18th November

As the wind swung round into the North-east we started to feel a chill reminiscent of the early spring. Yet again the majority of the sightings were sea-based but a couple of highlights in the form of five fly-over Great Bustards at Ferrybridge (presumably from the Salisbury programme), and a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier in off the sea added some excitement on the land. On the sea it was the first day for double figures of Red-breasted Mergansers, three Shelducks, a Great Northern Diver, three Red-throated Divers, five Brent Geese, a pair of Wigeon and four Pintail.

Elsewhere, a Black Redstart was at Fancy's Close, Ferrybridge came up with 94 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plovers, 18 Turnstone and 4 Shelducks, and 12 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver were in Portland Harbour. 

The drove of Great Bustards over Ferrybridge are presumed to be of slightly less than wild origins but what a sight to behold anyway © Joe Stockwell:

After a pretty dreadful showing in what would be their customary autumn passage period back in October, November has come up with several decent little flurries of new Goldcrests - many have been frequenting Tree Mallows now that most of the Sycamore leaves have dropped © Debby Saunders: