With November starting much like October was, mild and sunkist we are beginning to think is winter ever going to start? For most of the day the harbour was like a mill pond, which made scanning for open water species nice and easy. Out in Bramble Bush by the female Eider was still present and a single Black-necked Grebe was there too and 34 Red-breasted Merganser. There were also seven Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach and two off Shell Bay with 11 Common Scoter off Middle Beach as well. In Lytchett Bay there were 2 redhead Goosander. The Great Grey Shrike was at Morden Bog it looks for another winter. On Holton Pools up to 2 Water Pipit were present and the sandy spit on Long Island (opposite Shipstal Point) had 17 Spoonbills. The Brownsea Lagoon had 500 Avocet and three Spotted Redshank. On Hartland Moor 2 Merlin were dashing about. Our ringing station on Ballard Down saw a surprise Water Rail ringed, which highlights that a whole manner of different species are on the move this autumn on migration. In Whitley Bay, Sandbanks up to 50 Brent Geese were just off the cycle path along with 9 Turnstone (on the pavement)! and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit out on the sand. Simply just being out and around the harbour currently is a joy in itself with flocks of up to 300 curlew out at Shipstal Point and all the Brent Geese now arriving, it looks as if we could have an exciting winter ahead of us.

Female Water Rail – Ringed up on Ballard Down – Olly Slessor