Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid October 2022

October 20th. Rain overnight, clearing just after dawn for an hour before light drizzle turned into storm conditions.

Limited opportunity for recording, given the weather throughout much of the day, but the theme of grounded and arriving thrushes continued, with an estimate of 2100 Redwing. 5 Ring Ouzel were new arrivals (2 in the Plantation and 3 in East Dunes). A Jack Snipe was on the Mere with another on New Saltmarsh. A Tree Pipit type called near Mill Hill. Visibility was poor offshore, but a brief watch indicated that wildfowl were still arriving. A clear spell in the evening allowed more coverage and counting of more Thrushes and Finches. A Yellow-browed Warbler was along the road edge at Aylmer and another Ring Ouzel was found at Shoveler's Pool. Single Swallow and House Martin flew south, but a Swift sp moving slowly south over East Dunes was a surprise. Going east was a Whooper Swan. Also around were 255 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Sparrowhawk. a Chiffchaff and 18 Goldcrest.

Sparrowhawk, 20th October 2022.
Photo - Nige Lound

October 19th. Moderately strong easterly wind.

A very good arrival of Thrushes was apparent from early morning, with hundreds of Redwing and Blackbird continuing to arrive during the day, with smaller numbers of Fieldfare, Song Thrush and Brambling - a flock of 17 Bramblings were seen to drop into the North Car Park area early morning. The first 3 Woodcock of the autumn were seen, a Hawfinch flew over the West Dunes, a Yellow-browed Warbler was along the Cycle Track, a Ring Ouzel was in the Plantation and a Bearded Tit was on Tennyson's Sands. Other birds around, including those trapped, were 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 550 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Snipe, 4 Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Swallow, 5 Blackcap, 15 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat and 2 Water Rail. Heading south were 62 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Grey Heron and a scattering of Rock Pipit and Skylark; and south-west 2 Short-eared Owl. Offshore a Pomarine Skua and 3 Goldeneye flew south, with flocks of Wigeon, Teal and Common Scoter.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 14 new birds: a Wren, 3 Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap, a Blue Tit, a Robin, 4 Redwing and a Blackbird; 13 retraps: 4 Goldcrest, a Dunnock, a Redwing, a Blue Tit and 6 Long-tailed Tit; and 2 control Long-tailed Tit.

October 18th. Another excellent morning for 'vis-mig' with southbound Pipits, Skylark and Finches, an arrival of over 100 Whooper Swan and a big morning for Woodpigeon immigration. Five Bearded Tit flew high south. Around, including birds trapped, were 32 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Ring Ouzel (East Dunes), a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 6 Goldcrest, 4 Redwing, a Song Thrush and 2 Yellowhammer. Off of or over the estuary were 1000+ Pink-footed Goose. 6 Bewick's Swan flew over the Wash at midday.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 34 new birds: 2 Wren, 6 Goldcrest, 8 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, 7 Reed Bunting, a Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 2 Yellowhammer, a Dunnock, 4 Redwing and a Song Thrush; and a retrap Long-tailed Tit.

October 17th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.

A good overland passage of migrants again this morning with Rock Pipit featuring prominently and an increase in Siskin along with plentiful Goldfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch and Meadow Pipit. A few Redwing, Song Thrush and Brambling were new in. Offshore, wildfowl and waders were moving south, predominantly Wigeon and Knot but with small parties of Pintail and a group of 3 Ruff along the beach. Several Red-throated Diver and 2 Black-throated Diver were on the sea and a Slavonian Grebe close in south were the highlights. Other birds around, including those trapped, were a Spotted Redshank, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and 7 Goldcrest. Off of Croftmarsh early morning came 1000+ Pink-footed Goose. Also going south were a Grey Heron, a Red Kite, a Grey Wagtail and 6 Redpoll.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 12 new birds: 3 Wren, 5 Goldcrest, a Dunnock, a Song Thrush and 2 Redwing; and 3 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit and a Robin.

Overnight, a Clifden Nonpareil was trapped.

October 16th. Fairly strong south-westerly wind.

Off of the Mere came 600 Pink-footed Goose. Around were 36 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 22 Redwing, 4 Stonechat and 3 Song Thrush. Heading south were 185 Pink-footed Goose, 118 Whooper Swan, a Goosander, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, 2 Raven (down West Dunes), 11 Swallow, 24 House Martin, 2 Brambling, 7 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting; and west 25 Pink-footed Goose.

Stonechats 16th October 2022.
Photos - Paul Johnson

Tree Sparrow, 16th October 2022.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Lesser Redpoll, 16th October 2022.
Photo - Paul Johnson

October 15th. Increasing south-westerly wind.

Off the Mere early came 600 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, a Song Thrush, 2 Fieldfare and 21 Redwing. Flying west were 85 Pink-footed Goose; and south a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 21 Swallow, 14 House Martin, 30 Rock Pipit and 17 Siskin.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 6 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, a Redwing and a Woodpigeon; and 3 retraps: a Goldcrest, a Dunnock and a Great Tit.

Young Woodpigeon (no adult neck patch yet), ringed 15 October 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

October 14th. Around, including birds trapped, were 47 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 665 Pink-footed Goose, a Long-eared Owl (over East Dunes at dawn), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Goldcrest, 66 Redwing and a Song Thrush. On Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail, 3 House Martin and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were 2 Whooper Swan, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Swallow, 12 Tree Sparrow and 5 Siskin; north a Merlin; and northwest 160 Pink-footed Goose.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Christine Flint and Carole Lunn, resulted in 18 new birds: 11 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush and a Redwing; and 3 retraps: 2 Dunnock and a Redwing.

Pink-footed Geese at roost on the Mere at dawn, 14th October 2022.
Photo - Nige Lound

Cetti's Warbler, ringed 14 October 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

Ringing Control: Starling, ringed GPBO 9 June 2022, controlled Wyberton, Lincolnshire 9 October 2022.

Ringing Control: Reed Bunting, ringed near North Somercoates, Lincolnshire 24 September 2022, controlled GPBO 8 October 2022.

October 13th. Off of Croftmarsh early morning came 3400 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were a 9 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 11 Goldcrest, 57 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Blackbird, a Lesser Redpoll and a Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were a Marsh Harrier and a Spoonbill; on Jackson's Marsh a Grey Wagtail; and on Fenland Lagoon a Peregrine. Flying south were 12 Whooper Swan, 30 Pink-footed Goose, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and 3 Redpoll.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 12 new birds: a Wren, a Goldcrest, 3 Robin, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Redwing, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Blackbird, a Great Tit and a Wren.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn provided 36 new birds: 3 Wren, 9 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tit, a Lesser Redpoll, 2 Blackcap, 7 Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, a Dunnock and 6 Redwing; and 9 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 3 Goldfinch, a Goldcrest, a Song Thrush, a Redwing and a Green Woodpecker.

Peregrine and Magpie at kill, 13 October 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

October 12th. Increasing south-westerly wind.

Off of Croftmarsh and the Mere early morning came 3800 Pink-footed Goose. Around, including birds trapped, were 21 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Little Gull, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 29 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, a Grey Wagtail and a Lesser Redpoll. On Tennyson's Sands were a Bearded Tit and a Cetti's Warbler. Going south were 4 Whooper Swan, 2 Buzzard and 2 Marsh Harrier; and north-west 700 Pink-footed Goose..

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 9 new birds: a Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock and a Redwing; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Blackbird and 2 Dunnock.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn produced 19 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, 11 Goldfinch, a Lesser Redpoll, a Great Tit, a Blackcap and 2 Redwing; and 2 retraps: a Goldcrest and a Goldfinch.

Long-tailed Tit, 12 October 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Redwing 12th October 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Wader flock on morning tide, 12th October 2022.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Sand-running Crab Spider (Philodromus fallax), 12th October 2022.
Photo - Ciara Finn

October 11th. Off of Croftmarsh early morning came 2500 Pink-footed Goose. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Sparrowhawk, 9 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, 15 Goldcrest, 12 Song Thrush, 56 Redwing, 2 Blackbird and 3 Lesser Redpoll. Heading south were good numbers of Pipits, Skylark and Finches, an Arctic Tern and several groups of Whooper Swan totaling 159; and north-west 20 Pink-footed Goose.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 23 new birds: 6 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Robin, 2 Dunnock, a Song Thrush, 6 Redwing and a Blackbird.

A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Christine Flint and Carole Lunn yielded 48 new birds: 5 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, 8 Goldfinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Linnet, a Robin, 3 Greenfinch, 10 Redwing, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 2 Goldcrest and a Goldfinch.