15th October
A truly fantastic and hectic day with plenty of migrants and even a couple of rarities throw into the mix-just to spice things up a bit. Kicking things off mid-morning was a Blyth's Reed Warbler caught and ringed at the Observatory an hour after dawn. This is the fourth year in the row (and sixth individual) the species has been recorded on the Island, and it went on to show well throughout the day in the trapping area. A few hours later an Olive-backed Pipit was discovered near Sangar (an OBP or Tree Pipit flew high over the Observatory at dawn) showed well to the finder for a few seconds before taking to the skies and flying off high, north-east towards the lighthouse-hopefully it'll be re-located and more co-operative tomorrow! Next and just after midday an Arctic Redpoll was picked up flying over the Mill and subsequently tracked down at Gerbo, where it was seen well (but at a fair distance) and again only to the finder. It was thought most likely to be a 'hornemanni' race bird and was last seen flying towards Kirbest but wasn't re-located despite searching.
There was a strong supporting cast which included a Canada Goose at Hooking, the 2 Wood Sandpipers still, yesterdays Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Kirbest, a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Newbiggin and the Northern Bullfinch at Holland still. The mist-nets there were again busy with commoner migrants numbering as follows; 2 Dunnocks, 39 Blackbirds, 8 Fieldfares, 12 Song Thrushes, 87 Redwings (including a Danish control), 2 Mistle Thrushes (including only the eighth to be caught and ringed), 43 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrests, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 17 Mealy Redpolls plus 20 of one or another. A minimum of 5 Hen Harriers were seen, 3 of which arrived together off the sea at the Observatory and a Woodcock and 6 Jack Snipe were flushed during the day.
There was a strong supporting cast which included a Canada Goose at Hooking, the 2 Wood Sandpipers still, yesterdays Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Kirbest, a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Newbiggin and the Northern Bullfinch at Holland still. The mist-nets there were again busy with commoner migrants numbering as follows; 2 Dunnocks, 39 Blackbirds, 8 Fieldfares, 12 Song Thrushes, 87 Redwings (including a Danish control), 2 Mistle Thrushes (including only the eighth to be caught and ringed), 43 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrests, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 17 Mealy Redpolls plus 20 of one or another. A minimum of 5 Hen Harriers were seen, 3 of which arrived together off the sea at the Observatory and a Woodcock and 6 Jack Snipe were flushed during the day.
Blyth's Reed Warbler
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