October 19th
We had another excellent morning's ringing at Shuart where the highlight was catching and ringing our first ever Great Grey Shrike - a superb if somewhat vicious bird in the hand!

First winter Great Grey Shrike

Other birds we saw during the morning included 2 Green Woodpeckers, 19 Siskins, 56 Chaffinches, 45 Goldcrests, 49 Lesser Redpoll, 350 Redwings, 19 Fieldfares, 159 Song Thrushes, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Firecrests, 2 Common Buzzards, 11 Bramblings, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Ring Ouzels, 5 Swallows, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 25 Blackbirds, 17 Skylarks and 1 Chiffchaff.

Birds ringed 58: Goldcrest 29, Firecrest 2, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 3, Robin 7, Cetti's Warbler 1, Song Thrush 6, Blackbird 7, Great Grey Shrike 1.

We continue to have one or two "Continental" Coal Tits visiting the feeders in our garden.

"Continental" Coal Tit

After Derek Smith had come to see the Great Grey Shrike he walked along the railway embankment and on to Chamber's Wall and saw 30 Swallows W, 22 Fieldfares SW, 80 Redwings SW, 60 Blackbirds, 45 Song Thrushes, 2 Grey Wagtails W, 1 Stonechat, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 42 Goldcrests, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 28 Siskins W, 19 Redpoll W, 67 Chaffinches W, 11 Greenfinches W, 3 Brambling W, 4 Tree Sparrows W and 3 Corn Buntings.
Terry Wilson found a Firecrest at Plumpudding and had 12 Common Scoter off Grenham Bay.