sea, 47 Common Scoter offshore, two Buzzard drifting over from the mainland, a Kingfisher on the Main Pond, a Green Woodpecker on fence posts around the Crocus compound and 55 "alba" wagtails on the beach, mostly Pied but with a few White also present.

Monday 19th:

No news was received for today.

Sunday 18th:

A quiet day with no seabird movement, hardly any overhead migration and very little in the bushes. The small waders spent most of the time on the beach in scattered groups despite frequent disturbance from crows, raptors, people etc. The waders did include a Little Stint and 12 Curlew Sandpiper. 36 Knot kept wisely amongst the Oystercatcher in front of the hide. In the estuary here was a immature/female Red-breasted Merganser, the first for some time, as well as 220 Wigeon in the Saltmarsh. Migrants only totalled five Chiffchaff and Blackcap with a Sedge Warbler in reeds at the Dune Pond. Other records included the fore-mentioned raptors, a pale looking female Kestrel, a female Sparrowhawk perched on a log on the beach and 20 Teal on the Main Pond first thing this morning.
 

Saturday 17th:

A Nuthatch was the highlight, seen and heard in Sycamores around Greenland Lake. This was the seventh record this year, previously there had only been eight site records! There were good numbers of migrants in the bushes with 18 Blackcap, 16 Chiffchaff, two Whitethroat and single Lesser Whitethroat, Wheatear, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher. Despite the lack of cloud cover there was still some noticeable movement overhead with 100+ Meadow Pipit in off the sea, 12 Grey and seven Yellow Wagtail, eight Rook, four Reed Bunting and the first eight Siskin of the autumn. At least two Little Stint remained with seven Curlew Sandpiper over the morning high tide, other waders included 157 Redshank, two Greenshank, a Whimbrel and the first Lapwing of the autumn. In the evening there were nine Whimbrel on the beach and a Grey Plover. Also in the estuary 140+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal and the first returning 10 Shelduck. Small groups of wildfowl were arriving off the sea all morning, but the only other species noted were two Pintail with a flock of Wigeon. Elsewhere c60 Common Scoter were offshore, a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond and a Sparrowhawk flew in off the sea.

Friday 16th:

Four Little Stint were at the evening high tide along with 39 Knot, 30 Sandwich Tern and a single Curlew Sandpiper. A Spotted Flycatcher near the Main Pond was  the only other news reported.

Thursday 15th:

No news was received for today.

Wednesday 14th:

A Tawny Owl was calling from near the Visitor Centre during the night, responding to at least one other bird calling on the mainland. A Whinchat was the only other record received.

Tuesday 13th:

The highlight was the second Green Sandpiper of the year, flying over the Tractor Compound towards the estuary corner early morning. Most of the other interest was also overhead today with totals of 80+ Greenfinch, c50 Meadow Pipit, 23 Grey Wagtail, 12 Goldfinch, four Yellow Wagtail, three Tree Pipit, two Chaffinch and a Great-spotted Woodpecker all going east before 9am. Six Rook and a Snipe flew west with two Kestrel north and three Whimbrel south. Due to the lack of cloud cover many migrants were high overhead and along with large numbers of hirundines (100+ Swallow and House Martin with at least three Sand Martin) the true figures were probably much higher. There were no Wheatears around Greenland Lake but the bushes did hold at least 18 Blackcap, seven Chiffchaff, two Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Monday 12th:

A welcome increase in migrants today with 20+ Wheatear again leading the way, with them, six Willow Warbler, three Whitethroat , two Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler. Amongst the waders were six Sanderling, two Curlew Sandpiper and a Knot. Elsewhere a single Yellow Wagtail flew over and a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond.

Sanderling 12/09/05 © Dave Stone	Curlew Sandpiper 12/09/05 © Dave Stone
Northern Wheatear 12/09/05 © Dave Stone

Sunday 11th:

In common with recent days there were very few grounded migrants with only nine Chiffchaff and five Blackcap recorded there were however 21 Wheatear across the site, a good count. Overhead things were slightly better with 25+ Pied/White Wagtail, 25 Meadow Pipit, eight Grey and two Yellow Wagtail. Also moving east 400+ House Martin, 100+ Swallow, 10+ Sand Martin and two Snipe. The majority of the hirundines flew through in a 10 minute period around 11am. There was no movement offshore but 40 Common Scoter were present and five Pomarine Skua were seen distantly, mostly sat on the sea. A dark phase Arctic Skua was also offshore in the evening. Wader numbers remain high with 600+ Dunlin and 200+ Ringed Plover to search through, with them were 44 Sanderling , 30 Knot, 25 Curlew Sandpiper, three Ruff and two Little Stint. Also in the estuary 20 Little Egret, four Whimbrel, four Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, which had earlier been on the sea wall, and a Common Tern. Elsewhere the Marsh Tit was by the Tractor Compound, a Green Woodpecker was by the First Pond and a White Wagtail was in the Bight. Two Peregrine, two Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also on site.

Saturday 10th:

A Golden Plover over Greenland Lake was only the second record of the year, it was later seen in the estuary along with 37 Curlew Sandpiper, a Little Stint, a Whimbrel and 74 Wigeon. Seawatching produced 85+ Common Tern mainly flying south with a juvenile Arctic Tern and three Black Tern, a Balearic Shearwater was also present lingering offshore. Elsewhere three Wheatear were on the Golf Course along with small groups of Ringed Plover feeding on the wet deserted fairways.

Friday 9th:

No news was received for today.

Thursday 8th:

Two Little Stint were present around high tide with 36 Curlew Sandpiper and three Whimbrel. Overhead two Yellow and four Grey Wagtail flew east early morning. A single Whinchat was the only other news received.

Wednesday 7th:

There was no sign of the Rose-coloured Starling today, the only news received was the Marsh Tit still present and of a slight increase in Blackcap and Whitethroat and at least three Grey Wagtail over.

Tuesday 6th:

An elusive juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, the sixth site record was the day's highlight. It was seen by only two observers, once by the visitor centre at 10am and again with about 40 Starlings flying towards there from the Golf Course. The Osprey was present again in the estuary early morning, with 23 Curlew Sandpiper, two Little Stint and a juvenile Little Tern in the Bight. Over the evening tide there were 35+ Sanderling, four Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper, the numbers of Curlew Sandpiper had dropped however and there was no sign of any Little Stint. There was a slight increase in migrants with single Tree Pipit and Whinchat on Warren Point and around the site six Blackcap, six Chiffchaff, three Whitethroat and three Willow Warbler, a Wheatear and a White Wagtail were in the Bight and at least seven Grey Wagtail flew over, with a least one bird visiting the Main Pond. Other records included a Balearic Shearwater passing south, two Stock Dove in the Railway Saltmarsh, a Great-spotted Woodpecker was near the Main Pond, a Kestrel was on Warren Point and a male Peregrine took a Dunlin in the Bight.

White Wagtail 06/9/05 © Dave Stone                                             Little Stint 06/9/05 © Dave Stone

Monday 5th:

The highlight today was an Osprey showing well and catching a fish in front of the hide early morning. Also present over the high tide two Little Stint, 21 Curlew Sandpiper, 46 Knot, three Whimbrel and in Shutterton Creek, two Common Sandpiper. Offshore a group of 12 Common Tern and an Arctic Skua flew south. Elsewhere a Nuthatch was seen by the Main Pond, there was a light easterly passage of Swallow and House Martin, six Teal were on the Main Pond and three Wheatear and a White Wagtail were in the Bight.

Sunday 4th:

At the high tide there were still good numbers of Dunlin and Ringed Plover in the Bight with 35 Sanderling, 30 Knot and 20 Curlew Sandpiper. Also in the estuary 30 Mute Swan, three Common Sandpiper and three adult winter Mediterranean Gull with a fourth on the beach. There were very few migrants on site with a Wheatear by the hide and single figures of Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler noted with a Grey Wagtail overhead.

Saturday 3rd:

A strong south-easterly wind brought a feeding flock of 120+ Gannet close inshore and these were joined by 70+ Shag and small numbers of Sandwich Tern. Four Balearic Shearwater and a Great Skua also joined in the feeding for a while but all moved off south, other than these, a Great-crested Grebe, eight Fulmar and a juvenile Kittiwake, there was however very little passage. At the high tide there were still 700+ Dunlin and c200 Ringed Plover in the Bight with 46 Knot, 18 Curlew Sandpiper, a Ruff and a Little Ringed Plover, also in the estuary two adult winter Mediterranean Gull, a Guillemot, 14 Teal, nine Wigeon, c40 Sandwich and a juvenile Common Tern. A steady passage of hirundines east gave counts of 200+ Swallow, 50+ House and 10+ Sand Martin, also overhead four Yellow Wagtail and the first four Pintail of the autumn. Elsewhere the Egyptian Goose was seen again early morning, flying north with Canada Geese and the Marsh Tit was in Dead Dolphin Wood.

Friday 2nd:

Migrants included 15+ Blackcap, four Whitethroat, three Sedge, two Garden and one Reed Warbler with two Wheatear in the Bight and two Whinchat in Greenland Lake. Overhead the first few Meadow Pipit of the autumn, at least five Grey and three Yellow Wagtail, with individuals of both species dropping onto the Main Pond for a short while. The high tide was not checked today but 477 Curlew, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 17 Knot and at least two Greenshank were counted out on the mudflats. Elsewhere a Teal and a Kingfisher were on the Main Pond, two Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and a Green Woodpecker.

Thursday 1st:

Large numbers of waders remain on the move with the highlights today being a Green Sandpiper over the Visitor Centre early morning and a Wood Sandpiper calling over Warren Point and then in the Bight in the evening. The former species is barely an annual visitor to the reserve and the latter has only been recorded here about 20 times. Other waders on the move included Curlew Sandpiper with at least 20 present today, a very good count but down on yesterday's 62. Over 1200 Dunlin and Ringed Plover also remain on the beach and Bight with a single Little Ringed Plover, 20+ Sanderling, 12 Knot, three Turnstone and a Grey Plover. On the Railway saltmarsh there were 160 Redshank, 27 Mute Swan and 11 Little Egret with 24 Teal, 14 Wigeon and two Shoveler in Shutterton Creek. Elsewhere there were at least four Wheatear on site, a Whinchat still in Greenland Lake and a White Wagtail on the beach.

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