October was all about the Thames with a fantastic spell from the 9th when a Pomarine Skua headed up river but it was when the weather turned on the 12th that things started to happen with six Brent Geese and the last two Common Terns being logged. The following day was foul and a flock of 11 Great Skuas spiralling up river was exceptional with 68 Little Gulls heading out the other way to keep us looking. Four more Bonxies were seen the next day along with more Little Gulls, a juvenile Gannet (a jubilant David Smith at last), two Scoter, 29 Brent Geese and two very late Black Terns which amazingly then hung around until the 26th! The Bonxie fest continued daily till the 18th when the last two were seen. Swallows were seen moving in this bad weather too and it was not surprising that Ring Ouzels dropped in with birds seen on the 15th, 17th and 24th while the odd Wheatear and Whinchat persisted till late in the month. Nothing too surprising amongst the waders with the Little Stint staying to the 3rd and odd reports of Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and a couple or relatively showy Jack Snipe. Marsh Harriers and Peregrines were seen each day and ringtail Hen Harriers moved south on the 14th, 25th and 31st while a female Merlin was seen on a couple of dates. The first (and so far only) Short-eared Owl was seen on the 18th and the Ravens became a daily feature. Duck numbers slowly increased and an Egyptian Goose on the 17th was popular with locals as it is still surprisingly rare here. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker continued to frustrate but not for the couple watching it on the 25th when a Hawfinch landed in the same tree with some other finches! Only the second record for this species here.
And lets not forget the amazing insect month we had with 11 species of butterfly all told (including nine of the 21c 31st!) and countless Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters still out hunting. Bob the Grey Seal did just that and Harbour Seals reached a record 11 and the Harbour Porpoises were also seen on calmer days. Stinging Nettles were putting on new growth and flowering again and the grass stil needed cutting!
Wigeon in flight - Russ Sherriff
6-11-14
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer