Tue 27 Oct – Variety after the deluge

Following a thoroughly wet start to the day, Justin Zantboer and Rob Duncan report a good variety of migrants including: a first-winter male Merlin again, a first-winter Black-headed Gull feeding with Herring Gulls in the Landing Bay, 7 Guillemots south, 9 Razorbills north, 10 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests (one of which was trapped and ringed), 2 Coal Tits (both race britannicus), 10 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Ring Ouzel, 10 Fieldfares, 150+ Redwings, 10 Song Thrushes, 100+ Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings. Most birds departed when the weather improved, but the Chiffchaffs seemed to arrive later on. Also entered in the log by other observers were a ring-tail Hen Harrier, a Grey Heron flying past Quarry Beach and a female Black Redstart.