Sunday, 01 November 2020

Sunny spells and rain showers with a blowy F6 SW wind.

Watches: 0700-1030.

It was typical fair for the time of year, especially with the windy conditions. A Yellow-browed Warbler at Kew hinted at some new arrivals as did an increase in Thrushes with 45 Blackbird, 120 Fieldfare, 85 Redwing, and 2 Song Thrush plus a Woodcock, 2 Chiffchaff, a Siberian Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Chaffinch, a Brambling and 30 Lesser Redpoll.

Not much on the move overland despite favourable winds, but maybe the rain was too much, 6 Skylark, 2 Swallow and 7 Goldfinch were the best, but over the sea it was better with 3 Shoveler, 19 Teal, 20 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye, 18 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 130 Gannet, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Great Skua, 3 Guillemot, a Razorbill and 13 Auk sp. 

The usual good birding was available at Kilnsea wetlands with yet again some good birds and totals, the best being a Scaup and 26 Whooper Swan (moving as far as Green lane) in the area along with 16 Shoveler, 456 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 120 Teal, 3 Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff and a Merlin.

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinch, 24 Lesser Redpoll.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Friday, 30 October 2020

A grey day with some sunny spells and a F5-3 SW wind.

Watches: 0700-1000.

There was some vismig today, but nowhere near the  movement of the last few days, though some good birds thrown in, 368 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Whooper Swan, a Great White Egret, 3 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 2 Rock Pipit, 4 Bullfinch, 6 Twite, 40 Redpoll, while quiet over the sea, 300 Common Scoter, an Eider, 29 Red-throated Diver, 9 Cormorant, 8 Gannet and 24 Auk sp.

It was typical late autumn fair migrant wise as some continue to trickle in with a Short-eared Owl, 5 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff (Warren and Easington sewage works), 24 Goldcrest, a Firecrest still on Beacon lane, 30 Blackbird, 70 Fieldfare, 80 Redwing, 19 Stonechat and 29 Meadow Pipit.

The Kilnsea wetlands area had a  noticeable increase on Wildfowl numbers for some species with now 45 Whooper Swan and 37 Shoveler along with a Pintail, 25 Teal, 760 Wigeon, 7 Little Egret, 14 Little Grebe, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, 730 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank.

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 25 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Thursday, 29 October 2020

Rain showers throughout with a F5 SW wind.

Watches: 0645-0930.

There was some decent overland movement again today with a nice varied species list too, 4 Wood Pigeon, a Stock Dove, 4 Skylark, a Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, 75 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 11 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 4 Twite, 43 Linnet, 90 Redpoll, 157 Goldfinch, 66 Siskin and 3 Reed Bunting, while quiet over the sea, 7 Common Scoter, a Goosander, 60 Red-throated Diver, 5 Cormorant, 11 Gannet, 3 Guillemot and 12 Auk sp.

Very few migrants continue to hang about, with just 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 50 Blackbird, 13 Stonechat, a Brambling and 4 Crossbill.

The Kilnsea wetlands area as usual produced some good birding with a 1cy Caspian Gull and a nice flock of 26 Whooper Swan the highlight along with a Pintail, 350 Teal, 752 Wigeon, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Ruff, 550 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank.

Ringing: 3 Goldcrest, 1 Wren, 81 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Twite, 2 Reed Bunting.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Wednesday, 28 October 2020

Sunny spells throughout with a chilly F5-6 SW wind.

Watches: 0645-1010.

Overall it was a much quieter day with only a trickle of movement overland and a few bits seen arriving off the sea. Moving today were 4 Stock Dove, 2 Short-eared Owl in/off, 7 Jackdaw, 9 Rook, 46 Skylark, a House Sparrow, 30 Tree Sparrow, 25 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 9 Chaffinch. a Brambling, 2 Greenfinch, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 124 Goldfinch, 9 Siskin, 2 Yellowhammer and 3 Reed bunting, while over the sea 4 Brent Geese, 80 Pink-footed Geese, 9 Whooper Swan, 3 Wigeon, 2 Common Scoter, 11 Red-throated Diver, 10 Gannet, a Cormorant, 15 Black-headed Gull, 6 Guillemot and 46 Auk sp.

A flock of 90 Brent Geese along Beacon lane contained a Black Brant lookalike, originally reported as one, but on closer inspection appears to be a hybrid bird, with grey upperpars and messy flanks. The same flock also contained the leucistic bird. Nearby a flock of 28 Whooper Swan were on Kilnsea wetlands with also 400 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 150 Teal, 3 Little Egret, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank and both Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier hunting the area.

Few migrants to report though, a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Easington sewage works, the Firecrest still along Beacon lane and a Long-eared Owl in North field. Other migrants reported were 4 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, a Brambling, 17 Lesser Redpoll and 8 Siskin.

Ringing: 17 Lesser Redpoll.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Tuesday, 27 October 2020

Sunny spells then rain from late morning with a F5 SSW wind.

Watvhes: 0645-1130, 1300-1430.

It was another good day for southerly movement dominated by overland Passerine visible migration. Todays action had a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 60 Jackdaw, 50 Rook, 11 Skylark, 4 Swallow, a late Sand Martin, 19 Starling, 3 Mistle Thrush, 8 House Sparrow, 160 Tree Sparrow, a Dunnock, 6 Alba Wagtail, 235 Meadow Pipit, 21 Rock Pipit, 285 Chaffinch, 17 Brambling, 4 Greenfinch, 56 Twite, 232 Linnet, 60 Lesser Redpoll, 9 Crossbill, 479 Goldfinch, 252 Siskin, 6 Yellowhammer and 38 Reed Bunting. The best of the sea saw another 47 Whooper Swan (10 NW) along with 2 Teal, 8 Eider, 6 Common Scoter, 24 Red-throated Diver, a Gtreat Crested Grebe, 77 Gannet, 167 Black-headed Gull and 25 Auk sp.

There was a small increase in migrant numbers the best being 2 Long-eared Owl and a Firecrest on Beacon lane plus 2 Woodcock, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 18 Goldcrest, 60 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 5 Stonechat, a Wheatear and a Bullfinch.

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Tree Sparrow, 4 Linnet, 51 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Twite, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Yellowhammer, 4 Reed Bunting.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Monday, 26 October 2020

Sunny spells with occasional showers and a F5 SW wind.

Watches: 0645-1000, 1100-1130.

There was some good movement today over both land and sea with a SHORT-TOED LARK the days highlight briefly at the lighthouse, flying off south and not refound. Other bits moving were more obliging with a  Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, 52 Skylark, a Swallow, 18 Starling, 160 Tree Sparrow, 5 Rock Pipit, 7 Brambling, 28 Chaffinch, 35 Twite, 176 Linnet, 27 Redpoll, 9 Crossbill, 62 Goldfinch, 59 Siskin and 7 Reed Bunting.

The sea continued the Wildfowl theme of the last few days with 220 Pink-footed Geese, 7 Whooper Swan, 23 Shelduck, 6 Pintail, a Velvet Scoter, 16 Common Scoter, 3 Goosander, 29 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet and 29 Auk sp.

A few migrants continue to hang on though in very small numbers, 4 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 9 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 16 Robin, 9 Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipit, a Crossbill and a nice flock of 23 Twite lingering at Beacon ponds.

The Kilnsea wetlands area had 10 Whooper Swan, 4 Pntail, 520 Wigeon, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Tree Sparrow, 1 House Sparrow, 23 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Twite, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Sunday, 25 October 2020

A bright start with a Bklustery F5 SW wind.

Watches: 0630-1130.

The better conditions were decent for movement in general and saw more movement overland with 69 Skylark, a Swallow, 9 Tree Sparrow, 2 Alba Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 20 Rock Pipit, 5 Chaffinch, 141 Linnet, 20 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Crossbill, 312 Goldfinch, 77 Siskin and 2 Reed Bunting, while over the sea 400 Pink-footed Geese, 21 Whooper Swan, 13 Common Scoter, 4 Velvet Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 67 Gannet, a Great Skua, 23 Guillemot, 3 Razorbill and 112 Auk sp.

A Firecrest in the Churchyard was the Passerine highlight among just a Short-eared Owl, 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest and 4 Stonechat.

Other sightings included the 12 Whooper Swan on Easington straight, 148 Brent Geese, a Spotted Redshank and 2 Ruff on Kilnsea wetlands, an Avocet at Chalk bank and 8 Grey Partridge.

Ringing: 3 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Tree Sparrow, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Saturday, 24 October 2020

Overcast with occasional heavy rain and sunny spells.

Watches; 0730-1015.

Not ideal conditions as the month seems to be peetering out without any potential further arrivals, but a bit more movement saw  50 Pink-footed Geese, 42 Whooper Swan, a Tufted Duck, 11 Common Scoter, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Red-thrroated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, maybe the resident Black-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 1 Shag, 33 Gannet, a Grey Phalarope close inshore, 8 Knot, 2 Little Gull, 30 Guillemot, 5 Razorbill and 13 Auk sp. Overland movement was light with 200 Starling, an Alba Wagtail, 4 Twite, 47 Linnet, a Redpoll and 58 Goldfinch.

Other sightings were 12 Whooper Swan, 498 Wigeon, 232 Teal, 3 Pintail, a Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier and a Ruff all in the Kilnsea wetlands area anfd just outside the area the Great Grey Shrike remains at Skeffling along with some good birding in that general area..

Ringing: 1 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing.

Migrant numbers are very low, maybe with some birds struggling in each day. Totals today were a Woodcock, 1 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 10 Goldcrest, 20 Blackbird, 5 Fieldfare, 23 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Stonechat and 3 Rock Pipit.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Friday, 23 October 2020

A generally wet day, sunny by the evening and a F4 W wind.

Wztches: 0720-1130.

Continuing the previous days theme with decent movement across a wide range of species making for a pleasant day despite the rain with 525 Pink-footed Geese, 98 Whooper Swan, 2 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 8 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 114 Gannet, 12 Cormorant, 3 Great Skua, 72 Wood Pigeon, 4 Rook, 238 Skylark, 20 Swallow, 50 Tree Sparrow, 4 Grey Wagtail, 10 Alba Wagtail, 397 Meadow Pipit, 7 Rock Pipit, 43 Chaffinch, a Brambling, 3 Greenfinch, 5 Twite, 205 Linnet, 127 Lesser Redpoll, 186 Goldfinch, 420 Siskin, 4 Lapland Bunting, 5 Yellowhammer and 64 Reed Bunting.

Migrant numbers were pretty much the same from the previous day, but some arrivals of Thrushes were evident. Totals day were a late Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffhchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 45 Goldcrest, 5000 Starling, 48 Blackbird, 39 Fieldfare, 86 Redwing, 9 Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 13 Stonechat, 2 Barmbling and a Mealy Redpoll.

Other bits of note were 138 Brent Geese (4 juvs) plus 2 apparent Black BrantxBrent hybrids.

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Siskin, 93 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 4 Yellowhammer.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Thursday, 22 October 2020

Sunny spells with a blustery F5-6 SW wind.

Watches: 0715-1020.

It was a fantastic morning for birds on the movemainly overland which saw 68 Wood Pigeon, a Stock Dove, 271 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 3 Grey Wagtail, 6 Alba Wagtail, 102 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 22 Chaffinch, 41 Greenfinch, 9 Twite, 195 Linnet, 3 Crossbill, 105 Lesser Redpoll, 929 Goldfinch, 140 Siskin, a Lapland Bunting and 26 Reed Bunting. while the sea on the other hand produced just 81 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Common Scoter, 11 Red-throated Diver, a Black-throated Diver, 23 Gannet and 30 Black-headed Gull. 

A scatter of migrants remain around the area including 2 Short-eared Owl, 7 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 28 Goldcrest, 41 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 38 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Stonechat, 4 Brambling, 7 Bullfinch and 8 Twite by Easington lagoon.

Other sightings diuring the day saw a Great White Egret wander the area and roosting at Kew, 10 Whooper Swan remaining around the Kilnsea wetlands and Beacon ponds area, which also had a Great Crested Grebe, aTufted Duck, a Ruff, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and a Marsh Harrier.

The Great Grey Shrike was still by Skeffling pumphouse.

Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 29 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.