All Souls’ Day 08.00.
The rain has cleared, the temperature dropped and the Woodpigeons are moving out.
I’m perched on a cold memorial bench on the Firehills (my thanks to Bernard Ince 1929 - 2005) tracking flocks as they approach over the wrinkled grey sea, heading for the cliffs where most turn left, hugging the coast in the lee of the hillside.
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Sunday 1st November and Monday 2nd November 09, I braved the bad weather from 6.30am to 9.45am on Sunday ,with the best bird being a male Marsh Harrier. There was not much on the sea apart from a few Gannets, the birds were in most of the ages, from this years to adult birds. Also 20 to 30 Common Scoters flying west. Today Monday l spent a couple of hours on the sea wall, watching the sea and the pools, this afternoon, the tide was just starting to go down. On the sea the only thing of interest was about 30 G.C.Grebe and 1R.T.Diver. On the marsh and pool side it was much better with at least 1,000 to 1,200 Lapwing, 2 to 300 Curlew, 1Commom Sand. Ducks were in good numbers with 70 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 3Shoveler , 50 Mallard and 3Pochard the first diving ducks l,ve seen at the pools since the water levels went up at pools. I hope the weather hurrys up and gets colder,so we can get more winter birds in. Good bird watching Pete.
Bird atlassers have been waiting ever since the end of July to get out there with their bins and OS maps and continue the good work. With the third winter of the BTO Atlas starting yesterday (and who went out then?), today I had a wander around TQ81P, a “blank” tetrad between Broad Oak and Udimore. With no records so far, everything counts! The 30 species included great views of Coal and Marsh Tits, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, a Goldcrest and both woodpeckers, with Buzzards heard in two places, and in addition single Red Admiral, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter. November is late for the dragonflies but there are still plenty about in sheltered spots, and it will be interesting to see how long they survive in such a mild autumn.
Highlights today have included a Snow Bunting along Shore Ridges, Merlin, 15 Redshank, 300 Golden Plover, 3 Grey Plover and 60 Greenfinch on Flat Beach Level/Quarry. At Castle Water 3 Marsh Harrier (1 male and 2 female/imm type), Peregrine and 800 Lapwing, several Bearded Tit gave flight views at the viewpoint and a Clouded Yellow was again at the hide.