November 5th

On a superb early winter morning we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and recorded a good range of species including an overnight arrival of thrushes and Chaffinches. At Chamber's Wall we counted 40 Chaffinches, 10 Robins, 52 Redwings, 32 Blackbirds, 12 Song Thrushes and 3 Fieldfares. Other birds we saw included 3 Goldcrests, 16 Lapwings, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Goldfinches, 3 Stonechats, 2 Curlew, 20 Skylarks, 109 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Snipe and 96 Mallard. We also recorded 3 Redpoll flying W, 57 Golden Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 immature Peregrine with prey, 2 Grey Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Kestrels, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 60 Corn Buntings, 55 Ringed Plovers, 400 Starlings flying W, 5 Tree Sparrows and 1 Jay.

Corn Bunting

As a change from Bockhill, Brendan Ryan walked the circuit from Shuart to Plumpudding and Brooksend this morning. His highlights included 4 Sandwich Terns initially resting on the beach at Plumpudding, then flew E and presumably the same 4 that were seen at Swalecliffe yesterday. These are the latest Sandwich Terns ever reported in the recording area. Other highlights were loads of grounded thrushes around Shuart, including 95 Blackbirds, 120 Redwings, 55 Fieldfares, 15 Song Thrushes, 3 Stonechats, 3 Bramblings, 15 Corn Buntings and 68 Pied Wagtails around Upper Hale. There was also a westerly movement of Stock Doves with at least 69 counted.

Sandwich Terns - Brendan Ryan

Grounded thrushes at Shuart drove - Brendan Ryan