Generally a wettish month, with typical November weather and winter wildfowl were around in abundance
The Isabelline Shrike disappeared from Wood Mill at the very start of the month, though it had been enjoyed by many from far and wide. Just out of our area towards Beeding a Great Grey Shrike was around from the 12th to the 18th. While Lesley was looking for the shrike she had a close encounter with a male Merlin!
Paula found a Grey Wagtail at the Tanyard Pond on the 4th, not their usual haunt. Maybe the same as the one that returned to Debbie & Nige’s garden on the 11th.  In Hills’ pumpkin patch (ploughed by January) Will came across a small flock of Fieldfares on the 7th, first ones reported I think, and a group of 6 Woodlarks nearby.

Mike & Lesley took a walk south from home on the 8th. Perhaps the surprise of the day was a flock of 30 Fieldfare which flew over Berretts Farm. Plenty of water on the Brooks and an almost ridiculous number of geese, well over 1,000 Canada Geese, a good number of Greylag Geese and they actually counted 44 Egyptian Geese. There were a variety of ducks, not counted but Wigeon were the dominant species, but also recorded Teal, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler and Mallard. Six species of Corvids noted including a Raven, while raptors were represented by a Buzzard and Red Kite. A Bullfinch was the only finch they recorded on the walk but 4 others were noted in and around the garden including 2 Redpolls. A rather wet area walk on the 10th found many of the same, plus Angela and I counted 117 Lapwings – Mike said they had counted 118 on their walk!  Lorna walked down there with her dogs in the dark the next evening and was almost deafened by the cacophony emanating from the wildfowl – and she heard a Tawny Owl.
A Water Rail squealing from a ditch by the Rye Farm track was the highlight of my walk on the 12th.  On the 16th some of the West Grinstead group walked the Downslink and among other sightings reported 7 (SEVEN) Spotted Redshank and some Black-tailed Godwits.  Back in the village on the 18th, Graham (Smith) noted a male Blackcap in his garden in The Hooks.
Sam set us a “Whose tail is this” quiz question from a photo taken by a camera in her Barn Owl box – turned out to belong to a Kestrel!

There was some discussion about the lack of Blackbirds in gardens, as they have been affected by a nasty virus called Usutu, spread by mosquitos, but from the middle of the month members were reporting seeing them back again, though these could be ones arriving from the continent.