SN Reservoirs 0630-0930hrs MJP
misty and dull early, sunny later; mild. light NW.
Peregrine - 1 (east, 0815)
Tree Pipit - 1 (north, 0745)
Meadow Pipit - 16
Siskin - 8
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 9
Willow Warbler - 1-2
Chiffchaff - 5
Grey Wagtail - 3
Sparrowhawk - 2-3
Kestrel - 1
Wigeon - 7
Red-crested Pochard - 2
Canada Goose - 23
Reed Bunting - 1
Mistle Thrush - 15
Blackbird - 45
Kingfisher - 2
Goldcrest - 2
visible migration again productive; the first day of the autumn to feature mixed finch flocks overhead, with Greenfinch and Chaffinch dominating, and 8 Siskin (one over, seven alighting in treetops with Greenfinch) the highlight. A number of flocks passed high overhead when blue skies broke through, unfortunately too high to i.d. on calls or sight.
The first Peregrine of the autumn, pursued by a Carrion Crow and heading east, was probably a young male. Pipits continue to pass through, with a total of 16 Meadow Pipits (in ones, twos and threes) and a single Tree Pipit; two of the three Grey Wags flew high overhead, suggesting migrants rather the 'resident' few.
Warblers, while not abundant, provided good variety - a Lesser Whitethroat in scrub at the ER and still-lingering Sedge being the pick. Blackbirds were numerous in the berry scrub at dawn, most having moved on by 7a.m. The group of Wigeon, present now for several days, numbered six, but were joined by a male coming in high from the NE, illustrating the 'crossover' of migrant wildfowl on site. A Reed Bunting at the ER is surprisingly the first for many weeks.