20th October


Still a tad breezy but a decent day to be out and about although a long night at the Harvest Home last night reduced efforts in the field somewhat!   The day’s highlights comprised a very late Yellow Wagtail over the Obs (it’ll go down as a flava ssp. but it just sounded like a ‘normal’ Yellow Wagtail with no eastern hints in the call) and the returning drake Green-winged Teal of Gretchen – its probably been present for the last few weeks but is now well on its moulting way, revealing its main features allowing us to confirm its presence for yet another winter.

                Migrants across the land included 2 Hen Harriers, single Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Kestrel, 3 Wheatears, a further reduced 132 Redwing, single Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers, 23 Chaffinches, 44 Brambling and the 4 Yellowhammers still at Kirbest.

                Other bits of note were 4 Herons, 234 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 602 Golden Plover and a Grey Plover with 9 Puffins and a Bonxie offshore during an hour’s seawatch.



Green-winged Teal                              Simon Davies

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