September 2009

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Report sightings

 

 

Wednesday 30th:


Numbers of Dunlin had increased overnight with a count of 173 in the Bight, but with the exception of a second Golden Plover there was little else with them. Counts included 45 Bar and a single Black-tailed Godwit, five Knot, three Grey Plover and a Sanderling. Elsewhere a first winter Little Gull and 21 Sandwich Tern were offshore, two Great-spotted Woodpecker and just one Chiffchaff were on site, a Peregrine took a Dunlin and a few Meadow Pipit and a single Raven were overhead. 

 

 

Tuesday 29th:


Offshore an eclipse drake Tufted Duck joined the Common Scoter flock for 30 minutes, with a Pintail also offshore with the Wigeon flock, following continued disturbance in the estuary. Wader counts were slightly down on yesterday, although a single Golden Plover flew in off the sea and remained in the Bight all afternoon.  Also in the estuary the 16 Brent Geese had moved into the recording area, seven Sandwich Tern and the continued presence of the Barnacle and Bar-headed Geese.

 

Golden Plover 29/09/09 ©  Lee Collins

 

 

Monday 28th:


Wader counts from a low high tide included 1520+ Oystercatcher, 238 Great Black-backed Gull, 180 Curlew, c50 Ringed Plover, c45 Bar-tailed Godwit, c40 Dunlin, 12 Grey Heron, nine Greenshank and four Black-tailed Godwit, Sanderling and Grey Plover. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser with 16 Brent Geese further up river off site. There was nothing to report in the bushes with little overhead after midday with just 25 Swallow, 15 Meadow Pipit and a Sand Martin. Offshore there were 21 Sandwich Tern and a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver.

 

 

Sunday 27th:

 

Counts from the estuary included 425+ Canada Geese, 320 Wigeon, 380 Great Black-backed Gull, 93 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, eight Sanderling, seven Grey Plover, three Whimbrel, three Greenshank and a Great-crested Grebe.  Vismig  recorded a light passage overhead (mostly NW) with 152 Meadow Pipit, 45 alba and eight Grey Wagtail, 39 Swallow, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull, six Siskin, five House Martin, four Rook, three Skylark, two Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting and two Raven. On the ground there were 12 Chiffchaff and six Blackcap whilst the finch flocks around Greenland Lake and Warren Point included 70 Greenfinch, c30 Goldfinch and 35 Linnet. Elsewhere 160+ Shag, 40+ Gannet and 25 Common Scoter were offshore, and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was still on site.

 

 

Saturday 26th:

 

Counts from the estuary included 330 Teal, 294 Redshank, 286 Great Black-backed Gull, including a colour ringed Channel Islands bird, 225 Wigeon, 67 Knot, 27 Bar and 12 Black-tailed Godwit, five Grey Plover, three Turnstone, two Greenshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Also in the estuary a singe Spotted Redshank and an unwelcome site record 493 Canada Geese with the Barnacle and two Bar-headed Geese. Vismig before 11am recorded a light passage overhead (mostly NE) with 50+ Meadow Pipit, 38 alba and five Grey Wagtail, 10 Siskin, four Chaffinch, two Reed Bunting, two Rook, a Jackdaw and a single flock of 26 Skylark. On the ground there were 15+ Chiffchaff, six Blackcap and two Wheatear whilst the finch flocks around Greenland Lake and Warren Point have built up to 120+ Greenfinch, c40 Goldfinch and 35 Linnet. Elsewhere two Stock Dove were feeding on the mudflats, 21 Sandwich Tern and 18 Common Scoter were offshore, the Buzzard and two Great-spotted Woodpecker were still on site and two Water Rail were at the Main Pond.

 

 

Friday 25th:

 

The first Barnacle Goose of the year was in Shutterton Creek wit ha large flock of Canada Geese, also there the two Bar-headed Geese. Elsewhere a Reed Warbler was at the Main Pond.

 

 

Thursday 24th:

 

The Slavonian Grebe and nine Black-tailed Godwit were in the estuary but no other news was reported.

 

 

Wednesday 23rd:

 

Three Balearic Shearwater flew south during the morning with the first Red-throated Diver of the autumn east and 30+ Common Scoter and a Razorbill also offshore. Wader numbers continue to drop with 60 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 20 Bar and Black-tailed Godwit, three Greenshank,  three Whimbrel, two Sanderling, two Grey Plover and a Little Stint over high tide. Also in the estuary 280 Canada and two Bar-headed Geese, two adult Mediterranean Gull and two Brent Geese. The Redstart was still in Greenland Lake, where the finch flock had increased with at least 75 Greenfinch present with a few Linnet and Goldfinch. Elsewhere a Jay was in the Entrance Bushes, a Sedge Warbler was at the Main Pond, eight Blackcap and seven Chiffchaff on site with Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker  Overhead there were a Yellow and three Grey Wagtail, two Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting.

 

 

Tuesday 22nd:

 

Counts from the estuary included 275 Redshank, 270 Teal, 130 Wigeon, 26 Bar and nine Black-tailed Godwit, three Greenshank, two Whimbrel and the Red-breasted Merganser and Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere three Grey and a Yellow Wagtail flew over with four Chaffinch and a Jackdaw, a Jay was in Dead Dolphin Wood, a Redstart was still in Greenland Lake and a Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Water Rail were by the First Pond.

 

 

Monday 21st:

 

A Redstart was still in Greenland Lake but no other news was received for today.

 

Redstart 19/09/09

 

 

Sunday 20th:

 

The two Redstart were still around Greenland Lake today with fresh migrants including single Whitethroat, Willow, Reed and Sedge Warbler. Also onsite at least 30 Chiffchaff, eight Blackcap, five Wheatear, two Reed Bunting and a second Reed Warbler found dead at the Main Pond. There was little movement overhead with c30 Meadow Pipit, four Chaffinch, two Skylark, a Rook, three Buzzard, four Grey and a Yellow Wagtail the most noteworthy records. Over high tide 13 Brent Geese were in the estuary with 386 Dunlin, two Grey Plover, the Slavonian Grebe and 20+ Black-tailed Godwit. The Golden Plover was again present roosting on the beach with a juvenile Little Stint. Elsewhere two Great-spotted and Green Woodpecker were on site and 200+ Shag and c15 Sandwich Tern were offshore.

 

Golden Plover 20/09/09 © John Fortey                                                                 Wheatear 19/09/09 © Chris Clarke

 

 

Saturday 19th:

 

Grounded migrants included two new Redstart around Greenland Lake, with at least 12 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, three Wheatear and a Whitethroat also on site. Overhead at least 300 House Martin and 120 Swallow flew east along with c40 Meadow Pipit, 25+ Goldfinch, 24 Grey Wagtail, three Siskin, two Sand Martin and a Yellow Wagtail, also overhead during the day five Raven, two Sparrowhawk and at least six Buzzard, with the semi-resident bird also on site. Counts from the estuary today included 350 Wigeon, 300+ Dunlin, 250 Canada Geese, with another 200 just offsite, 140 Teal, 70+ Knot, 15 Bar and four Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Sanderling, five Whimbrel, five Pintail, two Greenshank, two adult Mediterranean Gull, the Slavonian Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser, two Grey and a Golden Plover, the first autumn record. Elsewhere a Water Rail was at the First Pond, a Little Egret and three Wigeon were on the Main Pond and 50 Common Scoter, a Great-crested Grebe and a Guillemot were offshore.

 


Redstart 19/09/09 © John Fortey

 

 

Friday 18th:

 

The overcast conditions helped to ground a good selection of common migrants, with a fly over Tree Pipit, a Whinchat along the Back Path and a Redstart on Warren Point, the pick of the sightings. Elsewhere a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat were by the Main Pond, and six Wheatear were onsite and a Willow Warbler was in the sycamores on Warren Point. Other grounded migrants included at least 14 Chiffchaff and eight Blackcap. At least 500 Dunlin were present over the high tide with single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, also in the estuary 65 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling, nine Whimbrel, five Bar-tailed Godwit, four Brent Geese, two Grey Plover, two Turnstone and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere the Buzzard and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the trees by the First Pond, two Little Grebe, a Little Egret and a Grey Heron were on the Main Pond and 50 Common Scoter were offshore.

 

 

Thursday 17th:

 

Wader counts over the morning high tide included 318 Dunlin, 97 Ringed Plover, 50+ Knot, eight Bar-tailed Godwit, at least two Greenshank, a Grey Plover and a Little Stint. Also in the estuary the nine Dark-bellied Brent Geese the first of the autumn, 403 Wigeon, 80+ Teal and two Pintail. Overhead before 10am there were c25 Meadow Pipit, 14 Grey Wagtail, 12 Swallow and a Sand Martin. Elsewhere there were three Wheatear and just a few Blackcap and Chiffchaff in the bushes.
 

 

Wednesday 16th:

 

Continuing signs of autumn with wader and wildfowl numbers almost doubling overnight. Over high tide wader counts included the Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper in with 400+ Dunlin, 150 Ringed Plover, 104 Knot, 10+ Sanderling, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, five Whimbrel, four Turnstone, a Grey Plover, a Snipe and at least one Greenshank. In Shutterton Creek Wigeon numbers had increased to 405 with 130+ Teal and a single Coot - an estuary rarity! Elsewhere 110 Sandwich Tern and 70 Common Scoter were offshore, a red colour ringed adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach, at least six Wheatear were on site and a good movement of hirundines was noted.
 

 

Tuesday 15th:

 

Autumnal weather produced the continuing arrivals of wildfowl and waders, counts from the estuary included 230 Wigeon, 100 Teal and eight Pintail with single Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint in with 130+ Dunlin. Also in the estuary a juvenile Arctic Tern, the Slavonian Grebe, 24 Knot, three adult Mediterranean Gull, three Greenshank and a Grey Plover. Elsewhere 70 Common Scoter were offshore, 31 Rook were feeding on the mudflats with Carrion Crow pre roost and a Wheatear was on the Golf Course.

 

 

Monday 14th:

 

The main feature of the day was a strong hirundine passage with minimum counts of 735 Swallow, 591 House and 21 Sand Martin, although many must have been missed due to  high flyers and the broad front of the movement. Also notable today was the amount of wildfowl movement, with ducks in off the sea including 74 Wigeon, in six flocks, the largest 24, four Teal, three Pintail and a Shoveler. Other movement overhead included 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Meadow Pipit, three Grey Wagtail and three Buzzard. In the estuary there were two adult Mediterranean Gull, 50 Sandwich Tern, 50 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 20 Bar and six Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Knot, four Turnstone and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere an immature Peregrine was again around the Bight and five Wheatear were on site but the strong northerly wind meant little was noted in the bushes.
 

 

Sunday 13th:

 

Another quiet day against the backdrop of continuing fine weather. Overhead migration was limited to 43 House and a single Sand Martin, 30 Swallow, 29 Meadow Pipit, 11 Grey and six alba Wagtail, a Collared Dove and a Snipe. Grounded migrants included yesterday's Whinchat, eight Wheatear, 10 Blackcap, seven Chiffchaff, four Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler. presumably more local migrants included the year's fourth record of both Jay and Coal Tit, the former in the Entrance Bushes and the latter along Back Path. Elsewhere 103 Wigeon,  51 Knot, c.30 Teal,  a Shelduck and a Turnstone were in the estuary with 30+ Sandwich and two Common Tern were offshore.

 

 

Saturday 12th:

 

A Yellowhammer heading east early morning was the first of the year, also passing overhead single Siskin and Chaffinch, 289+ Meadow Pipit, 15 Goldfinch, 15 Grey Wagtail, 12+ alba Wagtail, five Raven, 35+ Swallow, 10+ House and four Sand Martin. The pick of the grounded migrants was on Warren Point, another first for the year, a Whinchat. Also on site 19 Blackcap, eight Chiffchaff, four Whitethroat, four Wheatear and single Reed, Garden and Willow Warbler.  Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 232 Redshank, 177 Great Black-backed Gull, 77 Sandwich Tern, 43 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 29 Knot, 15 Black and 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, nine Whimbrel, six Greenshank and two adult Mediterranean Gull.

 

 

Friday 11th:

 

No sign of the Aquatic but a Black Kite, the second reserve record, flew south down the estuary mid morning. Also passing overhead 150+ Meadow Pipit, a site record 31 Grey Wagtail, 15+ alba Wagtail, 10 Sand Martin, a Rook, a Hobby and four grey geese sp. Grounded migrants included at least one Lesser Whitethroat, five Whitethroat, two Wheatear and single Garden and Willow Warbler.  In the estuary an Avocet was with the Oystercatcher, two Curlew Sandpiper were in the Bight, 75 Sandwich and a Common Tern were on Bull Hill and 29 Wigeon, 20 Black and 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, six Whimbrel and two Greenshank were in Shutterton Creek. Elsewhere the Buzzard was again around the crocus compound early morning and a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond.

 

Kingfisher 11/09/09 © Simon Thurgood

 

 

Thursday 10th:

 

An Aquatic Warbler was on Warren Point mid morning, but there was no sign this evening. This was the eighth record for the reserve but the first since 1987. Other migrants included at least eight Wheatear in Greenland Lake and two Whitethroat on site with a juvenile Hobby, 60+ Swallow, 19 Meadow Pipit, six House Martin, four Grey Wagtail and a Rook overhead. In the estuary returning wildfowl included 32 Teal, 12 Wigeon, three Shelduck and single Shoveler and Pintail. Wader counts included 1150 Oystercatcher, 493 Curlew, 277 Redshank, 78 Ringed Plover, 27 Knot, just 19 Dunlin, 11 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, seven Greenshank, a Turnstone and a Curlew Sandpiper. Other records included a first winter Mediterranean Gull offshore and c60 Sandwich Tern around the reserve.

 

Aquatic Warbler 10/09/09 both © Simon Thurgood

 

 

Wednesday 9th:

 

Counts from the estuary included 475 Curlew, 118 Ringed Plover, 57 Dunlin, 15 Little Egret, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, nine Teal, six Grey Heron, five Whimbrel, four Knot, three Sanderling, three Greenshank and a Great-crested Grebe. Passage overhead included 200+ Swallow, 15+ House Martin, 12 Meadow Pipit, and three Grey Wagtail. Grounded migrants were limited to three Wheatear, six Blackcap and a Garden Warbler. Elsewhere an Arctic Skua, 16 Common Scoter, 75 Sandwich and eight Common Tern were offshore, 150+ Swallow were over the Golf Course late evening, the Buzzard was roosting by the Crocus Compound and a juvenile Peregrine was around Warren Point.

 

 

Tuesday 8th:

 

Seawatching before 9.30 produced two Sooty and two Balearic and a Manx Shearwater, four Great and four Arctic Skua, 200+ Kittiwake, 60 Gannet and 38 Common Scoter south with 87 Sandwich and three Common Tern feeding offshore, two other Balearic Shearwater flew south past Langstone Rock late morning. In the estuary the Slavonian Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser remain near the Wreck with 301 Redshank, 21 Teal, 20+ Black and eight Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Knot, eight Whimbrel, five Greenshank and four adult Mediterranean Gull in Shutterton Creek. . Elsewhere 70 Ringed Plover and 25+ Dunlin were in the Bight, a Buzzard was along the Back Path and a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond.

 

 

Monday 7th:

 

Counts over the evening high tide included 310 Great and 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull on Finger Point, just 55 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, two Sanderling and a Knot in the Bight, 10 Whimbrel on the beach and 15 Teal, six Greenshank, four adult Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe in Shutterton Creek. Elsewhere the Redstart and six Whitethroat were in Greenland Lake and a White Wagtail was on the Golf Course.

 

 

Sunday 6th:

 

More of the same today with the second Redstart of the year around the Wryneck Path, the pick of the migrants, although a Jay in the Entrance bushes was only the year's third record. Other grounded migrants included 16 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, five Whitethroat, two Wheatear, two Reed and Willow Warbler and a single Garden Warbler.  Overhead there were seven Grey Wagtail, six Meadow Pipit, 80 House Martin and 70 Swallow. The first two Wigeon of the autumn were in the estuary with 25 Black and eight Bar-tailed Godwit, four Greenshank, three Turnstone, a Mediterranean Gull, the Slavonian and a Great-crested Grebe, 150 Sandwich and four Common Tern. Elsewhere two Arctic Skua, 252 Shag and 20 Common Scoter were offshore, a Buzzard was in bushes by the Back Path and A Kingfisher and three Teal were on the Main Pond.

 

 

Saturday 5th:

 

Plenty of migrants were around the reserve during the day, with 29 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaff, four Wheatear and two Garden, Reed and Willow Warbler.  Overhead the first Siskin of the autumn along with two Chaffinch, two Jackdaw, a Raven, six Meadow Pipit, five Grey Wagtail and large numbers of hirundines, with 200 Swallow, 300+ House and five Sand Martin. Counts from the estuary included four Curlew Sandpiper (evening tide), 480 Curlew, 270 Redshank, 250 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, 29 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Knot, 10 Whimbrel, six Turnstone, four Greenshank and a Grey Plover. Also in the estuary 120 Sandwich Tern, five Teal, three adult Mediterranean Gull, the Slavonian Grebe and the Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere an Arctic Skua, an Arctic and three Common Tern were offshore and a Little Egret was on the Main Pond.

 

Whimbrel 05/09/09 © Simon Thurgood

 

 

Friday 4th:

 

The first Grey Phalarope of the year was along the beach this evening with a mixed flock of small waders, including a Curlew Sandpiper. Both birds were however continually flushed by people on paddle boards. Elsewhere an Arctic Skua and two Common Tern were offshore and the Slavonian Grebe, a Greenshank and two Peregrine, an adult and an immature, were in the estuary. 

 

 

Thursday 3rd:

 

The Slavonian Grebe and 20+ Little Egret were in the estuary but no other news was received.

 

 

Wednesday 2nd:

 

Seawatching produced two Sooty and seven Balearic Shearwater south during the afternoon along with 60 Kittiwake, 40 Fulmar, 11 Common Tern, seven Manx Shearwater, five Teal, 11 Arctic, one Great and a probable Long-tailed Skua. Other records included 145 Sandwich Tern and two Knot in the estuary, a Yellow Wagtail overhead and single Garden Warbler and Wheatear on site.

 

 

Tuesday 1st:

 

A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on the evening tide was the first for the year, also in the Bight 188 Dunlin, 82 Ringed Plover, three Sanderling, two Knot and a juvenile Kittiwake. Other counts from the estuary included 254 Redshank, 210 Canada Geese, 41 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Teal, 10 Whimbrel, at least five Greenshank, the Slavonian Grebe and two Bar-headed Geese. Also in front of the hide a Wheatear and a Sparrowhawk patrolling regularly.

 

Greenshank 01/09/09 © Simon Thurgood

 

 

 

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