Saturday, 25th October 2014

A surprisingly good day despite the southwesterly winds and overcast conditions.There was an obvious overnight arrival of Thrushes and a bit of visible migration first thing. The wind steadily increased and the attention was switched to the sea. There was a decent movement of birds offshore with the highlight being a cracking adult Pomarine Skua which hung around for a while targeting Kittiwakes. Then later in the day a Siberian Chiffchaff was heard to call twice near one of our net rides, the net was opened and despite the blustery conditions it was trapped and ringed.

 

 Siberian Chiffchaff

Offshore

17 Wigeons west, 5 Teal west, 27 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Gannet west, 5 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 adult Pomarine Skua hung around targeting Kittiwakes before flying west, 65 Kittiwakes came in following ferry before drifting back out, 12 Little Gulls, 1 Guillemot west, 7 Razorbills west and 106 Auk sp. west.

 

 Red-throated Diver

Visible Migration

2 Barnacle Geese south, 250 Wood Pigeons south, 53 Jackdaws south, 4 Carrion Crows south, 11 Skylarks south, 104 Starlings south, 2 Alba Wagtails south, 11 Meadow Pipits south, 134 Chaffinch south/south-east, 1 Brambling south-east, 13 Greenfinch south, 15 Goldfinch south and 3 Reed Buntings south.

 

 Woodpigeons

Grounded Migrants

3 Goldcrests, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 30 Blackbirds, 13 Song Thrushes, 45 Redwings and 1 Snow Bunting.

 

 Siberian Chiffchaff

Others:

1,000 Pink-footed Geese, 450 Wigeons, 80 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, 47 Ringed Plovers, 11 Golden Plovers, 600 Lapwings, 260 Sanderlings, 53 Dunlins, 34 Black-tailed Godwits, 350 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats and 2 Rock Pipits.

 

 Dunlins

 

 Stonechat

Ringing:

1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird and 1 Robin.

 

 Common Gull