16th September
Today got off to a productive start with migration firing on all fronts including the first big push of visible migration of the autumn along with a nice selection of oddities/less frequents to keep interest high. Meadow Pipits were the most conspicuous mover overhead with 1,500 passing through, as well as 500 Swallows, 150 House Martins, 26 Chaffinches, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Grey Wagtails, 3 Tree Pipits and the first 2 Spoonbills of the year also logged. Grounded migrants were less of a feature especially as the afternoon sunshine wore on but did include another 50 Wheatears and 3 Whinchats plus singles of Spotted Flycatcher, Greenfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. At sea another pulse of Kittiwakes saw 450 heading down channel, along with 245 Auks, 10 Common Scoters, 4 Balearic Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua and the highlight in the form of a flock of 5 Avocets arriving from the south; 2 each of Knot and Turnstone were also along the shoreline.
