Kestrel

An early morning sea watch in relatively calm conditions proved tricky as the light conditions were bad resulting in mostly silhouetted birds against an orange sky as the sun rose. A light fog and haze also added to the difficulty. However after an hour or so the usual morning westerly movement of auks had occurred along with a few more Kittiwakes and Gannets than usual but to be honest it was not all that inspiring. Walking back to my car I noticed a small raptor flying low and going past my car out of view and I thought it had landed. Peering carefully and slowly around my car a Kestrel had landed next to a large puddle in the shingle and proceeded to wander in to the puddle to drink and bathe. Given the still conditions and the fact that I was now looking north with the sun behind me the opportunities for photography were superb and I couldn't believe my luck in getting almost perfect reflections of this lovely falcon.

Pallas's Warbler

There have been four Pallas's Warblers so far this autumn and probably five. However, for various reasons I have only managed to catch-up with the first one which was in Dengemarsh Gulley. Over the weekend I missed the chance of seeing two of these Asian gems in the hand. Today though I was in luck as Dave Walker the Observatory warden messaged that he'd found a ringed Pallas's Warbler in the Moat which was likely the bird ringed on Sunday (at least that is what he thought before checking the ring number) and managed to re-trap it. Back at the ringing hut it was confirmed as the same bird previously ringed and it had managed to add 0.1 grams of fat since then which given it only weighed 5 grams on Saturday is good going, especially given the awful weather conditions on Monday. Such an incredibly beautiful warbler with just about all the feather tract features you could wish for.

Many thanks to Dave for messaging and showing the bird.

Little Gulls were passing in low numbers during the morning seawatch, the early morning light was very gloomy.

Crossbills

Tuesday 4th November

Despite visiting the pines earlier in the day and not seeing that much a visitor located a flock of 28 Crossbills there later that day at the pines. The birds were feeding in the pines and occasionally coming down to the puddles along the track to drink.

I received a call from Martin whilst I was at home to inform me that a flock of 17 were still at the pines and showing very well. Leaving the decorating I was doing for another time I soon arrived at the pines and was watching these lovely and charismatic finches as they demolished various pine cones. The last time I had seen perched Crossbills in the area was at the pines back in 2020.

Many thanks to Martin for the call.

Friday 7th November

On Friday 7th a few Black Redstarts were recorded across the peninsula with at least 10 noted. Four of them graced the RSPB Visitor Centre car park area and buildings. 

After hearing on the radio that Martin had to leave the Fishing Boats and noting the numbers and variety of species that he had recorded I decided to continue the watch to provide some continuity. However, my watch only lasted 40 minutes as it turned out to be very poor. At least a close Red-throated Diver just off-shore performed for the camera.

Gulls in the Gloom

I stayed on the RSPB reserve in Makepeace hide (now called Shirley Coward) until dark watching the large gulls coming on to Burrowes pit to roost. I was hoping to see some gulls with rings but despite over  c.1,300 large gulls roosting on the islands in front of Makepeace hide and Firth viewpoint I didn't pick up any rings. To see so many gulls flying in and settling was great and I was just about to get a phone photo of the spectacle when a juv Grey Heron decide to land amongst them causing many to fly off!

It was nearly too dark to get this photo and many of the gulls had been spooked by a Grey Heron.

I did manage to find an adult Yellow-legged Gull and two first winter Caspian Gulls amongst them.

First winter Caspian Gull 

First winter Caspian Gull 

Earlier in the late afternoon the Slavonian Grebe was in front of Firth lookout and in sunlight.

Despite the Starling murmuration that has been occurring at ARC for the past couple of weeks, I wasn't expecting to see this large flock of Starlings over Burrowes as it was getting dark. I think they went to roost behind Burrowes pit as they suddenly disappeared.
 

Little Auk

A good sea watch this morning with impressive flocks of Razorbills heading down channel and plenty of Gannets and Kittiwakes on the move along with a Great Northern Diver, a couple of Sooty Shearwaters, two Bonxies an Arctic Tern, several Swallows and two Storm Petrel sp. Occasional flocks of Starlings coming in-off and one Little Auk went down channel, close enough for a distant photo attempt.

Little Auk, just close enough for a photo!

Bittern

Whilst sea watching was providing some great late autumn excitement with sightings of Leach's Petrel, Little Auk and Grey Phalarope I was at ARC on the RSPB reserve. As usual this side of the reserve was devoid of other visitors and after a wander to the pines I ended up in Hanson hide and suddenly out popped or rather jumped a Bittern in to one of the recently cleared channels cut in to the reed bed.

Yesterday, Martin found a Slavonian Grebe on Burrowes Pit. It was still present today and showing well from Makepeace or now re-named Shirley Coward hide. The grebe did become a little agitated along with all the nearby gulls and duck when two Peregrines landed on nearby islands.

 

Jack Snipe

I don't think there has been a Jack Snipe viewable that's in front of a hide at the RSPB reserve since I moved to the peninsula in 2019. So when Martin messaged that one was showing from Hanson hide along with a rather good photo I decided to head there. On arrival the Jack Snipe was still showing but had moved further away from the hide and was resting amongst some cut reed stems.

In the early evening I returned to Hanson hide to await the Starling murmuration that has been occurring at ARC for the past week or so. On checking the areas in front of the hide there was no sign of the Jack Snipe but after about 30 minutes and as the light was starting to fade it appeared feeding close to the hide.

The Starling murmuration of c.4,000 birds was impressive but they were being harassed by a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk which made them very reluctant to roost until it was almost dark.

Yellow-browed warbler

There have been a handful of Yellow-browed Warblers across the area so far this autumn, with a couple calling from the sallows at the Willow Trail and Hanson Track at ARC and a minimum of three in the trapping area. Never easy to actually see however, one of these lovely warblers gave itself up this morning and showed well for a couple of minutes in the trapping area.