October 20th 2018

GORING GAP : Two Curlews on the grass flew off east early on. A Short-eared Owl was a pleasant surprise, flushing the waders roosting on the beach as it drifted west over the sea. Most action was overhead with many finches flying east. Frustratingly many were quite high, in mixed flocks and not calling but there was a minimum of 531 Goldfinches and 93 Linnets along with a handful of Chaffinches and Siskins. Other birds moving included Skylark 4E, 5S, Yellowhammer 2E, Swallow 1E and over the sea Little Egret 3W, Wigeon 11W, Red-breasted Merganser 1W. 5 more Mergs settled on the sea. In the fields were 70+ Pied Wagtails, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Stonechat, several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. On the beach were 35 Sanderlings, 13 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlins and a few Turnstones RS