12th October

Another busy day at the Holland House mist nets and there was also plenty of movement on the sea off the north end. Masses of Fulmars streamed past the hide with 6215-including 29 'blue' phase birds in three and a half hours. Our second (sixth Island record) Balearic Shearwater of the year mid-morning was the highlight and there were also 36 Sooty Shearwaters, 19 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Little Auks, 17 Puffins and 662 unidentified Auk sp. There's been an influx of Redpolls recently with the first Lesser Redpoll of the year trapped and ringed during the morning as-well as at least 7 Mealy Redpolls (3 trapped and ringed) present. Yet another Great Spotted Woodpecker was also trapped and ringed (a different bird from yesterday) while other land-birds included a Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Goldcrests a Lapland Bunting and 343 Snow Buntings. A Whooper Swan toured the Island, a Woodcock was on the west side and 4 different Hen Harriers were noted. Finally there was a late Peacock Butterfly at the north end and 3 Risso's Dolphins were seen during the sea-watch.

Great Spotted Woodpecker