As the wind swung round to the north it brought with it a cool and occasionally cloudy day. The mornings ringing started with a nice surprise as one of the many flocks of Long-tailed Tits graced us with their presence, other ringing highlights were limited to singles of Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest. Fly-overs dominated the days highlights and what was presumably yesterday's Richard's Pipit made another appearance in similar circumstances to yesterday; a Serin put in a very brief appearance calling over the garden and three Bramblings were in amongst the diminutive Chaffinch flocks. Another short-lived sighting of the first winter Caspian Gull in the Culverwell flock was enough to keep the larophiles engrossed for the fourth morning in a week and the Bill was smattered with a flock of six Purple Sandpipers and eight Black Redstarts. As the winter approaches the local birders are turning their attention back towards the harbour and efforts today revealed singles of Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver as well as two Common Scoters.
The highest day count of Purple Sandpipers so far this autumn with a flock of six accompanied by five Turnstones ©Pete Saunders:
