October 2nd

Our ringing session this morning at Reculver was curtailed when heavy showers arrived from the north-east. Birds we saw during the morning included 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Water Rails, 1 Redwing, 1 Tree Pipit W, 4 Song Thrushes, 8 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 46 Coot, 46 Gadwall, 30 Mallard, 21 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 6 Siskins, 50 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest, 3 Grey Wagtails, 12 Blackcaps, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Jay, 1 Peregrine, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Skylarks, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Lapwing.

Birds ringed 49: Chiffchaff 38, Blackcap 8, Great Tit 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk 1.

Interestingly coloured first year male Great Spotted Woodpecker

 After we had finished ringing, Matt went to the Towers for a seawatch with Dave Smith. Between 1105 and 1505 they counted 1,968 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying W, 179 Common Scoter flying E, 19 Sandwich Terns E, 39 Wigeon W, 6 Kittiwakes E, 22 Gannets E, 27 Little Gulls E, 2 Rock Pipits, 9 Arctic Skuas W, 9 Teal W, 6 Skylarks in off the sea, 2 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas E at 1205, 1 Razorbill E, 1 Little Egret, 1 Redwing in off, 3 Common Terns E, 3 Pintail W, 1 Arctic Tern W, 1 Goldcrest landing on the Towers, 3 Shelduck W and 1 Wheatear.