Goring Gap

The first Pintail of the autumn, a drake, flew west past the Gap this morning. Flocks of 11 and four Golden Plovers flew over and offshore five Dark-bellied Brent Geese, three Red-breasted Mergansers, a Great Crested Grebe and a lone Gannet passed. Goldfinches were still bombing through east in decent numbers, over 600, with six Siskins, 21 Chaffinches and 15 Linnets thrown in, and 24 Meadow Pipits heading the same way. A Reed Bunting and a female Stonechat were in the fenced rough, while an impressive flock of 58 Skylarks toured the fields. Waders on the beach included the usual Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and Turnstones, with a skittish flock of 50 Dunlin and small numbers of Grey Plovers. A Grey Heron flew west and an adult  Mediterranean Gull was noted. A circuit of the site totted up 12 Goldcrests, plus a Chiffchaff, and a Kestrel was hunting. In excess of 300 Woodpigeons  flew through but just what they were doing was unclear.