Sightings November 2008

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20th A first-winter Caspian Gull and an adult winter Mediterranean Gull were seen at the Patch in the morning. A few finches continue to trickle through.
19th Two Dartford Warblers were seen in the Desert again whilst the two flocks of Long-tailed Tits seem to have merged into one flock with 14 birds in the trapping area. A Marsh Harrier flew over and a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull was seen at the Patch in the morning.
18th A Firecrest was seen at the north end of the Long Pits.

Two Cranes were also seen at Scotney for a few minutes in the morning.
17th Not a great deal to be seen other than a first-winter Little Gull at the Patch and a trickle of wildfowl, mainly Brent Geese, moving west.

Also of interest, two Cranes flew south-east over Scotney (whilst looking for yesterdays Ring-necked Duck) and were later seen flying over the RSPB Reserve. Note that these are not the same two individuals as those seen in September and early October.
16th A trickle of birds overhead and a Firecrest at the Long Pits were the only birds of interest.

Also of interest, a first-winter male Ring-necked Duck was found in the Sussex section of Scotney Pit in the late afternoon.
15th Very little to be seen. A Firecrest and a party of Long-tailed Tits were at the Long Pits again and seven Swallows and a few finches flew south during the morning.
14th A very quite day. There was an adult Mediterranean Gull and a first-winter Little Gull at the Patch and a couple of Chiffchaffs and a flock of Long-tailed Tits in the trapping area.
13th A day very similar to yesterday with a trickle of birds overhead and a good scatter of migrants in the bushes.

The "migrants" on the land included two Black Redstarts, 15 Robins, 16 Goldcrests, three Firecrests and nine Long-tailed Tits whilst birds passing overhead included  a late Swallow, four Rock Pipits, 2000 Starlings, six Tree Sparrows, 30 Chaffinches, four Bramblings, 29 Redpolls, 12 Siskins, five Reed Buntings and a Corn Bunting. 
12th A calm and clear day for a change resulted in small but steady passage of birds passing overhead during the morning. However, there was little change in the birds in the bushes.

Visible migrants overhead included 20 Stock Doves, 250 Wood Pigeons, five Rock Pipits, 22 Chaffinches, two Bramblings, 115 Goldfinches, 14 Redpolls and 16 Siskins. 

The usual "migrants" on the land included six Black Redstarts, two Dartford Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, 30 Goldcrests, 18 Long-tailed Tits and the same "continental" Coal Tit and 95 Pied Wagtails came in to roost in the power station.

A Little Gull was feeding at the Patch.
11th A Black-throated Diver and 150 Great Crested Grebes flew west and two Little Gulls were feeding offshore. 

A "continental" Coal Tit and seven Long-tailed Tits were feeding at the north end of the Long Pits. 
10th A day that began with poor weather and then got progressively worse. Very little to be seen other than a couple of Little Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull feeding offshore and a handful of Kittiwakes moving west.
9th Little to be seen on a very windy day. 
8th Good numbers of Goldfinches continue to fly south with 1750 birds by mid-morning but other species were in short supply with just 24 Stock Doves, six Swallows, 16 Siskins and four Redpolls of note.

A few Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were still in the trapping area where a Woodcock was flushed and a Ring Ouzel was also seen.

The only birds of note offshore were a Black-throated Diver and seven Little Gulls flying west.
7th  Very little to be seen. A Dartford Warbler was noteworthy whilst a few Little Gulls were feeding at the Patch and a Brambling was feeding with the Greenfinches in front of the power station.
6th A similar day to recent ones with large numbers of finches passing overhead and a good scattering of grounded migrants. The Grey Phalarope was still feeding offshore and a Tundra Bean Goose flew over the area with a flock of 20 White-fronted Geese.

Notable finch totals included 535 Chaffinches, four Bramblings, 170 Goldfinches, 190 Siskins and 45 Redpolls and 52 Skylarks also passed over. Grounded migrants included eight Black Redstarts, ten Chiffchaffs, 30 Goldcrests, five Firecrest and ten Long-tailed Tits.
5th Another day with large numbers of finches passing overhead and good numbers of birds in the bushes. The Grey Phalarope continues to give superb views at the Patch.

Grey Phalarope
Click for larger image

Grounded migrants included a Woodcock, a Wood Lark, 30 Robins, seven Black Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel, 50 Blackbirds, 20 Chiffchaffs, 40 Goldcrests, a Firecrest, 16 Long-tailed Tits and a Coal Tit.

Notable totals amongst the birds passing overhead included 73 Chaffinches, six Bramblings, 1750 Goldfinches, 150 Siskins and 70 Redpolls.

Seven Little Gulls were also feeding offshore.
4th Good numbers of birds in the bushes and overhead this morning and one or two scarcer birds to be seen as well.

The highlight was a Waxwing which flew south over the area in the morning although three White-fronted Geese over the area was un unusual record. The Grey Phalarope also reappeared at the Patch in the afternoon where six Little Gulls were also feeding.

More typical grounded migrants included a Woodcock, 35 Robins, seven Black Redstarts, two Ring Ouzels, 60 Blackbirds, 25 Song Thrushes, 86 Redwings, three Mistle Thrushes, 15 Chiffchaffs, 40 Goldcrests and four Firecrests. Of note among the other birds passing overhead were 28 Skylarks, a Rock Pipit, a Coal Tit, ten Bramblings, 300 Goldfinches, 65 Siskins and 90 Redpolls.
3rd Highlights of the day were a Grey Phalarope (see below) which spent the afternoon along the tideline in front of the power station, a Woodlark over the Observatory,  three Ring Ouzels, nine Bramblings, a large movement of Goldfinches with at least 2300 flying north-east and a single Twite. 

Grey Phalarope
Click for larger image

Grounded migrants also included a Woodcock, 20 Redwings and three Firecrests and a large movement of Wood Pigeons also occurred with at least 6000 flying north along with 37 Siskins and 34 Redpolls.

Seawatching produced a few duck moving around in the first hour of daylight but very little else after that and there were eight Little Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull at the Patch.
2nd  A good scattering of commoner migrants, both on the land and overhead, but little in the way of rarer birds.

Grounded migrants included 51 Robins, nine Black Redstarts, a late Wheatear, three Ring Ouzels, 70 Blackbirds, 45 Song Thrushes, six Mistle Thrushes, three Blackcaps, 25 Chiffchaffs, 36 Goldcrests, 13 Firecrests and three Coal Tits,       whilst those passing overhead included four Wood Larks, 35 Skylarks, two Rock Pipits, two Grey Wagtails, 35 Chaffinches, eight Bramblings, 600 Goldfinch, 150 Siskins and 150 Redpolls. A Dartford Warbler and at least six Long-tailed Tits were also seen.

At sea, a Goldeneye, a Purple Sandpiper and 48 Little Gulls flying west were noteworthy. 
1st The month began with a day of appalling weather with strong north to north-east winds and driving heavy rain from early morning making observations extremely difficult.

The only birds of note were a Little Auk which flew north close inshore at 0800hrs, a Sooty Shearwater east and two Great Skuas and 24 Little Gulls west and two Firecrests in the moat.