A few more warblers apparent today, hence a fine, but brief Barred Warbler in the bushes south of the Coastguard Cottages, plus 14 Willow Warblers, one Chiffchaff, 5 Common Whitethroats and one Reed Warbler. Other birds of note were 7 Kestrels, one Little Egret, one Yellow Wagtail, 9 Gannets and 30 Sandwich Terns. Singles of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were present this afternoon.

 

Also east of Stonebridge this evening the first Goldcrest of the autumn and offshore 6+ Arctic Skuas, 240 Sandwich Terns, 17 Teal N and 35 Common Scoter N. A Hobby also flew north.

Things seemed to have gone rather flat at Quad 3. The only warblers this morning were 3 Willow Warblers and a Whitethroat. There were 11 Kestrels still, and added on to the Stonebridge lot, there are plenty of these at least. Also 2,500 Black-headed Gulls, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 70 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns, one Arctic Skua, one Gannet and one Peregrine.

Very quiet this morning between Stonebridge and Pyes - just a Northern Wheatear, 6 Common Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Whimbrel and Arctic Skua.

 

.

Quite cool and windy this morning between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall. Best were 24 Kestrels, 64 Swallows, 50 Dunlin, 380 Oystercatchers, 140 Golden Plovers, 6 Greenshanks, 7 Little Egrets, 10 Cormorants, one Cuckoo, 4 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, one Whitethroat, one Lesser Whitethroat and one Willow Warbler.

Also noted between the RAF base and Pyes Hall this afternoon by Chris Atkin were:

2 Whimbrel
4 Common Sandpiper
1 ringtail Hen Harrier
1 Peregrine
1 Merlin
2 Barn Owl
1 Redstart
2 Wheatear close to the base
4 Willow Warbler
3 Whitethroat
1 Sedge Warbler

 Today's best birds were 155 Golden Plovers, 3 Grey Plovers, 200 Dunlin, 2 Little Stints, 25 Knot, 75 Oystercatchers, 56 Curlews, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Gannets, 16 Sandwich Terns, 11 Common Scoters, 2 Eiders, 7 Kestrels, 150 Swallows, 10 House Martins, 9 Swifts, one Reed Warbler, 18 Willow Warblers, one Chiffchaff, 10 Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Garden Warbler and one Pied Flycatcher.

The following are the highlights over the past week:

17th (evening at Stonebridge):- 720 Oystercatchers, 83 Curlews, 150 Dunlin, 21 Grey Plovers, 70 Golden Plovers, 12 Whimbrel, one Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Sanderling, 160 Sandwich Terns, 70 Common Terns, one Black Tern, 1,700 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, one Yellow-legged Gull, 14 Arctic Skuas, 6 Gannets, 8 Kestrels and 4 Swifts.

18th (Quad 3):- 52 Curlews, 113 Oystercatchers, 11 Sanderling, 600 Black-headed Gulls, one Mediterranean Gull, 58 Sandwich Terns, 136 Common Terns, 6 Arctic Terns, 2 Black Terns, 4 Arctic Skuas, 21 Cormorants, one Gannet, one Peregrine, 9 Kestrels, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Swifts, 320 Swallows south, 9 Sand Martins, one Lesser Whitethroat.

19th (Pye's Hall):- 58 Curlews, 2 Greenshanks, one Common Sandpiper, 2,150 Black-headed Gulls, one Mediterranean Gull, 12 Sandwich Terns, 10 Common Terns, 11 Kestrels, one Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, one Little Egret, one Cuckoo, 2 Willow Warblers and one Arctic Skua.

20th (Quad 3):- 217 Oystercatchers, 65 Curlews, one Little Egret, 3 Arctic Skuas, 20 Sandwich Terns, 1,700 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Kestrels, one Greenshank, 2 Willow Warblers, 20 Whitethroats, one Garden Warbler and 2 Reed Warblers.

21st (Stonebridge. Only brief evening visit due to onset of torrential rain):- 640 Oystercatchers, 2 Greenshanks, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Grey Plovers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, one Little Egret, 4 Kestrels and one Hobby.

22nd (Evening at Stonebridge):- 3,600 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 80 Sandwich Terns, 720 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Terns, 380 Oystercatchers, 65 Curlews, 7 Ringed Plovers, 22 Dunlin, 10 Sanderling, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Gannets, 3 Arctic Skuas, one Yellow Wagtail, one Sand Martin, 100 Swallows and 2 Swifts.

23rd (Quad 3):- juvenile Green Woodpecker in the garden. 75 Common Terns, 31 Sandwich Terns, one Arctic Tern, one Arctic Skua, one Mediterranean Gull, 10 Cormorants, 44 Curlews, one Whimbrel, 137 Oystercatchers, one Gannet, 180 Swallows north, 20 House Martins north, one Swift, 7 Kestrels, 10 Whitethroats and 10 Willow Warblers.

24th (Quad 3):- 4 Gannets, 17 Sandwich Terns, 17 Common Terns, 6 Cormorants, 64 Curlews, 125 Oystercatchers, 20 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Redshanks, 33 Sanderling, 69 Dunlin, 5 Shelducks, 3,000 Black-headed Gulls, 220 Swallows south, 22 Swifts south, one Marsh Harrier, one Sparrowhawk, 5 Kestrels, 8 Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, 20 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 4 Pied Flycatchers. A Barred Warbler was also seen by Geoff Williams at Stonebridge.

Two Pied Flycatchers were seen this morning - one at Pye's and one near Stonebridge. Six Whimbrel were also noted along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The highlight of the day was a juvenile Green Woodpecker at Pye's Hall - the fifth record for Donna Nook. The earlier ones all involved single birds on 31st August 1968, 11th October 1986, 6th December 2006 and 31st July 2010.

Other birds noted include 16 Kestrels, 15 Swifts, two Cuckoos, 17 Teal, 5 Reed Warblers, 6 Willow Warblers, 19 Whitethroats, one Blackcap, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Pied Flycatchers (one at Pye's and 2 at Quad 3). Three juvenile grey Herons came in from the sea and continued SW inland.

A Quail was flushed at Pye's Hall this morning - the bird hit a fence and then flopped over onto to the other side where it sat in the open for a few seconds. Other highlights included a fly-over Wood Sandpiper and a Garganey. Also noted in the Pye's area were two Pied Flycatchers, Whinchat, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo, Greenshank, Snipe, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Common Sandpiper.
Quad 3 area was quieter, but still interesting with 4 Pied Flycatchers, 12 Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Willow Warblers, 60 Swallows, 6 Kestrels, a Greenshank, a Snipe, 3 Common Sandpipers and 2 Green Sandpipers.

At least five Pied Flycatchers between the RAF base and Pye's Hall today. Also at Pye's were a Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier and Willow Warbler. Also along the dunes and outmarsh were 12 Kestrels, 2 Cuckoos, one Whimbrel, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, Willow Warbler and Whinchat. Best birds over the sea were 140 Sandwich Terns, 12 Common Terns, 2 Gannets, 16 Cormorants, 9 Shelducks, 34 Oystercatchers, 21 Dunlin, 4 Sanderling, 7 Knot, 3 Ringed Plovers and 20 Teal.

A light-moderate easterly today with overcast conditions at dawn.

Three Pied flycathers were noted - 2 east of Stonebridge and also one in the Willow hedge by North Flash. Also on the landside were 4 Kestrels, 145 Golden Plovers, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Little Egret and Green Sandpiper. A sea watch 0945-1115 produced 85 Sandwich Terns, 25 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Terns, Little Gull, sub-adult Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 16 Cormorants, 11 Gannets, 2 Guillemots, ca.84 Common Scoters, 3 Eiders, 15 Teal, 12 Oystercatchers, 2 Knot, 14 Curlews and 33 Sanderling.

Between Pye's and the RAF base were also a Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Snipe, GS Woodpecker, 2 Willow Warblers a Yellow Wagtail and a Greenshank.

From Stonebridge to Pye's Hall today of note were 550 Oystercatchers, 52 Golden Plovers, 15 Dunlin, 32 Curlews, 2 Whimbrels, 15 Cormorants, 4 Sandwich Terns 2 Little Egrets, one Merlin, 12 Kestrels, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Cuckoos and a Reed Warbler. Geoff Williams was also down and added a Pied Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler.

A Marsh Harrier was between Stonebridge and Pye's and 8 Whitethroats and 6 Kestrels were noted along with 250 Sandwich Terns.

Stonebridge to Pye's Hall this morning rhe most interesting birds included 640 Oystercatchers, 490 Sandwich Terns, 40 Common Terns, 3 Arctic Skuas, one adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 Cormorants, 3 Little Egrets, 12 Kestrels, 2 Cuckoos, 60 Swallows, 3 Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Reed Warbler and one Willow Warbler.

A sea watch produced 150 Sandwich Terns, only 4 Common Terns, one Arctic Tern, one Little Tern, 4 Arctic Skuas, 12 Gannets, 22 Common Scoters, 3 Eiders, 5 Teal, 4 Cormorants, 39 Oystercatchers, 69 Curlews, 5 Redshanks, 6 Grey Plovers, 2 Knot and 9 Sanderling. there were also 6 Kestrels, Little Egret, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow Wagtail. Chris Atkin also had an adult Black Tern today.

On the high tide were 240 Sandwich Terns and 50 Common Terns. Also noted were two Willow Warblers, 13 Kestrels, 2 Marsh Harriers, 140 Swifts, 5 Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and 60 Knot.

A juvenile Whinchat was near Pye's. Also in the area were 13 Kestrels, a Short-eared Owl, 45 Golden Plover, 14 Common Whitethroats and 80 Swallows.