Any new birds in your area ?

[IanF]

After being away on holiday for a couple of weeks I had my first outing this afternoon down to Doorman's Pool and Saltholme Ponds on Teesside. Quite a few migrants have turned up in the last two weeks with good numbers of Whooper Swan (30), Northern Pintail (12), Barnacle Geese (40) and Golden Plover (150+).

Came in handy as entries for the GGBC2 :t:

[jpoyner]

Plenty of Pink-feet coming through and the first Whooper swans this week in the Highlands. Not many migrants been hitting the mainland coasts up here though, all been on the islands worst luck. Not even any noticable thrush movements yet, though had a few Redwings going through Speyside a few days ago.

JP

[Karl J]

A few hundred more Lapwing than of late, increasing number of
Wigeon, Shelduck & Teal and a few Snow Bunting.

Waders - they're not exactly new, there's just generally more of them. Particularly Curlew, masses.

[cuddy]

Rpt Marsh sand at Cresswell tonight off for a looksee tommorrow.

[pduxon]

There were about 400 Whooper at Welney today - one of the staff said that this is the earliest they've turned up.

1 Barnacle Goose which looked lost amongst all the Greylag.

A lot more duck about at Rye Meads yesterday. Also the first Redwing of the year. Is winter really coming?

[IanF]

I popped out to see yet another Lesser Yellowlegs on Cowpen Marsh this afternoon, a good one for the GGBC2 - UK anyway.

We have had a few of them this year.

[Gerry Hooper]

I heard a few Redwing going over last night, saw a few more plover than of late this evening at the estuary, and there'll be a Firecrest in the garden tomorrow.

[birdman]

First Redwingand Fieldfare of the season, today!

[Michael Frankis]

Got my first Fieldfare today too, in off the sea at St Mary's Island.

Michael

[christineredgate]

Carlos,How come you have lapwings!!,there was not a single lapwing to be seen today.I am really disappointed,as my bird count from here in South Cumbria is going to be really low.Our shelducks have not arrived yet,in fact apart from the usual oyster catchers etc,the predominant birds seemed to be redshanks.They are everywhere.All small rocks etc are covered in them.In fact if it were not for their red legs,their camoflage is so good you would not know they were there.
Christine.

[david r]

Hi,
Here offshore on the Uisge Gorm ( central north sea ) we have had a light passage of migrants the last 2 nights with a few arriving during the day that included a few Fieldfares, Redwings, Song thrushes, Blackcaps, Wrens also a Long eared owl and lots of Goldcrests,Chaffinches and Bramblings.
Dave

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Interesting stuff david. I saw good numbers of most of these species around Fife Ness today. Redwings, Goldcrests, Blackbirds and Robins were all particularly numerous, with smaller numbers of Fieldfares and Song Thrushes. I was pleased to see a number of very smart looking Bramblings - hopefully we'll be in for a good winter for them. More fortuitously I found a quite excellent Firecrest - it almost landed on my binoculars it was so close.

[cuddy]

Managed to see one of the 2 grey phalaropes at Hadston today,
lots of Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldcrest, and a couple of Lesser Whitethroat in the bushes.

[Colin]

The first of the European White-fronted Geese of the winter have returned to the Severn Estuary near Slimbridge in the last 24 hours or so. Two were reported yesterday and there appears to be three now on the fields by the river according to the grapevine. I expect the first of the Bewick's Swans to be following within the week.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Cuddy,
Well done on the Grey Phal, not been able to get up myself (bad cold), but hoping to get there tomorrow (hope they're still there!)

Hi Colin
First Greenland Whitefronts were reported back at Grindon Lough (Northumbs; the only regular English site for GWFG) a few days ago as well

Michael

[cuddy]

Dipped on the Pallases warbler at the mound everyone else saw it i heard it but could not get on it GRRRRRRRRRR.
Woodcock and Brambling on the track behind the cemetary at St Mary's today.

Good Luck tommorrow on the phalaropes now thought to be 3 in the area.

[Dave B Smith]

Yesterday, the 15th of Oct., saw our resident American Redstart return. This is the third year in a row that he has come to our office facilities and on the same day each year. He spends most of the day between fighting with his reflection in the office window and the rest of the time fighting with his reflection in one of the car mirrors, only taking short breaks to chase bugs!

Just before leaving home this morning I looked out my window and saw a Painted Bunting in the Mango tree. At lunchtime I checked again and while the Bunting had left, I was treated to a variety of Warblers passing through. I saw Tennessee, Black and White, Northern Parula, White-eyed Vireo and an Ovenbird! Also several other Warblers I didn't manage to ID. I can't wait till tomorrow to check for more migrants!

[Gerry Hooper]

That's a colourful selection of birds Dave.
The best I can do here is a few fly-over Siskins, Coal Twit and linnets/goldfinch in the garden.
Numbers of Avocets ,Bar tailed Godwit,Mergansers and smaller waders on the estuary are increasing all the time now.

[Michael Frankis]

Originally posted by Gerry Hooper
Coal Twit

Never had one of those !!! What'sit look like?! 3:-)

[pduxon]

Lots of Lapwings (100 ish) on the football pitches by Dagenham Civic Centre

[Elizabeth Bigg]

First redwing seen in the garden yesterday.

[Edward]

Heard and saw the first Snow Buntings of the winter in central Reykjavik this morning. They usually don't appear until there is plenty of snow in the surrounding countryside which there certainly isn't at the moment. In bad winters you can see several hundred in the city but they disappear as soon as the weather lets up. The birds I saw were obviously a reconnaissance party.
Other birds seen on the five minute walk from car to work were Redwing, Redpoll, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Mallard and Black-headed Gull.

E

[Gerry Hooper]

Zebra Finch in the Garden this morning!!!
Didn't expect that did you!

Nor Me.

[Michael Frankis]

Originally posted by Gerry Hooper
Zebra Finch in the Garden this morning!!!
Didn't expect that did you!

Nor Me.

Bet the Zebra Finch didn't either . . . 3:-)