14th and 15th November
A decent day on the 14th with lightish winds and
only a few showers; an hour’s seawatch first thing comprised 2 Sooty
Shearwaters, 252 Kittiwakes and a Little Auk with 7 Great-northern Divers on
the sea. Limited coverage then produced
the Black Redstart still by the pier, a Merlin, 13 Meadow Pipits, 2
Robins, single Chaffinch and Brambling, 19 Twite and 7 Snow Buntings on the
land with 3 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Pintail and 491 Golden Plover also present.
After
early morning rain had moved through it was great day in the field with very
light winds and periods of bright sunshine; a range of lingering landbirds
appeared out of the woodwork in the calm conditions including 26 Meadow Pipits,
8 Robins, a Song Thrush, 52 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Chaffinch and 61 Snow
Buntings (including a flock of 24 which came in off the sea at the north end).
Perhaps
the day’s highlight was an excellent count of 76 Moorhens including a big flock of
38 near Hooking, we tried our hardest to beat the island record of 79 but it
was not to be! Other birds included 6
Herons, 2 Whooper Swans, 116 Teal, the Green-winged Teal relocated to Brides, 12
Pintail, 18 Gadwall, single Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Peregrine, 122 Sanderling,
170 Snipe and an increase to 98 Dunlin on The Links.
An extra Raven wasn't appreciated by the Beacon pair, Simon Davies
Snow Bunting, Simon Davies
Black Redstart, Simon Davies
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