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October At Cliffe, October is the month where the balance of the seasons really changes with the last of the summer migrants moving on to be replaced by winter visitors. The range of wader species declines from its yearly high in August-September but winter populations start to build through the month with growing numbers of dunlin, lapwing redshank and grey plover coming in to roost at high tide on the lagoons islands and beaches. Similarly winter duck numbers start to build with teal, shoveler, wigeon and pochard populations rising progressively through the month October is also a prime time for watching migration, although Cliffe is noted more for its passage waders it is worth looking out for migrant warblers, yellow wagtails hirundines and thrushes. By the end of the month fieldfares and redwings should have arrived to winter in the area. October can also be a good month for watching seabirds in the Thames from the reserve, strong North-Westerlies are the winds to look for, these can bring all four species of skua, leaches and storm petrel plus rare gulls all the way up the Thames as far as Gravesend! Birds of prey become more apparent in the area as the month continues, hen and marsh harrier, merlin and peregrine all winter on the marshes (albeit in smaller numbers than on the Isle of Sheppey) and all 5 species of owl can be seen or heard at or adjacent to the reserve most winters. Finally October is still a reasonable month for other wildlife. Bat species like noctule, pipistrelle and serotine are active while the weather remains mild and warm days still have reasonable insect life to look for: Butterflies like comma, red admiral, small tortoiseshell and clouded yellow are all regulars in october as are migrant hawker and ruddy darter dragonflies and white and buff-tailed bumblebees. And in rough grass and bramble the chirps of dark bush crickets give still give an echo of summer right to the end of the month.
Latest sightings 3/10: 1 serotine at dusk from St Helens church, Cliffe 4/10: 12 swallows, 1 redpoll 9/10: Don Taylor et al 'Big Sit' recorded 87 species from 5.45am to 6.15pm, an impressive total including some good late records and local highlights, e.g turtle dove, grey wagtail & yellowhammer 10/10: 700 lapwing, 1 kingfisher, 2-3 noctules & 2+ common pipistrelle in Cliffe area (St Helens church etc) 11/10: 155 little grebe 17/10: 32 little egret, 80 golden plover, 235 grey plover, 935 lapwing, 205 ringed plover, 650 avocet, 25 black-tailed godwit, 165 redshank, 1650 dunlin 20/10: 1 mediterranean gull 23/10: c.3000 dunlin 24/10: 1 white-rumped sandpiper, 1 kingfisher 26/10: 1 Hen harrier (ring-tail) 27/10: 145 shoveler |