Goldcrest

Cool, dry and sunny, NW 4 - A breezy day with a northerly airflow making for a distinctly autumnal feel to a circuit of the peninsula this morning. Typical in such weather conditions were hundreds of hirundines swarming over the still waters at Lade, ARC and Burrowes, while a flock of c50 White Storks was tracked soaring high over the shingle and away to the south just before midday. A check of the bushes delivered plenty of Chiffchaffs, several Blackcaps, a Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler, plus 10 Stonechats, two Wheatears, a Whinchat and a Redstart at the point; whilst at the Obs the final net round of the morning produced a waif-like Goldcrest, my first of the autumn, a `common` migrant that was far from such last year. Kestrels seemed to everywhere hovering over the NNR and at least three each of Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk noted. There were few waders on offer from Hanson apart from two Wood Sandpipers.

                                  Goldcrest, DBO

                                 Stonechat, NR

The Hope Lane loop walk from home yesterday was notable for large numbers of hirundines, mostly Swallows and House Martins, feeding over the recently tilled arable lands along with grounded Meadow Pipits and corvids, plus a Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit over calling. The sewer margins and paddocks attracted quite a few Reed Buntings, Stonechats and a single Reed Warbler, with Chiffchaffs and Goldfinches along the lane.