Black Red

 This Black Redstart popped up on a roof (as they tend to do) along Halsdon Avenue, as Lu and I walked the dog this afternoon. My first of the autumn.

Orcombe Point early on - was hoping for a clear start but it rained for the first hour of daylight - scuppering any early overhead movement whilst simultaneously failing to drop anything! Noteworthy sightings included yesterday's Whitethroat again, 1 Blackcap, 1 Ring Ouzel, 5 Stonechats, c10 Chiffchaffs, 9+ Goldcrests, 17+ Chaffinches, 6+ Song Thrushes, 12+ Blackbirds, 1200+ Woodpigeons, 9+ Stock Doves, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Siskins, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Redpoll and at least 24 Skylarks. Two Peregrines were showing considerable interest in the Woodpigeons.

Mudbank on the incoming tide - 1 juvenile Spoonbill, 7 Greenshank, 15+ Redshank, 22 Black-tailed Godwits and 12+ Teal. I didn't count the numerous Wigeon and Dark-bellied Brent Geese but there were a few Pintail present, and still good numbers of Pale-bellied Brent Geese, way out on Cockle Sands. Nearby, on Halsdon Avenue - a Black Redstart.

One of this morning's Woodpigeon flocks heading out over the bay above Orcombe Point.

The Whitethroat was again at the top end of the weedy field - feeding amongst the weeds and flushed up into the hedge.

So difficult to photograph today's Ring Ouzel. This was the best I could do. I'm sure it's lovely joining the crowds, chasing flocks of these around Dartmoor, but to hear that 'tack' from a hedgerow, on your local patch, on a grey autumnal day, takes some beating.

The juvenile Spoonbill was off Mudbank again today.