October 6th

We had a fantastic morning's ringing session at Shuart with the undoubted highlight being superb views of a juvenile PALLID HARRIER (191st) that moved south and west through the area over a period of ten minutes and as close as thirty metres from us. This is the second record for the area following a male seen on 08/04/2021.

Juvenile Pallid Harrier - Matt Hindle

 

Other birds we saw included 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Greylag Geese, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Firecrests, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Redpolls, 30 Chiffchaffs, 45 Goldcrests, 14 Blackcaps, 10 Robins, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Peregrine, 15 Siskins W, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 20 Skylarks W, 9 Crossbills W, 3 Kestrels, 1 Woodlark calling and flying W (192nd), 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 Meadow Pipits, 2 Jays, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Merlin.

Birds ringed 78: Goldcrest 29, Wren 4, Chiffchaff 18, Firecrest 2, Blackcaps 13, Robin 2, Great Tit 2, Chaffinch 1, Blue Tit 3, Blackbird 1, Dunnock 2, Kingfisher 1. 

Kingfisher

 Dave Smith was out early at Shuart and walked to Plumpudding and the embankment. He counted 108 Greylag Geese, 2 Barnacle Geese, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Coot, 1 Curlew, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 20 Skylarks, 15 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 5 Goldcrests, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Stonechats, 120 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, 1 Crossbill flying S, 5 Siskins and the Snow Bunting at Plumpudding. He also saw the juvenile Pallid Harrier this evening.

Brendan Ryan walked from Shuart out on the eastern Marsh and counted 51 Greylag Geese, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 4 Mallard, 2 Teal, 18 Red-legged Partridges, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Kestrels, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 1 Jay, 41 Carrion Crows, 21 Chiffchaffs, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 22 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Goldcrests, 5 Firecrests, 2 Song Thrushes, 11 Robins, 3 Stonechats, 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Rock Pipits, 7 Chaffinches, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Redpoll, 5 Goldfinches and 7 Reed Buntings.