Wednesday 13 October 2021

At the very fringe of huge Redwing movement

NW breeze quite fresh early on, overcast all day with the occasional light showers

Middleton Nature Reserve 
Report from Alan:

It was an unexpected, and un-forecasted start to the morning with a light drizzle for a while early on and a blustery NW breeze that persisted through the morning. The catch was predictably low with a total of only 17 birds caught with nets set on both East and West sides.


Meadow Pipit 1

Pied Wagtail 3

Wren 1

Dunnock 1 retrap

Robin 3

Song thrush 1

Redwing 2 - up to 25 were seen moving, a very low number compared to areas in the south of the country and the east coast. Hopefully more will arrive in our area in the days to come.

Goldcrest 1

Long-tailed Tit 2 retraps

Chaffinch 1 retrap

Reed Bunting 1


I had a look around mid morning (MD)

No thrushes grounded

Wildfowl pretty much unchanged except, no sign of any Little grebe.

Water Rail I calling 

Jack Snipe 1 flushed by ringers on western marsh - first record this autumn.

Cetti's warbler 4 males singing, both marshes plus "no swimming" and Tim Butler pond birds.


Red Nab to saltmarsh area early evening.

Mediterranean gulls 2 - 1 adult plus 1 x 1st winter on mud out from saltmarsh.

Rock Pipit 2 on foreshore 

Linnet 10 on foreshore 

Wigeon 47

Shelduck 64 - this clip shows some of the Shelduck bathing along with some Wigeon, Redshank and a Curlew. The two "mischievous" Shelduck, appear to get a scolding!


Waders:
There were loads of very mobile waders around plus many more towards Potts Corner.

Curlew 200+

Knot 1,000+

Part of a Knot flock

Dunlin 1,000+ - this clip shows just a few Dunlin feeding while a Mediterranean gull preens. The keen eyed should also be able to spot two Ringed Plover, although the second bird only makes a late appearance.


Grey Plover 6 near the saltmarsh - this isn't a great clip, it was getting quite dark, but does show how close the Grey Plover, with some Dunlin feed to the shore. You can see the foreshore rocks behind them and the surface water drain at the bottom of the slipway.