2 Woodcocks at Essex farm at first light, a still morning with strong overnight north winds turning to light westerly in the early hours. Probably the largest and most impressive visual migration this year took place this morning as some 10,000 starlings passed over Longis common between 7am and 9am. Bar one flock of 40 Fieldfares migrating winter Thrushes were absent. There were also 35 Chaffinches and 6 Skylarks over. The Longis Little Egret roost has dropped to 5 birds. Amongst grounded migrants there was a big increase in Blackbirds.
Almost Mid November and the ringing is still busy. The passage of Thrushes, Finches and Warblers continues with a total of 71 new birds ringed today: 1 Woodcock, 24 Blackbirds, 10 Song Thrushes, 2 Redwings, 7 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 7 Wrens, 4 Robins, 1 Great Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinches and 5 Chaffinches.