October 2009
55 species so far this monthGannet
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
White-fronted Goose
Mallard
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Mediterranean Gull >
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Tern >
Sandwich Tern >
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Redwing
Cetti's Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit >
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw >
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow >
Chaffinch >
Greenfinch
Goldfinch >
Siskin
Linnet
Crossbill
Bullfinch
October 6th
A wet and windy day with much promise for rarities and seabirds but in the end just a lone Gannet in the harbour and a late Sand Martin. A young Bullfinch was the first sighting for section 4, just south of Buxton Road.
October 12th
Highlight today was a group of 4 grey geese, probably White-fronts, that flew west over the harbour and then turned north to go up the Fleet. Also 3 Stonechats and the first Siskins of the autumn.
October 19th
An astonishing 80 Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour this morning, mostly off Underbarn. Still a few summer migrants about, mostly Chiffchaffs but a few Blackcaps and Swallows as well.
Last week saw an enormous nocturnal passage of Redwings, with hundreds of birds calling overhead every time I ventured out at night. Not one visible after dawn though.
October 27th
Highlight this morning was a Firecrest on the trail just south of Buxton Road. Also a record 5 Stonechats at Downclose.
October 30th
Easterlies in October are always good to get the birds moving and today was a classic autumn migration day with all sorts of birds flying around. The most unexpected sighting was a flock of 7 Crossbills that were heading north over Sandsfoot Halt. A big flock of 200 Wood Pigeons were also heading north over Newstead Road, where there were also smaller numbers of Skylarks and Redwings, mostly going south. At Downclose there was a Cetti's Warbler singing from the bushes near the shore.