Wow, what a top drawer day with so much movement going on everywhere you looked. Heavy cloud and a brisk easterly was yet again the order of the day, with accompanying mizzle setting in as the afternoon went on; this not only grounded a succession of migrants but also saw a lot of overflyers descend to tree-top height as they kept on going. At the Bill, 3
Siberian/'something similar from a long way away' Chiffchaffs, 12
Black Redstarts, 2
Woodcocks, 2
Hawfinches and singles of
Jack Snipe,
Woodlark and
Bullfinch were the best of the migrants making the tally, but it was really the day's numbers that impressed this late in the season, including 1500
Starlings, 800
Goldfinches, 650
Linnets, 570
Chaffinches, 80
Redwings, 60
Meadow Pipits, 50
Blackbirds, 35
Skylarks, 30
Goldcrests, 25
Song Thrushes, 25
Bramblings, 12
Siskins, 10
Blackcaps, 10
Chiffchaffs, 4
Reed Buntings, 3
Fieldfares, 2
Lapwings and singles of
Merlin,
Ringed Plover,
Snipe,
Swallow and
Wheatear either grounded or over
at the Bill and at least a few more of the same elsewhere including a single
Woodcock at Avalanche Road and at least 5 more
Black Redstarts. The sea was always worth attention, with 2500
auks, 86
Black-headed Gulls, 80
Mediterranean Gulls, 12
Brent Geese, 6
Wigeon, 4
Velvet Scoter, 3
Red-breasted Mergansers and a
Great Northern Diver amongst those logged at the Bill from far less than constant coverage.
When they include things like Novichok-laced perfume bottles you have to be a little careful about what Mr Putin sends your way; however, today we were quite happy to receive the stream of flocks of quite likely mostly Russian Starlings that were headed our way...
...also gratefully - if a little more confusingly - received were three more Chiffchaffs of distant and just as likely Russian origin; the first two were relatively straightforward Siberian or close to Siberian Chiffchaffs...
...but the third one was an exceptionally dark, swarthy-looking bird, right at the far end of Chiffchaff wackiness © Martin Cade:
