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Sunday 30th:
Two Balearic Shearwater were offshore along with 11 Little Gull, 100 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. A single Ruff remained at the high tide along with 250 Dunlin, 70 Knot and 10 Turnstone. Also in the estuary two adult Mediterranean Gull, three Common Tern and four Shelduck.
Saturday 29th:
Another day of continuous hirundine passage with at least 2485 Swallow through the reserve, also passing overhead 103 Goldfinch, 41 Meadow Pipit, 35 House Martin, eight Rook, five Golden Plover, five Grey Wagtail, four Sand Martin, three Siskin, three Skylark and two Jackdaw. Offshore a Balearic Shearwater and a Great Skua flew south with 75 Common Scoter and two Red-throated Diver on the sea. At the high tide three Ruff were unexpected along with a good count of 16 Greenshank and the Spotted Redshank. Also there three Curlew Sandpiper, three Shoveler, 300 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plover and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere a Whitethroat was the pick of the few grounded migrants.
Friday 28th:
Seawatching early morning produced a drake
Scaup, the first of the year, 12
Little Gull, two Arctic Skua and
a second year Mediterranean Gull along with 100+ Gannet. Also
offshore a Great Northern Diver, 150 Common Scoter, two Eider,
two Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver. In the estuary a
Curlew Sandpiper, with an injured leg,
remained over the high tide with 3500 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover,
six Sanderling, four Turnstone, two Golden Plover and a
Greenshank. Also in the estuary 530+ Wigeon, 200 Teal, 16
Brent Geese, nine Shoveler and a Pintail. Overhead passage
included 1226 Swallow, 328 Goldfinch, 221 House Martin, 161
Linnet, 86 Meadow Pipit, 19 Sand Martin, six Grey
Wagtail, five Rook, two Siskin, a Chaffinch and a
Tree Pipit.
Thursday 27th:
Overhead passage in the morning included 300 Swallow, 112 House Martin, 110 Linnet, 96 Goldfinch, 25 Meadow Pipit, 24 Skylark, four Grey Wagtail and two Jackdaw. Another 238 Swallow passed through in the evening heading North along the spit. Grounded migrants included 10 of both Blackcap and Chiffchaff. In the estuary there were still two Curlew Sandpiper with 250 Dunlin, 60 Knot, two Golden Plover and a Lapwing, also there four Shoveler, 60 Sandwich and two Common Tern. Offshore there were two Red-throated Diver, two Arctic Skua an adult Mediterranean Gull and a first year Little Gull.
Wednesday 26th:
A quieter day than recently, but overhead passage was still noticeable with 450
Swallow, 60 Meadow Pipit, 14 House Martin, seven
alba, six Grey and a Yellow Wagtail, five Skylark, four
Rook, four Grey Heron in off the sea, a Golden Plover and a Siskin. Grounded migrants included three Wheatear
and half a dozen of both Blackcap & Chiffchaff. A Pintail
was a new arrival in the estuary with two
Curlew Sandpiper, two Brent Geese and an adult
Mediterranean Gull also there. A single Great Skua and a movement of
c50 Black-headed Gull south was the only interest offshore.
Tuesday 25th:
Large numbers of seabirds remained offshore during the first half of the day
with 300+ Kittiwake, 200+ Gannet, 20+ Arctic, three Great
and a Pomarine Skua. Also offshore,
two Manx Shearwater and a Red-throated Diver south, a
single Shoveler in with a group of 12 Common Scoter. Overhead
there was a noticeable passage with, prior to 11am, 675 Meadow Pipit, 18
Grey Wagtail, 17 'alba' Wagtail, 12 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin, six
Rook, five Sand
Martin, three Jackdaw, two Golden Plover, two Raven,
two Chaffinch and singles of Snipe, Grey Heron, and
Merlin. Elsewhere a
Curlew Sandpiper, 40 Knot, five Turnstone and a
Whimbrel were in the Bight, three Golden Plover were on the beach and
three Shoveler were in Shutterton Creek with 240 Wigeon and 134
Teal. Migrants in the bushes were limited to a single Whitethroat and
four Chiffchaff.
Monday 24th:
Seawatching early morning produced at least one
Sooty Shearwater, and the first
Long-tailed Skua of the year with 19+ Arctic and at least two Great
Skua, all going south. Three Siskin overhead were the first of the
autumn, other records included a good overhead passage of
Meadow Pipit and Swallow with a
Merlin, the first of the year, and Sparrowhawk in off the sea. In the estuary there
were 240 Wigeon and a Whimbrel. Late afternoon at least 18
Arctic Skua were offshore, perhaps roosting in the bay, along with three
Balearic Shearwater, 50+
Kittiwake and a Red-throated Diver.
Sunday 23rd:
Seawatching until 1pm produced 11 Sooty
Shearwater south, a site record and almost double the previous best
of six in September 2000. Also passing south during the morning 500+
Kittiwake, 400+ Gannet, c40 Common Scoter, 10 Razorbill,
seven Balearic Shearwater, five Arctic and a
Pomarine Skua, two Common,
two Arctic and a
Black Tern, a Peregrine and an
adult Mediterranean Gull. During the evening at least three
Balearic Shearwater were present with a summer
plumaged Red-throated Diver, another 12 Arctic Skua, 300+
Kittiwake and 150+ Gannet south. In the estuary the highlight was a
Spotted Redshank in the Bight with
three Greenshank, also there 1370 Oystercatcher and 303 Great
Black-backed Gull. The small waders did not appear until right on high tide
with the WeBS count figures being 620 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover,
seven Turnstone, six Curlew Sandpiper
and four Sanderling. Other records included 196 Wigeon, 19 Mute
Swan, four Common and three Arctic
Tern and a second winter Mediterranean Gull in the estuary, five
Wheatear on site, a Great Northern Diver on the sea and overhead six
House and a Sand Martin with two Grey and a Yellow Wagtail.
Saturday 22nd:
Migrants on site were limited to a Garden Warbler in the entrance bushes
and 11 Wheatear, with the Great-spotted
Woodpecker again in Dead Dolphin Wood. Wader numbers however increased with
at least 150 Dunlin and a Curlew
Sandpiper in the Bight along with the regular flock of 70+ Knot.
Also in the estuary 100+ Sandwich, six Common and two
Arctic Tern, with 47 Teal and
eight Brent Geese. Offshore there were 110+ Kittiwake and an
Arctic Skua.
Wheatear 22/09/07 © Simon Thurgood
Friday 21st:
Still very little to report with two Common Tern south offshore and a
couple of Wheatear the only news.
Thursday 20th:
Despite good numbers elsewhere there were few seabirds pushed close into the
warren with a single Black Tern and
a shearwater sp the only birds of note passing south. Elsewhere there were no
small waders over the tide and migrants were limited to four Wheatear.
Wednesday 19th:
The highlight today was a group of three
Roseate Tern, two adults and a juvenile, they fed offshore for a
while before heading into the estuary. Juveniles of this species are very scarce
here as are records this late in the year. Also offshore there were c20
Sandwich Tern and five Arctic Skua with an
Arctic Tern in the estuary. Elsewhere
small waders were again limited to two Dunlin and seven Sanderling
and a Wheatear was the only migrant reported.
Tuesday 18th:
Small wader numbers plummeted overnight with just two Dunlin and seven
Sanderling present over the high tide. Other waders still present included a
Greenshank and 70+ Knot.
Monday 17th:
In the estuary this evening there were 188 Redshank, 68 Wigeon, 49
Teal, three Shelduck and a Black-tailed Godwit with a large
group of Ringed Plover flying high south over Greenland Lake. A Great-crested Grebe and five
Common Scoter offshore was the only other news received.
Sunday 16th:
The highlight was a juvenile Spotted Redshank
in Shutterton Creek, this was the first reserve record since January 2005. Also
there over high tide 174 Redshank, 91 Knot, 53 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 51 Wigeon, 45 Mallard, 33 Teal, 20 Little
Egret, three Shelduck, two Black-tailed Godwit, two
Greenshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Around the Beach and
Bight there were again good numbers of waders but these were continually
harassed by a juvenile Peregrine and by the time the tide dropped only
c300 Dunlin, c100 Ringed Plover and three
Curlew Sandpiper came into the Bight.
Also in the estuary there was a juvenile Little
Tern, a Red-breasted Merganser and offsite an Osprey off
Powderham. Offshore a single Arctic Skua harried c40 Sandwich and
an Arctic Tern, whilst a Grey
Heron and c40 Common Scoter flew west. Migrants on site included c70
House Martin over, 18 Chiffchaff, three Wheatear, three
Grey Wagtail over with single Whitethroat, Willow, Garden
and Sedge Warbler.
Saturday 15th:
The three immature Spoonbill were still present early
morning before flying up the estuary at 8am. Birds that did remain over high
tide included at least 21, possibly as many as 27,
Curlew Sandpiper in with c800 Dunlin
and 150 Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 1300 Oystercatcher, 42
Wigeon, 24 Little Egret, two Teal, two Black-tailed
Godwit, a Red-breasted Merganser and an
Arctic Tern. Offshore there was a
single Common Tern and 14 Common Scoter. Migrants totals on site
included 23 Chiffchaff, 12 Blackcap, six Whitethroat, three
Wheatear, two Redstart and a
Lesser Whitethroat. Overhead there were 70+ Meadow Pipit, five
Grey and two Yellow Wagtail, a Buzzard and a Grey Heron
high west. Elsewhere a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond.
Friday 14th:
Three immature Spoonbill on Finger Point early
morning were a welcome first for the year. they roosted over the high tide
before moving to feed in the estuary and where still present mid evening. One of
the birds is colour ringed and initial research suggests it may have come from
Spain, more details hopefully to follow. Also over the high tide this morning
still at least nine Curlew Sandpiper
with 626 Curlew, 206 Redshank, 90 Knot and two Golden Plover
over
south. Elsewhere a Hobby flying
along the Railway was a good site record, two Little Grebe, including an
immature, were on the Main Pond, a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the
Entrance Bushes, two
Redstart were along the Back Path and other migrants included a
Garden Warbler and two Wheatear.
Spoonbills 14/09/07 © Brian Heasman
Thursday 13th:
The morning high tide produced a count of 20
Curlew Sandpiper in with 750 Dunlin, 150 Ringed Plover
and 90 Knot. Also in the estuary c90 Wigeon and the first four
Brent Geese of the autumn. Elsewhere a White Wagtail and two Rock
Pipit were on the beach and overhead there were 117 Meadow Pipit and a Grey
Wagtail.
Wednesday 12th:
Despite unpromising conditions there was a major fall overnight - unfortunately
it was almost all Blackcap with at least 40 on the reserve, a site
record. Other migrants included a Lesser Whitethroat in the entrance
Bushes, an immature male Redstart
along the back path, 12 Chiffchaff and single Whitethroat,
Garden and Reed Warbler. Elsewhere three Grey Wagtail passed
overhead. Elsewhere a female Shoveler was a surprise offshore in a flock
of 88 Common Scoter.
Tuesday 11th:
Five Curlew Sandpiper
were again present over the evening high tide with 50+ Knot and good
numbers of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Offshore there were two
Eider, the first of the autumn, along with an Arctic Skua, at least
three Common Tern, a Great-crested Grebe and 12 Common Scoter.
Elsewhere a Redstart was seen along
the Back Path, a Jay
was by the First Pond, two Wheatear were by the hide, two
Mediterranean Gull, first and second winters, and two White Wagtail
were on the beach.
Monday 10th:
At least five Curlew Sandpiper
remained with the waders overnight and at least five tundrae race
Ringed Plover, showing where many of the autumn passage birds come from.
Those Ringed Plover that winter at the Warren come from further south with
ringing recoveries including birds from southern Sweden and Norfolk. Over the
evening tide a Golden Plover in the
Bight was the first of the year. also there a
Little Ringed Plover and a juvenile Little Gull. Offshore
there were two Balearic Shearwater, one of which
showed well as it passed by mid distance, three Arctic Skua and a Manx
Shearwater all south. The highlight passed overhead with a ringtail
Harrier seen coming in off the sea before heading west over Langstone, also
over a flock of 13 House Martin, 12 Meadow Pipit and three Grey
Wagtail. Elsewhere there were just 30 Sandwich and three Common
Tern.
tundrae Ringed Plover 09/09/07 © Lee Collins Curlew Sandpiper 09/09/07 © Lee Collins
Sunday 9th:
An unexpected highlight came in the form of a Buff-breasted
Sandpiper, which was present in the Bight for just 45 minutes on the
rising evening tide. This is only the seventh recording area record, but the
third in five years. Also in the Bight at least eight
Curlew Sandpiper, 13 Bar-tailed
Godwit, five Turnstone and three Whimbrel with minimum counts
of 337 Dunlin, 174 Ringed Plover and 60 Knot. Migrant
numbers had picked up overnight with a Redstart
and two Whinchat in Greenland Lake
along with two Sedge Warbler, single Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. Elsewhere
a Yellow Wagtail over, a Wheatear
on Warren Point, an adult
Mediterranean Gull flew over the Visitor centre, two White Wagtail
were on the beach and two Common Tern and two Red-throated Diver
were offshore.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper 09/09/07 Curlew Sandpiper 09/09/07
Buff-breasted Sandpiper 09/09/07 - constantly moving!!
Saturday 8th:
A quiet day on site with few migrants, bird of the day being a Sedge Warbler
in the Main Pond. Elsewhere there was a single Whitethroat, two
Blackcap with a few Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Overhead
there were two Grey Wagtail, two Buzzard and a House Martin
overhead, the Great-spotted Woodpecker in Dead Dolphin Wood, a White
Wagtail in the Bight, and two Mediterranean Gull, an adult and a
second winter on the beach.
Friday 7th:
A Redstart along the Back Path was
the first of the autumn. Offshore there were two Red-Throated Diver and
two Arctic Skua.
Thursday 6th:
The highlight today was the first Nuthatch of the
year in Dead Dolphin Wood. The 19th record for the recording area, this species
has gone from extreme rarity to annual migrant in the last three years. The
Red-throated Diver was again offshore where there were also two Arctic
Skua, 42 Common Scoter and three Great-crested Grebe.
Elsewhere wader numbers continue to drop, seven Turnstone and a
Wheatear were by the hide and two Kingfisher and a Grey Heron
were on the Main Pond.
Grey Heron 06/09/07 Kingfisher 06/09/07 Both © Simon Thurgood
Wednesday 5th:
No news was received for today.
Tuesday 4th:
A small fall of migrants occurred overnight with at least 10 Chiffchaff,
nine Blackcap, five Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a
Lesser Whitethroat around the Dead Dolphin Wood and Back Path area. The
highlight however was not found until the evening when a
Nightjar, only the reserve's tenth record, was flushed from it's
roosting place on a log in a clearing along the Back Path. Elsewhere a Yellow
Wagtail flew over late evening, presumably to roost somewhere locally. A
Tawny Owl reported by the First Pond
was the first for the year.
Monday 3rd:
Wader numbers were again down, but the flocks were constantly on the move due to
the attentions of a juvenile Peregrine, at least one
Curlew Sandpiper and a Whimbrel
were present, with 12 Black-tailed Godwit in off the sea. Offshore the
highlight was a Black Tern in with
Common and a single Arctic Tern.
The bushes were quiet with few migrants except a handful of Blackcap and
the Great-spotted Woodpecker still onsite. Elsewhere four Wheatear
were in
Greenland Lake and two Grey Wagtail, 30 Swallow and three House
Martin flew over.
Wheatear 03/09/07 © Dave Stone Whimbrel 03/09/07 © Dave Stone
Sunday 2nd:
The first Red-throated Diver of the autumn, a bird in summer plumage, was
offshore with 285 Shag, 17 Common Scoter, 25 Common and an
Arctic Tern. Wader numbers had
dropped overnight with only c200 Dunlin, 120 Ringed Plover and 74
Knot in the Bight along with the Grey Plover and
Little Stint. Also in the estuary, an
adult Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank, seven Teal and in the
Railway Saltmarsh, 26 Little Egret and 13 Grey Heron. Elsewhere
there was a Spotted Flycatcher and a Great-spotted Woodpecker in
the entrance bushes with a Wheatear by the hide, a White Wagtail
and Kestrel around the Bight, three Sand Martin flew through, three Yellow and
two Grey Wagtail flew over with 10 Blackcap, three Whitethroat
and two Reed Warbler also on site.
Little Stint 02/09/07
© Lee Collins
Common Tern 02/09/07 © Simon Thurgood Knot 02/09/07 © Lee Collins
Saturday 1st:
The highlight was the first Hobby of the year, an adult in off the sea early
afternoon before circling over the Bight and heading west. Other raptors seen
today were a Buzzard also in off the sea then west over the Bight, a
Kestrel hunting over the burnt area on Warren Point and two juvenile
Peregrine preying on the wader roost. Other overhead passage included two
Grey Wagtail, 250+ Swallow, 100+ House and five Sand Martin
all east. The majority of the hirundines came through in about ten minutes
around the front of a weather system. Grounded migrants were limited to single
Wheatear and White Wagtail on the beach, with five Blackcap,
five Chiffchaff, four Whitethroat, three Reed and two
Willow Warbler around the reserve. Elsewhere over 600 Dunlin were
still present in the Bight with 88 Knot, the Grey Plover, two
juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and the
Little Stint, 48 Cormorant were on
Finger Point, 18 Little Egret and 12 Grey Heron were in the
Railway Saltmarsh and two Kingfisher were on the Main Pond. Offshore
there were two juvenile Arctic Tern
with 25 Common Tern.
Curlew Sandpiper (with Dunlin) 01/09/07 © Lee Collins Sanderling 01/09/07 © Lee Collins
Dunlin 01/09/07 © Lee Collins
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