Swannery Birding Highlights Of The Week - Monday 13th to Sunday 19th October 2014...

It seemed rather quiet this week but three species making the bird news services can't be too bad I guess...

Wildfowl... 

Numbers and variety were similar to last week, including the regular female Scaup but there was only a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose (and no Gadwall or Goldeneye). New in though and first of the autumn, was a 'redhead' Red-breasted Merganser.

The female Scaup (with Pochards). 
It shouldn't be too long now until she is joined by more of her ilk! 

Waders... 

A rather poor week with just singles of Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Redshank and Dunlin (and no Snipe!)

Gulls etc... 

Again pretty much as last week except that Mediterranean Gulls reached around fifty on several days and Common Gulls peaked at three (but there were no Yellow-legged Gulls). Bird of the week though was a Great Skua on Friday...

The Great Skua (or Bonxie) that spent several hours settled on The Fleet.
This piratical sea-bird is a less than annual, usually storm-blown, visitor to The Swannery Embayment (although more regular off the seaward side of Chesil bank of course). 

One of this week's Mediterranean Gulls (a 1st winter)

Raptors...

What was presumably last week's Osprey reappeared on Wednesday and was still present to at least Saturday (but there were no Marsh Harriers).

Migrant Passerines...

Once again Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers were the only warblers seen or heard but the roaming tit-flocks still held plenty of Goldcrests (but as yet no Coal Tits!). Swallows and House Martins peaked at around thirty each on several days early in the week but there were none at all in the last few days. Linnets, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were still moving over most days but not in any significant number. A few Siskins were heard as were several Jays but the largest flock of the latter this week was of just three. There were a few more Blackbirds and Song Thrushes around this week along with the first Mistle Thrush for a couple of months (but no 'winter thrushes' as yet). There were however, plenty of Robins around along with several Stonechats and a single Wheatear. 

So we're pretty much into late October now and there still hasn't been any scarce migrants this month, let alone any rarities or patch ticks. Oh well still the best part of a two weeks to go!

One of this year's Mute Swan cygnets that are now taking to the air.
© Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography