With a cool northerly blowing, the soundscape was more convincingly autumnal, as contact calls came from flocks of hirundines, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Goldfinches and Siskins bowling along into the headwind. For the latter, it was the first time this autumn I’d seen them passing in numbers, with flocks of up to 30.
Though many followed the seawall, they were easier to hear and see along the RM Canal, out of the wind and away from traffic. A few Grey Wagtails were also moving along the canal and between Toot Rock and the Pannel Valley I counted 18 Stonechats, 14 of which were hopping about on a strip of recently spread ditch-spoil. 2 Skylarks flew up from one of the rough meadows where they always lurk in winter.
Many of the Meadow Pipits had alighted on the shingle, where they scurried about in the company of Pied Wagtails, the odd Wheatear and a few Rock Pipits - darker, greyer and squeakier.
A surprise at the Wader Pool was a pallid winter-plumage Sanderling alongside a summer-plumage Dunlin. Otherwise, there was the usual bunch of Black-tailed Godwits and at least one each of Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. Small flocks of Wigeon were in circulation out at sea and over the marsh, where a Marsh Harrier was seen off by Rooks.
