31st October

The wind returned today but it did stay dry allowing plenty of coverege and a fair bit to be tracked down in the cool southerly breeze. Lingering highlights were the male Northern Harrier and the 2 Great Grey Shrikes while on a local level, the arrival of a Yellowhammer at Senness was a much sought after first of 2015. Passerine figures came to 21 Meadow Pipits, 35 Rock Pipits, 18 Robins, 2 Black Redstarts, 3 Wheatears, 103 Blackbirds, 120 Fieldfares, 18 Song Thrushes, 294 Redwings, 5 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests, 4 Chaffinches, 18 Bramblings, a Siskin and 10 Snow Buntings. After the influx earlier in the week just 5 Short-eared Owls were located today and there were also 2 Kestrels and 12 Woodcocks. Flocks of 30 Pink-footed and 9 Barnacle Geese among the Greylags included some newcomers, there were also 9 Grey Herons and among the 200-300 each of feeding or storm driven Common, Herring and Great black-backed Gulls were a juvenile Glaucous Gull and 3 Black-headed Gulls.

 



 Glaucous Gull (both photos George Gay)