October 4th
On a wonderful autumn morning we walked from Chamber's Wall and around Coldharbour and then along the seawall and railway embankment. Birds we saw included 2 Mute Swans, 7 Chiffchaffs, 10 Goldcrests, 46 Chaffinches, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Long-eared Owl disturbed from bushes at Chamber's Wall, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrushes, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 21 Mallard, 17 Skylarks, 6 Redshank, 28 Linnets, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Cormorants, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Reed Buntings, 1 juvenile Gannet flying E close inshore, 1 Wheatear, 2 Teal, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Swallows, 10 Magpies, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Kestrels and 2 Siskins.

Long-eared Owl being chased by local Carrion Crow

Derek Smith, Tim Hodge and Kerry McDonnell were also out between 0700 and 1100 at Shuart and the railway embankment and counted 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 46 Lapwings W, 2 Jays W, 23 Swallows W, 14 Skylarks W, 3 Grey Wagtails W, 28 Pied Wagtails W, 36 Meadow Pipits W, 25 Song Thrushes, 1 Reed Warbler, 16 Blackcaps, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 55 Goldcrests, 1 Coal Tit (186th), 43 Lesser Redpoll W and 73 Siskins W.