23rd and 24th October
Still easterly winds but heavy rain soon moved in on the
23rd and the wind slowly swung around to the SW; it was a tough day in
the field with long periods being just awful to be out in, migrant totals were
again high though but not much new was unearthed with totals comprising a
Peregrine, 4 Jack Snipe, 15 Woodcock, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Dunnock, 41 Robins, 2
Redstarts, 9 Wheatears, 12 Ring Ouzels, 201 Blackbirds, 35 Fieldfare, 51 Song
Thrush, 1,219 Redwings, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, a Willow
Warbler, 13 Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 25 Brambling, 4 Siskins and 3 Snow
Buntings.
Four
Red-throated Divers were offshore along with a Great-northern Diver and 8
Long-tailed Ducks while single Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits remained and 7
Herons were dotted around the island.
A
bit of rain first thing on the 24th gave way to a windy day with a
force 7 SW whipping across the island, despite this some good highlights were
picked out with our second Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll of the autumn on the
west coast near Gretchen, yet another Olive-backed Pipit behind the Surgery and a Great Grey Shrike caught at Ancum. In
amongst the other totals there were a range of lingering ‘summer’ migrants
which are getting to be on the late side now with 3 Redstarts, 13 Wheatears and
a Tree Pipit to mention.
Totals
today included a Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Jack Snipe, 15 Woodcock,
a Woodpigeon, a Grey Wagtail, a Dunnock, 58 Robins, 16 Ring Ouzels, 292
Blackbirds, 82 Fieldfare, 88 Song Thrush, 1,442 Redwings, a Lesser Whitethroat,
a Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaff, 18 Goldcrest, the Red-breasted Flycatcher still, 12 Chaffinches, 58 Bramblings, 45 Twite,
11 Common Redpoll and 10 Snow Buntings.
Other
little bits included a juvenile Glaucous Gull at Bewan, a Grey Plover and
a good total of 84 Purple Sandpipers.
Great Grey Shrike, Simon Davies
Ring Ouzel, Simon Davies
Glaucous Gull, George Gay
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