Recent Sightings
October 2009
As with last month, October saw a wide selection of migrants, winter visitors and the tail-end of the summer visitors moving through. In terms of waders, the most obvious species were Lapwing, and Golden Plover, forming wheeling flocks over Castle Water and Flat Beach, though good numbers of Curlew were also present, their peak numbers recorded at overnight roosts on Flat Beach or Harbour Farm. On the shore, a few Dunlin and Sanderling were seen, though not yet reaching the large numbers found later in the year, along with the occasional Grey Plover and Knot, while the occasional Greenshank turned up on Ternery Pool or Flat Beach. At Castle Water interesting waders included regular Green Sandpiper, and the occasional Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. Notable waterbirds during October included a Bittern at Castle Water on the 16th, immature Pintail at Castle Water and Ternery Pool early in the month, and up to 22 Little Egret (below) roosting at Castle Water.
Still small numbers of hirundines passing through early in the moth, mainly Swallow (with 200 on the 9th), but also with around 20 House Martin on the 10th, and October also saw what will probably be the last of this years Wheatear, with ones and twos regularly up to the 16th. Plenty of additional evidence of passage movement though, with flocks of up to 360 Goldfinch, 90 Meadow Pipit, 48 Siskin and 35 Greenfinch ranging over the Beach Reserve and Harbour Farm. Typically autumn/winter visitors included regular Stonechat and small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare, while the Corn Bunting flock on Harbour Farm had increased to 28 individuals by the end of the month. Highlights included single Firecrest on three dates later in the month, a Ring Ouzel at Castle Water on the 16th, a Brambling on Harbour Farm the 26th and three Crossbill here on the 27th. Offshore things picked up somewhat compared to September, sightings including up to 200 Common Scoter, 137 Brent Goose, 14 Gannet and small numbers of Red-throated Diver and Sandwich Tern. The highlight was a Great Skua on the 22nd, and in addition, an Arctic Tern was present on the shore on the 9th. Raptors this month included up to three Marsh Harrier and the occasional Merlin and Peregrine, while a Buzzard was present at Castle Water on the 8th. A Short-eared Owl was present on Harbour Farm on the 2nd, while a Little Owl was at Castle Water on the 16th.
Warm weather during October meant that despite the lateness of the season, there was still a good selection of insects around. Moths included Feathered Brindle, Feathered Ranunculus and Large Wainscot, while butterflies included several sightings of Clouded Yellow, as well as Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell. Among the dragonflies both Migrant Hawker and Common Darter were seen during the month and there were still small numbers of bumblebees around with Buff-tailed, White-tailed and Vestal Bumblebees all on the wing during October. In addition, grasshoppers and crickets were represented by a Grey Bush-cricket (above) and a Mottled Grasshopper on the 22nd. There were also occasional sightings of both Grey Seal and Common Seal offshore.