7th October

There was another massive arrival of birds today-but it was frustrating that we just couldn't get out there and count them. The conditions were incredibly difficult with heavy rain not subsiding until after lunch and by then we were chomping at the bit as we could see it was littered with thrushes outside just from the warm and cosy Observatory lounge! A 3 hour scramble of the westernmost coast, equating to about a third of the island being covered we returned Thrush totals of 490 Song Thrushes, 292 Redwings, 73 Blackbirds and a Ring Ouzel. None of the OBP's could be found (but are just as likely to still be present)  but the Short-toed Lark was still at Nether Linnay. Also counted were 2 Kestrels, 7 Woodcocks, 13 Woodpigeons, 48 Skylarks, 13 Robins, a Black Redstart, 20 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 20 Chaffinch, 114 Bramblings, a Greenfinch and a new 'north-western' Redpoll. Tomorrow could be fun...

 

Brambling