Thursday 24th October - Birds in the working week

... well not really just that I am able at the minute to make last minute decisions about not going to the office as we're still waiting for the sale of the business to go through, affording me a little more time.

I had a morning to spare and the rather windy prospects didn't hold much for passerines so I headed for the sea and even though bright and clear was lacking in seabirds, just Common Scoter (3) and Brent Geese (2) and Med Gulls (8) and a single Wigeon was a particularly poor showing. There was a small movement of passerines with Meadow pipits (72) all heading South along with Pied Wagtails (8 ) a late Yellow Wagtail  and Linnets (15). There was then a Northerly movement of Skylark (42) and Siskin (6) and a single Sparrowhawk. I briefly called in at Church Norton where a flyover Brambling and Redpoll and Chiffchaff were the only interest, I started to head back but
at the last minute diverted to the North Wall.

A Kingfisher was by the Sluice with a nearby Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting (3),. The breach pool held squealing Water Rail, several Black-tailed Godwit and then a Glossy Ibis flew in and landed at the back of the pool. Apparently it had been there earlier and had flown off and presumed departed the area and within 5 minutes it was off again, this time fairly purposefully South. The harbour near White's creek held a good number of Wigeon and a few Pintail with a flock of Golden Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, and Grey Plover. A single Rock Pipit  was near the footpath and late Swallows (3) and House Martins (2) were hawking over the creek.

Black-tailed Godwit

Glossy Ibis in flight

Last seen heading south