Vis-mig is certainly the order of the week with NE winds forecast for the next week or so. With this in mind vis-mig session were conducted at both Glebelands end of Ballard and at South Haven. At Glebelands the highlight was 42 Crossbill that passed over early on in five separate parties of 6, 7, 23, 4 and 2 all heading east along the ridge. There was also a big movement of alba Wagtails with c200 passing by, along with big numbers of Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Chaffinch, several Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll, 3 Yellowhammer, 1 Tree Pipit and 6 Skylark. At dawn Song Thrush were passing in good numbers and Goldcrests seemed to be calling from every bush. At South Haven, more signs of winter with the first 2 Red-breasted Merganser through the harbour mouth along with 8 Redwing, 519 Siskin, 587 Goldfinch, 200 Linnet, 37 Redpoll, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker all north across the harbour mouth. At Lytchett Bay, a Red Kite was an odd mid October record whilst Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were common-place around much of the area.

The recording below is of the largest flock of Crossbill that passed over Glebelands this morning which happened to give snippets of song in amongst their normal flight calls

Flock of 23 Crossbill over Glebelands, Ballard 10/10/15 – Flight calls and snippets of song