14th October

Another busy day out in the field with the light winds making it a joy to be wandering around in the middle of the tiwnkling Finch flocks that have been a feature of the last few days; the scarcities across the island were generally lingering birds with the Richard’s Pipit near Sangar still, the Great Grey Shrike still around Ancum and the Common Rosefinch with the Bramblings by the Obs but a Bluethroat at Scotsha was a new discovery.

                Migrant totals across the land included 2 Hen Harriers, single Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine (which actually bounced out of a net at Holland!), a Woodpigeon, 83 Skylark, 4 Swallows, a Grey Wagtail, the first Dunnock of the autumn, 37 Robins, 18 Wheatears, 80 Song Thrush, 340 Redwing, 9 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 8 Goldcrest, a Jackdaw, 51 Chaffinches, 269 Brambling, 7 Greenfinch, a Goldfinch, 4 Siskins, 22 Twite, 22 Snow Buntings, a Yellowhammer and 6 Reed Buntings.

                Other birds of note comprised 25 Whooper Swans (with several flocks going south), 160 Ringed Plover, 522 Golden Plover, 2 Ruff, 3 Jack Snipe, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 81 Curlew, 157 Redshank, a late Common Sandpiper on the coast at The Lurn and 215 Turnstone.

Bramblings

Whooper Swans