Ospreys!

07.30-08.15 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 14 up

Gannet: 120 around

Turnstone: 3 around

Great skua: 1 around

Arctic Skua: 6 around

Sandwich Tern: 138 down

Commic Tern; 57 down

Black Tern: 1 down

Sand Martin: 226 out

Swallow: 14 out

Harbour Porpoise: 3+ around

 Willow Warbler

A walk around The Desert produced of note 10 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 4 Stonechats, 2 Redstarts, 16+ Pied Wagtails, 10+ Meadow Pipits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Common Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Black Redstarts and steady southward passage of Swallows.

I joined LG in the last net round which produced just 1 bird a juvenile Pied Flycatcher. From the observatory we saw a very distant Osprey that was over Burrowes, also a Merlin having a tussle with a Kestrel.

 Pied Flycatcher

While having lunch in my garden I saw the Osprey again distantly, also a Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier. All the Yellow wagtails I have been enjoying in the fields in front the house appear to have left for sunnier climes.

Galloways produced 4 Whinchats but as tractors were cutting the verges I didn't venture to far down. 

Denge Marsh Gully appeared again to be an avian free zone.

Another sea watch 14.15-15.00 was more or less a re run of this mornings watch.

 2 Ospreys over the ARC

Late afternoon at the ARC from Hanson a surprise in the form of 2 Ospreys which headed towards Burrowes. A short while later one reappeared over Kerton Road Pit where it hunted for about 20 minutes making at least 6 unsuccessful plunges before finally catching a nice size fish, It then took its

prize out to the shingle ridges to consume it. Also from the hide a Garganey, a Black-necked Grebe, my first Pintail of the autumn and a Little Stint of note. No sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper this afternoon nor this morning as far as I am aware, though RBA are reporting it as still being present.  

Garganey from Hanson