R-b Merg

The majority of this morning's Woodpigeons headed south out to sea. Not sure if the north-easterly breeze had anything to do with it but I'm used to seeing them migrate west.

Orcombe from 0650 'til 0900 this morning - c3500 Woodpigeons, 18+ Blackbirds, 6 Redwings, 3+ Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat, 10+ Pied Wagtails, 35+ Goldfinches, 11+ Song Thrushes, 14 Stock Doves, 7+ Meadow Pipits, 1 Cirl Bunting, 1+ Firecrest, 5+ Chaffinches, 6 Starlings, 1 Grey Wagtail, c30 Jackdaws, 3 Siskins, 1 Coal Tit and a flock of at least 18 Long-tailed Tits.

The first returning Red-breasted Merganser was off Mudbank this morning along with 11+ Greenshank, 34+ Teal, 24 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Shoveler (3 drakes, 2 females), a male Gadwall and 1 Grey Plover. A Peregrine made multiple attempts to kill an Oystercatcher but was ultimately unsuccessful, thanks to the Oystercatcher's low, evasive flight and repeated plunges into the river.

Two lovely Meadow Pipits posed on a fence at West Lodge. Two Stonechats were in the adjacent reedbed.

Blackbirds

Blackbirds on a foggy Orcombe Point.

A nice little fall of thrushes in cliff-top scrub on Orcombe this morning. Totals included c30 Blackbirds, c20 Redwings, 10+ Song Thrushes, 1 Fieldfare and at least 1 Mistle Thrush. Also this morning - 6 Chiffchaffs, 4+ Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 1 Brambling, 1+ Reed Bunting, 2 Cirl Buntings, 3 Stonechats, 24+ Stock Doves, 1 Jay, c60+ Skylarks, 13+ Starlings, 1 Curlew, 2 Grey Wagtails, c10+ Meadow Pipits, 8+ Chaffinches, 6+ Pied Wagtails and c20+ Goldfinches.

Mudbank - 1 Spotted Redshank, 175+ Redshank and 9 Grey Plovers the only species counted.

Meadow Pipit.

Sunrise 30/10.

Yesterday - Orcombe - up to 6 Redwings, 6+ Chiffchaffs, 15+ Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare, 9+ Song Thrushes, 7 Goldcrests, 5 Stonechats, c300+ Woodpigeons, 78+ Stock Doves, up to 23 Pied wagtails (including a flock of 14 by the sewage works), c15+ Meadow Pipits, 50+ Goldfinches, 4 Cirl Buntings, 2 Firecrests, 45+ Starlings, 1 Grey Wagtail, 28 Black-headed Gulls, 90+ Jackdaws, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Coal Tit.

Mudbank wildfowl included a drake Tufted Duck, c255 Pintail, 1 Teal and 1 Shoveler. Also 8 Greenshank present.

 

Orcombe from 0645 on 30/10 - 11000+ Woodpigeons, c150 Starlings, c170+ Stock Doves, c130 Jackdaws, 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Snipe, 3 Reed Buntings and 6+ Goldcrests amongst the morning totals.

Very little time spent at Mudbank but c190 Pintail and 1 Shoveler counted amongst the numerous Wigeon. Nearby in the Duckpond - 1 Whimbrel and 26 Common Gulls.

Cattle Egret - Orcombe 30/10.

Jackdaws.

Male Sparrowhawk moments before it flew out and plucked a Linnet from the flock.

Whimbrel - the Duckpond 30/10.