Woodpigeons

A good movement of Woodpigeons west this morning - c10,000+ I think but it's so difficult to be sure. The largest flock I estimated to be c1500 birds, stretched out high over the sea. At one point, following a Peregrine attack, hundreds of birds dropped from the sky and rocketed past, feet away, at head height in a bid to escape. The loud 'WHOOSH' as they did so was utterly breathtaking. Birds were still on the move when I left at 11am. The total could be significantly higher but I'm a cautious counter, preferring to count minimums rather than over-count. Also this morning, from 0740, in fine conditions - 1 Ring Ouzel (yesterday's bird, and quite likely the bird first noted on the 22nd), 2 Cirl Buntings, 4 Redwings, 260+ Jackdaws, c25 Pied Wagtails, 70+ Chaffinches, 7 Song Thrushes, c20+ Meadow Pipits, 27+ Siskins, 9+ Goldcrests, c40 Robins, 2 Grey Wagtails, 8+ Blackbirds, 18+ Stock Doves, up to 36 Starlings, 4 Reed Buntings, 3+ Redpolls, 90+ Goldfinches, 7 Stonechats, 1 Rook, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrines, 5 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets and 1 Coal Tit.

Mudbank - 1 juvenile Spoonbill, 1 Shoveler, c130 Pintail, c45 Redshank, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Greenshank, 133 Shelduck, 20 Turnstones and 5 Dunlin.

The Ring Ouzel was again present this morning - vocal and mobile, ranging from the top of the lane that leads down to the Bristol Schools camp, all the way down to the south east corner of the Bristol Schools field.

Cirl Bunting

I normally see the rear end of the 5 Red-legged Partridges as they explode from cover, so it was quite nice to get close views today. Credit to this Rabbit that unsettled them and flushed them towards me.