09/11/2020

Shelduck with Brent Geese this morning

A very nice mixture of species today made for entertaining sea watching.

Todays sea watch totals for 07.15-09.00 & 13.45-16.00 with AJG who kindly kept the log, CT, SP et al.

Brent Goose: 374W   4E

Shelduck: 8W

Shoveler: 28W

Gadwall: 3W

Wigeon: 71W

Pintail: 46W

Teal: 47W

Scaup: 3W

Velvet Scoter: 1W

Common Scoter: 158W   86E

Red-breasted Merganser: 3W

Red-throated Diver: 9W

Great-crested Grebe: 4W   3 o/s

Gannet: 813W   9E

Cormorant: present: n/c

Oystercatcher: 4E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 1E

Knot: 1W

Dunlin: 13W

Turnstone: 3 on beach

Kittiwake: 204W         246 o/s

Little Gull: 9W

Black-headed Gull: present: n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 4W     25o/s

Common Gull: present: n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present: n/c

Herring Gull: present: n/c

Sandwich Tern: 8W

Great Skua: 9W         2 o/s

Guillemot: 1W      1o/s

Razorbill: 47W    2o/s

Auk sp: 21W      2E

Meadow Pipit: 14S

Goldfinch: 240S

Siskin: 3S

A Woodcock that flushed from under my feet in The Desert

A first of the year for me was a Woodcock I flushed during my wander around The Point and Desert, a Black redstart was showing well around the lighthouse, while overhead a few Goldfinches, Siskins, Redpolls and a Brambling were heading south. A handful of Redwing were seen with a couple of Song Thrushes, the bushes were fairly quiet with just a few Crests being seen.

Scotney was almost birdless, probably due to the army practicing for the next world war, the noise was deafening and non stop, I would imagine many £1,000s of pounds went up in smoke there today.

Black Redstart at the old Lighthouse

Polish ringed Black-headed Gull TJVV still frequenting the fishing boats this afternoon

Newly arrived migrants making their way to the police to give themselves up, at least boatloads this morning. They must be very cold after spending the night at sea on rubber dingy in such flimsy clothing.