Myself and Richard abandoned this mornings sea watch after only half an hour, it was obvious that there absolutely no seabird or wildfowl migration, however there was many gulls feeding the huge quantities of Whitebait close inshore.
Female Blackcap feeding on Apples
Chiffchaff feeding on the fruit flies around the Apples
I came across at least 2 Dartford Warblers, a single Ring Ousel, a few Redwing and Song Thrushes, Siskins and Redpolls over, with a few Chaffinches Swallows, Starlings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits overhead, but managed to miss 2 Short-eared Owls.
One of todays Green Sandpipers at the back of Scotney
A late morning cycle ride around Scotney saw a huge increase in Golden Plover with at least 1,000 in the fields at the back, along with 20+ Curlew, 100s of Lapwings, but I couldn't find the Buff-breasted Sandpiper or the American Golden Plover, there was also a large increase in the numbers of Wigeon present. A minimum of 9 Common Buzzards, a Merlin and 3 Sparrowhawks all no doubt preying on the large number of Linnets, Goldfinches, Skylarks and Starlings present. One field held 114 Egyptian Geese, coupled with the large numbers of Greylags and Canada Geese its not surprising the local farmers aren't to happy to see them. I did find find several small flocks of Tree Sparrows and got a soaking for my efforts cycling back against a NE wind.
Some of the 100s and probably 1,000s of Linnets at the back of Scotney
On 15/10/2014 the first Merveille du jour visited my trap, 11 years to the day the second was on the wall by the trap and the third inside the trap.
A Barred Sallow
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