Horrid autumn- 31/10/17

Point: Rock Pipit 14, Goldcrest 3, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch 12, Brambling, Linnet 3, Reed Bunting 2

Viz mig: Meadow Pipit 3, Skylark 3, Redwing 8, Song Thrush 2, Chaffinch 10, Brambling 3.

Mound, viz mig: Sparrowhawk, Skylark 2, Meadow Pipit, Fieldfare 652, Redwing 6, Starling 388, Crow 21, Chaffinch 232, Goldfinch 63, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin 7. Looking towards Bloors, the Woodpigeon appear to be running out of food in the fields, taking more and more to short dispersal flights.

Horrid autumn- 29/10/17

Point: Chaffinch 20, Brambling 2, Greenfinch 8, Reed Bunting 5.

Viz mig: Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch 5, Lesser Redpoll.

Mound, viz mig: Buzzard, Skylark 4, Starling 25, Goldfinch 4, Siskin 2, Lesser Redpoll.

A two metre surge stopped flats from uncovering fully as the neap tide ebbed. For a couple of hours many of the waders were in nigh-constant flight searching for their missing mud, checking and re-checking the edge of Rainham Saltings, interspersing with trips out to the Oozes and Bartlett Spit. Where they did not settle early in anywhere near normal numbers was on the southern edge of Rainham Saltings, where the twitchers were searching for a Shrike. The other interesting behaviour was that the larger species roosts on Rainham Saltings, those that usually leave roost a little later than the smaller waders, were out early, as soon as people were loitering on the wall above the saltings. While roost orders usually see smaller birds out early (small bodymass, more feeding), larger waders flush at a greater distance than their smaller cousins.

Horrid autumn- 28/10/17

Point: Blackbird 16, Redwing 2, Song Thrush 3.

Viz mig: Little Egret 17 (southwest), Marsh Harrier 3, Redwing 12, Song Thrush 2 (south-southwest). And a cheat, Crow 88, south-west from Damhead Creek. There have been counts of over a hundred on the flats around Copperhouse of late, but these birds tend to stick to the southern shore. Sometimes they reach Hoo Island, sometimes if they do that, they might venture to the Hoo Peninsula, but it does not appear a routine crossing. The tide was in, so would have not expected to see many birds on a scan- local movement or something more? Think the former, but you can always dream..

Mound, viz mig -9:30: Sparrowhawk 4, Lapwing 5 (south), Snipe 9, Stock Dove 32, Jackdaw 17,  Meadow Pipit 6, Skylark 8, Starling 515, Chaffinch 643, Brambling 7, Goldfinch 119, Siskin 10, Reed Bunting.

And a Fieldfare east. That was the exciting one for me. The idea that our interpretations of visible migration can just be movements was being tested. Birders further east were picking up several hundred moving south-west from Motney and cutting in by the fields at Bloors. The arrival angle put them back over the orchards of Ham Green, where numbers had arrived in the past couple of days. The departure appeared to be low, out of sight of me, over the orchards up by the railway line. Not broadfront, specific. How far were they going? And my one working back. What was that about? Peeled off and given up? Can I consider him as wimping out? More to muse on..

Horrid autumn- 27/10/17

7:20-8:20
Another quiet day at the Point Goldcrest 3, Chaffinch 8. Nothing crossing water.

Mound much better, with movements birds following the leading lines : 8:30 -10:00 Brent Goose 185 (south-southwest), Grey Heron 4 (south-southwest), Little Egret 8 (south-southwest), Marsh Harrier, Stock Dove 4, Skylark 17, Meadow Pipit 7, Grey Wagtail 2 (east), Starling 880, Redwing 11, Fieldfare 1, Chaffinch 488, Brambling 5, Goldfinch 213, Siskin 11, Lesser Redpoll 4. And another of those strange Black-headed Gull days- 3,230 northwest.

Horrid autumn- 25/10/17

7:25-8:15 The Point was quiet. Six Chaffinch, six Reed Bunting, but I was easily pleased by a count of, wait for it, three Wren. the highest there this autumn, usually lucky if one. Possibly local birds dispersing to the estuary for the reedbeds? Outside chance a real migrant but, still, a man has to dream.

Viz mig: Chaffinch 7, Meadow Pipit 2, Goldfinch.

Mound viz mig 8:25-9:20 vm: Swallow 2 south, Meadow Pipit 3, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird, Starling 87, Chaffinch 46, Goldfinch 17, Lesser Redpoll 5.

Horrid autumn- 24/10/17

7:25-8:25
Point: Goldcrest, 6 Reed Bunting.
Viz mig: Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit 9, Grey Wagtail 3, Chaffinch 5, Reed Bunting 3.

The view north-east from the Mound.

Mound: -9:30 vm Lapwing 5 (south), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark 7, Raven, Starling 98,  Chaffinch 145, Goldfinch 133, Siskin 1.

Horrid autumn- 23/10/17

7:10-8:25
Point: Goldcrest 8, Chaffinch 16 Reed Bunting 12.

Vis mig: Meadow Pipit 36, Rock Pipit 3, Pied Wagtail 6, Robin 1, Chaffinch 30, Goldfinch 17, Lesser Redpoll 4, Siskin 2, Reed Bunting 13.

Mound vm -9:40 Skylark 3, Chaffinch 121, Brambling 1, Bullfinch 1, Goldfinch 108, Greenfinch 17, Siskin 4, Lesser Redpoll 2, Reed Bunting 4.

Either half term games for schoolkids or the rangers are retraining me

Horrid autumn- 20/10/17

A later visit, to catch the high tide. Viz mig had dried up, just three House Martin, three Skylark and four Siskin. 1,303 Oystercatcher on the Kingsnorth wall.

Nor Marsh was pretty much submerged, meaning birds could shelter on the calmer waters over the marsh. 343 Brent Geese, 154 Teal, and 98 Wigeon counted, all mainly at the western end. The eastern end, adjoins Friars, where three hardy gunners were in situ. Hardy souls, the waters looked a tad too close from my angle, but they saw it out over the tide. Always easier to see when one adjusted position, as seen from the photo below.

The only shots any of them got in over the top of the tide was when a birding rib decided to get best possible view by motoring right into the south-eastern breach in Nor's seawall, and putting the wildfowl to circuitous flight. They saw the birds, but they never saw the gunners.

Horrid autumn- 19/10/17

6:50-8:20
Point: Redwing 5, Song Thrush 7,  Goldcrest 9, Brambling.

Viz mig: Redwing 20 Song Thrush 4, Chaffinch 13, Brambling.

Mound viz mig 8:30-9:30: Green Sandpiper, Grey Plover (inland south), Skylark 17, Pied Wagtail 5, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush 12, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Chaffinch 41, Goldfinch 73, Crossbill.

Horrid autumn- 18/10/17

Dang! It was quiet for viz mig this morning. I was hoping for a fall, but the best was just a late Yellow Wagtail. First four-figure count of Dunlin for the autumn some consolation, though Grey Plover numbers had dropping dramatically.

Which brings me to BirdTAM. It had let me down. No, it hadn't, I had let me down, I fell for the very thing I lecture on about it. I love BirdTAM, but when I explain it to others they hope it is forecasting fallout. It isn't. It's forecasting migration.

Air forces like to be prepared, so their computers are busy predicting when the movements are going to happen, and they do a pretty good job. The southern North Sea is covered by the Belgian air force, who are very happy to share their information with all their chums. The forecast is thinking about movements through airspace. Even though they can, their planes don't skim over the water, they don't need to drop down to see land to readjust for wind drift, they don't all take off when tail winds finally arrive, and they don't only come to land when the drizzle stops.

BirdTAM does not forecast fallout. For that, you still have to play with Met Office info and seek the fronts. Repeat after me:

"All fallout is migration.

Not all migration is fallout."

------

There had been a bit of nocturnal arrival, the Dunlin hinted at that. As did the Grey Plovers. And probably there was viz mig, with successful passerine migrants moving that bit too high for me today. The Yellow Wag may well be a winner for my latest date of the year note, but hides the fact it's a loser. Loooo-ser. It should have disappeared weeks ago. Stupid Wagtail. Heading out the gene pool.

Horrid autumn- 17/10/17

Another clear night, a little cloud to the east at dawn to delay viewing problems- but the viewing problems mainly came down to a lack of movement after the first hour's shuffling. Of most interest, the two Yellowhammer came in from the north. Any Yellowhammers hanging on close to here are found along the higher land of the Downs a few miles south; where did these come from?

The other talking point? That Hawfinch. After Social Media hype the past few days (a number have been turning up along the south coast, with large movements just over the Channel), and several tweets saying 'here's the call', I was expecting an increase in claims and, sure enough, town centre flyovers were the norm this morning (no problems with that, they've turned up over Rainham already this year). I wasn't expecting one over Horrid, certainly not one *on* Horrid, but one was present at first light, soon after heading south down the causeway.

563 Avocet around Bartlett Creek, feeding in dense groups of up to 180. Still not present every day, so difficult to assess if settled. Dunlin numbers holding at a few hundred, with a handful of Knot among them.

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6:45-8:25
Point- Song Thrush 3,  Goldcrest 2, Linnet 31 (coming to seed), Greenfinch 5,  Hawfinch 1, Reed Bunting 3

Viz mig- Sparrowhawk, Skylark, Pied Wagtail 3, Grey Wagtail, Rock Pipit 3, Song Thrush 2, Chaffinch 7,  Goldfinch 3, Lesser Redpoll 7, Siskin 1, Reed Bunting 2, Yellowhammer 2
Mound 8:35-9:15 Blackbird 2, Song Thrush 4, Starling 25, Chaffinch 10, Goldfinch 4, Greenfinch 4

offshore- Avocet 563, Marsh Harrier over Oakham.

Horrid autumn- 16/10/17

6:50-8:30
Point: Kingfisher, Song Thrush 3, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Rock Pipit.

Viz mig: Marsh Harrier, Lapwing 520 (distantly down Long Reach), Skylark 2, Meadow Pipit 12, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail 4, Goldcrest, Chaffinch 9, Siskin 2, Linnet 3.

Mound viz mig: Cormorant 7, Skylark 11, Meadow Pipit 9, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 3, Chaffinch 12, Siskin 3, Linnet 2.

As commented on in several old posts (can you tell I like 'em?) Grey Plover feed either as a loose flock or hold individual territories. Visual hunters do better spread out. A competitor chasing around closeby can actually scare prey deeper into the mud. On the edge of Sharps Green Bay one defended patch their patch from a second bird for an hour at dawn. Side to side chases, the owner trying to keep the infiltrator in the water. The dispute was only settled by the tide covering the territory. Getting more competitive out there now.

Horrid autumn- 15/10/17

Dawn, and mist and fog over parts of the Hoo Peninsula. Clear to the south?
Fallout(!)

6:30-8:15 Redwing 5, Song Thrush 3,  Blackbird 6,  Firecrest,  Goldcrest, Chaffinch 16, Greenfinch 10, Linnet 22, Reed Bunting 12.

Vizmig: Grey Heron 2 (south) Skylark 14, Meadow Pipit 35, Pied Wagtail 7, Song Thrush 5, Redwing 902 (south-southwest), Starling 240 (south), Chaffinch 10, Goldfinch 124, Greenfinch 4, Linnet 49, Reed Bunting 4

Mound, viz mig: Peregrine, Skylark 2, Meadow Pipit 3 Pied Wagtail 3, Starling 106, Chaffinch 35, Goldfinch 75, Greenfinch 4, Linnet 20.

(Rant ahead!) "And another reason I hate the fact they've demolished Grain Power Station. That chimney had aircraft hazard lights down it. Looking out the front bedroom window I could see it. Nights I couldn't see them all, I knew there was mist and fog at the mouth- and if north Rainham was clear, then big chance of fallout. The lights for the docks just aren't high enough, it's a right pain and I.." (Rant over.)

So, guesswork. Today it felt worth getting to the park forty minutes or so before dawn and, deep joy! Fallout on and over Horrid. As I walked the neck, Redwings and Starlings were following it mainly south-southwestwards to land, followed shortly after by the first finches.

When do diurnals start moving? As a young 'un I had it drilled in the second hour after dawn was best for viz mig. Certainly for birds travelling from distance arriving on the coast, 'contis' crossing to Kent, but the movement can start as soon as the birds can travel. Most roost studies are in the evening because birds often leave in such low light we can't see them. The dawn rush may well have been birds that hadn't traveled far; or a few nocturnals (studies have shown small numbers of species we think only day movers can and will move at night) dropping down. A mystery, but one that made this one of the best mornings at the Point to date.

Horrid autumn- 14/10/17

6:50-8:20

Point: Red-legged Partridge- that'll do! Redwing 5, Song Thrush 4, Reed Bunting 10.


Viz mig: Marsh Harrier, Skylark, Meadow Pipit 19, Pied Wagtail 5, Grey Wagtail, Chaffinch 18, Goldfinch 4, Linnet 31.

Mound -9:20: Brent Goose 38 south, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Raven, Skylark 9, Pied Wagtail 4, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, Song Thrush 9, Starling 72, Chaffinch 52, Goldfinch 44.

Horrid autumn- 13/10/17

06:50-09:20
Point: Goldcrest, Chaffinch 3, Linnet 20, Reed Bunting 4.

Viz mig: Cormorant high south, Marsh Harrier 3, Kestrel 1, Kingfisher 2, Meadow Pipit 27, Pied Wagtail 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Chaffinch 60, Goldfinch 21, Greenfinch 4, Linnet 11, Reed Bunting 4.

Mound viz mig: Cormorant high south (not that one), Stock Dove 2, Meadow Pipit 7, Pied Wagtail 5, Starling 7, Chaffinch 6, Goldfinch 4

Well, that happened. The Hill beat the Point, hands down. Would have put money on that never happening. Something to muse on..

Horrid autumn- 12/10/17

6:45-8:45
Point: Meadow Pipit 2, Greenfinch 9, Reed Bunting 6.

Viz mig: Lapwing 80, Raven 2, Meadow Pipit 22, Pied Wagtail 3, Grey Wagtail 1, Chaffinch 8, Goldfinch 9, Greenfinch 2, Siskin, Linnet 6, Reed Bunting 2.

Mound viz mig: 8:55-10:00 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk 3, Redwing 3, Skylark 7, Meadow Pipit 13, Pied Wagtail 5, Chaffinch 55, Goldfinch 35, Siskin 4.

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A Little Grebe close in to the Mound in the ebbing creeks of Rainham Saltings. Diving whenever a walker passed, swimming up, down, up, down the creek. Ended up holed up, as the Channel disappeared. No way to leave, the Grebe went into cover. Migrant Little Grebe? Certainly a stupid Little Grebe.

Horrid autumn- 11/10/17

Point: Meadow Pipit 5, Chaffinch 4, Reed Bunting 4.

Viz mig: Meadow Pipit 18, Pied Wagtail 2, Grey Wagtail, Chaffinch 5, Goldfinch 7, Reed Bunting 2.

Mound, viz mig: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Skylark 15, Meadow Pipit 6, Song Thrush 3, Starling 38, Chaffinch 18, Goldfinch 10.

One of the Mound's viz mig markers; the 'Testico',
plumb centre along the flightline skyline.

Horrid autumn- 10/10/17

7:25-8:45
Point: Blackcap, 2 Rock Pipit, 9 Chaffinch, 5 Linnet, 9 Greenfinch, 10 Reed Bunting. Some kindly soul is spreading seed along the path most mornings, and the Reed Bunting roost is appreciating the handouts.

Viz mig: 2 Song Thrush. 7 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 9 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch, Brambling, 3 Linnet and 2 Reed Bunting.

Second day of Mound viz migging, 8:55-9:55: well down on yesterday's totals. Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail,  238 Starling, 42 Chaffinch, 27 Goldfinch and a Reed Bunting.

Country Parks, though for all, do have Management Plans. This year it seems to have gone awry. The old five year plan to end 2016 is still on the internet, and the cut grass in the park fields is still on the ground. Time to nudge those in charge..

Update- phone call received a few weeks later; problems with sub-contractors, still sorting, aware of problems for continued improvement of grass sward and will ensure 2018's cut is picked up. And the website will be updated shortly. Thanks Medway Council(!)

Horrid autumn- 9/10/17

7:15-9:15
Viz Mig- Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 14 Skylark, 31 Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 22 Chaffinch, Brambling, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Siskin, 3 Linnet, 5 Reed Bunting.

Pt- Meadow Pipit 2, Chiffchaff, Redwing 2, Song Thrush 6, Blackbird 4, Chaffinch 6, Linnet 23, Reed Bunting 5.

Time to introduce the mound-shaped secret weapon.

In all probability, the main movement is on a broadfront, just that little bit too high overhead. Some Diurnals have to refuel, come a bit lower. Some diurnals might have drifted that tad off bearing, need to adjust in the first few hours. Some will continue moving for the moment, but looking for the opportunities to feed and rest as they go. Some plough on through staying high, some drop a little lower.

The second hour after dawn is THE time. Forget birds crossing the estuary; some will, most won't. They will be funneled by leading lines. For the rest of the month the viz mig will be split between the Point and the Mound, that lovely man-made viewpoint back on shore. Will the gamble pay off?

The Mound, 9:25-10:25:
(viz mig west) Sparrowhawk 3, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Stock Dove 5, Meadow Pipit 6, Pied Wagtail 2, Redwing 13, Song Thrush 12, Blackbird 6, Mistle Thrush 6, Starling 251, Chaffinch 1,052, Brambling 2, Goldfinch 121, Greenfinch 4, Crossbill 3, Siskin 2.

That'll do Kev, that'll do.

Between the uninviting mudflats and railway line by the sprawl of Twydall, greenfield land (for now). Orchards, fields, scrub. Migrant magnet. 'Scope set up south, over the Lower Rainham Road. Most at quite a distance, but worth it. The walk up to Twydall late morning just produced a trickle of late movers, but left me dreaming of watching slightly inland another year. Getting ahead of myself, plenty of 2017 left, will be hitting the Mound hard.

Horrid autumn- 8/10/17

No sunrise for a change! Moonset instead.

Southend aglow

07:00-08:20
Point: Goldcrest 4, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting.

Viz mig: Marsh Harrier, Skylark 2, Meadow Pipit 39, Pied Wagtail 3, Chaffinch 39, Goldfinch 13, Linnet 30, Greenfinch 6, Reed Bunting 1.

Horrid autumn- 7/10/17

Point: Goldcrest 4, Reed Bunting.
Viz mig: Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit 21, Pied Wagtail 3, Chaffinch 19, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll.

A photo 'essay': offshore on the 'Julie-Sue'

  

Horrid autumn- 6/10/17

06:30-09:10
Viz mig- Skylark 6, Jackdaw 3, Meadow Pipit 51, Pied Wagtail 10, Song Thrush 1, Chaffinch 81, Goldfinch 21, Greenfinch 3, Siskin 2, Linnet 23, Reed Bunting 5.

Point- Linnet 10, Chaffinch 9, Reed Bunting 6

Another tired Woodpigeon? Yup, but this one had an excuse. Not a migrant, but a recent fledgling, not long out of the nest. The texts point to a long breeding season, but with a peak in September. Historically gave a good chance to make the most of the autumn acorns and the fields of stubble. Thanks to the burgeoning population, have to take what they can, and like the fat adult a few days before, this was was near the privet berries. Lots will be dispersing around now.

Surge tide

There's a gate at the start of Horrid Hill, not often used, that I thought might be brought into play today.

Over the years, tidal surges that bring about the need to evacuate the Point have been few. I'd had the fun of seeing it just a couple of time, waves breaking over the causeway, always from the shore. Today my plan was to sit it out at long as possible, only leave when asked, and get as much bird movement noted as I could. As it turned out, the gate wasn't closed but the Rangers simply manned the start and asked people not to venture out. The surge just, just made it over. Ankle deep in places, stretches where it just got damp. I sat at the end, unaware of the soggy situation until the thought hit me that I hadn't had anyone come past me for twenty minutes or so. Woohoo! Marooned on my own Medway Estuary temporary island. The Hill is safe for another two metres of surge, so there was no danger, however much I might spin the tale- even so, I repeat, woo-flippin'-hoo!

As an estuary birder, I take advantage of any forecasting service I can, and check the Environment Agency's Flood Alert webpages at the first sniff of a good tide. As always, the National Oceanography Centre's surge forecast facility over the previous couple of days was bang on the money and I went to bed feeling like it was Christmas eve for a four year old.

Of course, only marooned for twenty minutes or so, but made for some rare photographs:

While at the Point itself, the estuary had never looked wider: 

The tidal pool had never seen fuller to me, and the waters topping the path were feeding it directly, so that it was actually fractionally higher than the bay for a short while.

So, what of the birds? The sea wall at Kingsnorth was its usual Godsend on a spring tide. Not all species take to a concrete revetment (the technical name for any artificial defence designed to absorb wave action, be it sloping brickworks over soil, a drop of rocks and boulders alongside a cliff, or a simple fencework a few metres into the water), and any last piece of island (such as the top of Nor's north wall) held birds today.

Many of the smaller waders headed for Oakham, and beyond:

While some, like the Little Egrets, took to the fields once pushed off by disturbance. 

The photo above shows the Egrets just prior to take-off. A surge doesn't just appeal to a birder and the lovely old historic fishing smack, the Thistle, decided to take on the challenge the South Yantlet run.  Usually best left to small boats and ribs on a normal spring high tide, the extra draught gave a nice challenge. Unfortunately, the remaining waders were also trying to find peace there. They had already left once, but came back after about twenty minutes or so failing to find a suitable roost. At the time these pictures were taken, Thistle was sailing just beyond the stretch of sea wall highlighted in yellow. (Thin yellow line shows where photos taken from).

All very dramatic, with the tracks of those knowing where to head (the in- moult staging Grey Plovers, red line) leading off north-east to Nor and the more recent arrivals (the white-lined Dunlin) not quite sure of the best spot in a spring, heading west to check Hoo before off along Long Reach and lost beyond Bee Ness.

All quite a sight, and a hint of the problems to come as tides continue to rise. Of the two RSPB reserves, Nor was reduced to just a sliver of unsafe land and Motney had gone completely under. We remain reliant on other river users appreciating the problems our birds have.

There were some other interesting movements, one such being the north shore Avocets made the long crossing from Damhead to Milfordhope and beyond, presumably to join the Funton roost. They rarely do this flight of about eight kilometres each way, and when they do, may not return in the same numbers for some days. I tend to think there are three main flocks on the estuary, that temporarily assimilate when needs must. Whether I should think of it as three core areas that the one flock spreads over is another matter. Personally, no, I don't; if a colour-ringed bird is in one core area, it tends to stick with it, give or take a few days away now and then.

All in all,one of the most memorable day's birding of the year.