After the Lord Mayor's Show

Even though it was still good ringing conditions with a lightish easterly wind and overcast, it was definitely back to usual numbers after the bonanza of the last couple of days; a total of 34 new birds were caught with single Black Redstart, Fieldfare, Reed Bunting and Siskin in amongst mopping up yesterday's leftover Robins (16 new ones caught).

Reed Bunting, Black Redstart and Siskin - today's highlights

 

With fewer birds in the hand this morning we could spend a bit of time looking out to sea which proved to be very successful as there was a good variety of species moving east; the highlight however was the first Osprey of the year which came in low across the sea early morning along with two Merlins which also came in although these may have just been hunting the trickle of Linnets etc. heading south!

   The numbers were made up of 80 White-fronted Geese, 55 Pintail, c480 Wigeon, c270 Teal, c100 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Ducks, 9 Gadwall, 10 Curlew and a Sandwich Tern along with flocks of Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Scoter, Goldeneye etc. (this is just what we saw between net rounds - the real totals would have been much higher!)   In local terms though, another Gannet drifting around offshore was much more noteworthy.

 

There were 63 Golden Plover on the tip in the afternoon many of which were looking very spangly in their summer gold and black while a White-tailed Eagle caused havoc by drifting over the sandbanks out beyond the ferry port.

 

Dawn breaks over the station!