November 2016

A total of 158 species for the year
159 species by the same time last year 

The total of 90 species for the month was predictably low given that Andy and Geoff were out of the country for much of the time (the average over the last ten years was 102.1 species). However, thanks go to Ted Lee whose regular visits when we were both away prevented a worse outcome. In fact, there were five additions to the year list – the predictable Velvet Scoter and Snow Bunting, the less than annual Pochard and Waxwing and the first for ten years Puffin.

30th – sunny and calm with a hard frost (-3 C on arrival). Both ponds were frozen and the brook also, where not sheltered by trees along the upper brook. A Sparrowhawk flew west over Lang Court early morning, there were 50 Oystercatchers at high tide and two Snipe were seen in flight over the area. The Shore Lark was seen again by the mouth of the “old” brook and on the shingle ridge. Two Grey Wagtails were present again, there were five Long-tailed Tits in the churchyard, one Greenfinch (scarce lately) flew by the Obs and 22 Linnets were on the shingle ridge.

29th – Sunny, calm and cold (-1.5 C on arrival). A flock of nine Great Crested Grebes flew east, another was on the sea, 14 Common Scoters flew west during the course of the morning and two Velvet Scoters flew west at 10.40 am. A Kingfisher flying west low over the sea about 400m offshore, was unusual. There were two Grey Wagtails and the pair of Stonechats remain.

28th – sunny with a light easterly wind. Three Mute Swans, a Shelduck and eight Wigeon flew west, a duck Pintail flew east and c30 Common Scoters were offshore. Waders included five Lapwings and 23 Sanderlings at the eastern end of the beach. A Shore Lark, our second of the autumn and year, was seen briefly on the shingle ridge late morning. There were two Grey Wagtails, a Chiffchaff was calling near the skate park, a Jay was in the sewage works and the flock of Linnets numbered 20.  

26th – cloudy with a light NE wind. A Great Northern Diver flew east, a single Gannet flew east and an adult Shag close inshore by the Obs was seen again further east. One Wigeon flew west, a flock of 15 Eider (females and/or immatures) flew east and c40 Common Scoters were offshore. Waders included two Grey Plovers, a Lapwing and three Sanderlings on the beach. Away from the sea, there was a single Grey Wagtail, the pair of Stonechats, a Long-tailed Tit and 15 Linnets.

A Brown Rat was in the middle brook.  

24th – sunny periods but with a strong NE wind. A steady stream of Gannets , flew weast, a flock of 38 Common Scoters were moving ofshore, five Great Skuas flew west, another headed east, and two Kittiwakes flew west. However, the highlight of the morning, if not the month, was a Puffin which flew east close inshore at 9.20 am. (our first here for ten years).

22nd – rain. The two Snow Buntings were still present on the beach. Four Mallards flew east and there was a count of 30+ Great Black-backed Gulls. The pair of Stonechats remain and the Linnet flock numbered 20.

21st – drizzle. A Great Northern Diver flew east close inshore, four Mallards flew west and there were 16 Sanderlings on the beach. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the churchyard whilst two Snow Buntings, at the eastern end of the beach were new for the year.

 

19th – light winds. Ted Lee noted Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe, five Little Egrets, three Grey Herons and there were seven Mallard in the brook. On the beach, there were 100+ Golden Plovers, three Lapwings and five Sanderlings. The female Stonechat was present and there were Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits in the churchyard. The Linnet flock numbered 30 birds.

17th – a SW wind. Ted Lee was joined again by Arnie Van Orsouw. A Red-throated Diver flew west, there were two Great Crested Grebes and a juvenile Velvet Scoter was offshore. Five Little Egrets and two Grey Herons were present, 120+ Golden Plovers and three Lapwings were on the beach and another 11 Lapwings flew west.  In addition, three Skylarks flew west, a Green Woodpecker was in the churchyard, there was a pair of Stonechats  and 20+ Linnets.

15th – SW winds. Ted Lee noted three Great Crested Grebes, three Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. A Little Grebe was still present

in the brook, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the sewage works and the pair of Stonechats remain.  

10th – light winds. Ted Lee noted two Great Crested Grebes, three Shelduck flying east and Common Scoter. Waders included three Lapwings and 16 Sanderlings on the beach and a Snipe in the Marsh Pool and there were 16 Great Black-backed Gulls. A Little Grebe was in the brook, three Skylarks flew west and the pair of Stonechats were present.

7th – with Andy in Brazil and Geoff in Australia, it was down to Ted Lee and Arnie van Orsouw to take advantage of the seawatch conditions provided by the strong northerly winds gusting to 45 mph. They were not disappointed! The highlights were two Sooty Shearwaters and all four skuas: 35+ Great Skuas, nine Arctic Skuas and single Pomarine and a close-in Long-tailed Skua. In addition, there were two Red-throated Divers, 100s of Gannets, 100s of Brent Geese, 25 Wigeon, ten Teal, two Tufted Ducks, 50+ Common Scoters, two Red-breasted Mergansers, ten Little Gulls, 100s of Kittiwakes and two auk sp (in a five-hour seawatch from 7.45 am).

3rd – sunny and mild. Ten Gannets and two Common Scoters flew west. There was less evidence of vis mig this morning but flocks of Starlings were moving west, a few Fieldfares and Redwings were around, and a Brambling was in the sycamores in the churchyard. One flock of Starlings, over the Obs at 11.10 am included two Waxwings – another addition to the year list. A Common Buzzard circled over the estate.

A late Red Admiral flutterd around the Obs.

2nd  – sunny with a westerly wind. The main event of the day was the passage of 200+ Fieldfares heading west over  a wide front during the morning. There was also a steady trickle of Skylarks heading west. Three drake Velvet Scoters flew west at 10.30 am, three Great Skuas flew west five minutes later and, during the morning, 46 Gannets and 18 Kittiwakes also flew west.

1st –  mild, misty and calm. Six ducks that appeared out of the murk proved to be five Tufted Ducks and a drake Pochard. Seven Redwings and ten Fieldfares flew over and Skylark, Brambling, Siskin and Reed Bunting were also on the move. A male Peregrine flew inland over the caravan park.
Geoff Burton