Another month over which ticked along nicely on the local patch, with a few more additions to the ever growing year list, which now stands at a respectable 152 species with most of the autumn still to go.
Friday 1st
A wander around the Goxhill part of the local patch today, covering Goxhill Haven, Dawson City, East Marsh Road, Horsegate Field Road, North End, West Marsh Lane and Goxhill Tilery saw a decent 64 species being recorded.
The best of the sightings went to a Hobby watched hunting along Horsegate Field Road and 23 returning Turnstones at Goxhill Haven.
Thursday 7th
Another trip today to Goxhill, parking at the haven added some interesting sightings to the notes.
A decent number of Terns were off the Haven, with 37 Common and 3 Arctics being seen along with a juvenile Caspian Gull which flew west.
On the Humber a Great-crested Grebe floated along on the out going tide and the amazing sight of 5 Great-white Egrets was witnessed as they flew west in groups of 3 and 2 respectively.
A Bittern was also seen in flight here which was great to see.
10 Species of Wader were noted today also, with this including 2 Whimbrel, Common Sand and the first returning Bar-tailed Godwit of the autumn migration period.
The best of the rest, included a lovely juvenile Peregrine which flew west, occasionally attacking the local Gulls on its journey.
Saturday 9th
Today saw me visiting the East Halton area, with an early start paying dividends, with a lovely Badger being seen near Station House.
Winter's Pond provided the bulk of today's sightings with a huge count for the local patch of 34 Willow Warblers, also seen were 8 Lesser Whitethroats and 12 Chiffchaff.
Waterbirds on site included 22 Little Grebe, 10 Coot, 155 Mallard, 9 Mute Swans and the best, a lovely eclipse male Garganey. The latter showed mainly distantly on the far bankside, but was lovely to see.
Waders included 725 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Green and 7 Common Sandpipers, with singles of Whimbrel, Greenshank and Ruff also being logged.
Sunday 10th
A big tide this morning at Goxhill Haven, had the desired affect first thing, with a few Terns being seen, which included my first Sandwich Terns of the year here, with 3 being recorded flying east, along with 7 Common and a single arctic Tern as well.
Also around the Haven area were a Kingfisher, Peregrine, 177 Golden Plover, a single Common Scoter which flew out east and a record count of 58 Cormorant at the roost off Goxhill Haven.
Mammal sightings included a single Harbour Porpoise moving east off the Haven and a Weasel was watched near to Dawson City.
Saturday 16th
A return to the East Halton part of the patch today, saw a cracking 82 species recorded.
No real surprises were recorded today, but some great counts of species and some passage waders boosted numbers nicely.
Winter's held 1035 Greylags, along with my largest count here of 70 Canada Geese, 16 Moorhen, 15 Coot, 16 Teal, 23 Little Grebe and 16 Cormorant. A few nice Waders included 2 Green Sands, Common Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, a juvenile Little-ringed Plover and the first Snipe of the autumn.
A wander around the lanes in East Halton village, saw my second Green Woodpecker of the year being recorded along with a good count for the patch of 22 Blue Tit, 63 House Martins, 7 Lesser Whitethroats and a Hobby which shot over the marshes before i wandered back to the car.
Sunday 24th
More birding at East Halton again today saw the first returning Wigeon of the autumn being recorded at Winter's Pond, along with 12 Shoveler, 208 Mallard, a juvenile Pochard, 106 Canada Geese again breaking the patch record, 755 Greylags and 9 Mute Swans.
On the Humber, 11 Common Scoter drifted out on the dropping tide and Wader sightings today consisted of 4 Whimbrel, 3550 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, 124 Redshank, 5 Ruff, a single Knot with the Black-tails, 3 Green and 2 Common Sandpipers.
The best sighting of the day, went to a Guillemot sat on the Humber between Winter's Pond and the Skitter, becoming my first sighting of the year for the local patch list.
A walk back along the marshes, saw a lovely Clouded Yellow being recorded, my first local sighting of the year in what is proving to be a good one for the species nationally.
Saturday 30th
Full coverage of the patch today saw a good 84 species being seen. A distinct pick up in Wildfowl numbers was noticeable, with 2 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 85 Teal, 29 Shoveler and 117 Mallard being noted.
Small numbers of passage Waders were also logged and included, 3 Ruff, Greenshank, Green Sand and 4 Common Sandpipers, with the only surprise being an adult Sanderling near Goxhill Haven.
3 Swift were recorded along Goxhill Marsh along with a flock of 39 House Martins and 85 Swallows.
The best sighting from a personal point of view went to 2 Ravens being seen, the first which flew in off the Humber at Winter's and then spent some time flying around the site before heading off south west towards East Halton village and the second which was seen near to Ruin's Pond and which then flew off towards Witter Farms. These became my 2nd and 3rd records here for the year after a pair in the spring on East Halton Marshes.
Other notables seen today were 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls seen off Goxhill Haven and a lovely Grey Wagtail which flew along the Humber floodbank at East Halton Skitter.
Another enjoyable month on this superb patch.
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| Winter's Pond, 9th. |
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| Juvenile Willow Warbler, Winter's Pond, 9th |
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| East Halton Marshes, 9th |
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| Full Moon Over Goxhill, 10th. |
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| Sunrise Over Saltend, 10th. |
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| Stormy Skies, East Halton, 16th |
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| Winter's Pond, 16th |
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| Birding, Goxhill Haven, 30th |
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| Winter's Pond, 30th |
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| East Halton Skitter, 30th |
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