SEOs, Goldeneye

Short-eared Owl - the first one found this morning, before it moved to a post at the edge of the field. See below.

Much calmer today, and quite clear, so a much-appreciated resumption in overhead movement. The following totals recorded between 0710 and 1005 - 2 Short-eared Owls, 1 Ring Ouzel (probably the long-stayer), 1 Brambling, 120+ Chaffinches, 5000+ Woodpigeons, 1 Cirl Bunting, 3 Redwings, 7+ Song Thrushes, 6 Blackbirds, 3+ Bullfinches, 7+ Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, c10 Pied Wagtails, c40 Goldfinches, 4+ Stock Doves, c20+ Meadow Pipits, 1 Reed Bunting, 10+ Siskins, 1 Curlew, c20+ Linnets, c20/30 Starlings, c30+ Skylarks, 4 Stonechats, 1 Sparrowhawk (high west), 1 Kestrel and 5 Buzzards.

Mudbank - 8 Greenshank, c100 Turnstones, 20 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 female Common Scoter and the first returning Goldeneye.

A male Black Redstart was on apartment rooves in the Shelly Beach area.

The second of this morning's Short-eared Owls - flushed from the same field as the first but from the opposite side. It ended up in the same hedge as the first one though. 

Goldeneye - Mudbank

Black Redstart - Shelly beach. Presumably the returning male.