A
large fall of common migrants occurred at the Observatory today. The day started with classic fall conditions; overcast with a light south-easterly
breeze. By 06:30 light rain started and immediately Wheatears,White Wagtails and
Willow Warblers
were all over the sea wall. It was obvious there was a big fall of migrants happening and
the rest of the day saw the whole peninsular covered in birds.
The main species involved
was Willow Warbler, with a minimum of 200
counted and 28 ringed. Many of the birds were exhausted and feeding on the
ground. Other good counts
included those for Common Sandpiper, Blackcap, Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchat, Wheatear and
White Wagtail.
Whinchat
The
rain cleared in the late afternoon and shortly afterwards the first Marsh Harrier of
the year flew through. The
highlight offshore came early on; a cracking summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe that flew
east at 06:30. The
day ended by counting wagtails on the pools at dusk and then it was time for a
few beers!!
Offshore
3 Scaups east, 39 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10
Red-throated Divers
east, 7 Manx Shearwaters east, 1 Gannet west, 1 summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe east
at 06:30, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits east, 1 Kittiwake west, 8 Little Gulls, 6
Sandwich Terns and 16
Arctic Terns east.
Visible
Migration
1 Marsh Harrier - cream crown north late afternoon, 7 Whimbrels
east, 28 Swallows north,
1 House Martin east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 55 Alba Wagtails north, 2 Tree
Pipits north, 18 Meadow
Pipits north, 25 Goldfinch east, 25 Linnets east and 1 Redpoll east.
Grounded
Migrants
1 Little-ringed Plover, 22 Whimbrels, 12 Common Sandpipers-a high
spring count for here, 8 Swifts, 3 Goldcrests, 20 Sand Martins, 100 Swallows, 25 House Martins, 2
Chiffchaffs, 200
Willow Warblers, 25 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 10
Whitethroats, 8 Grasshopper
Warblers, 10 Sedge Warblers, 9 Reed Warblers, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Redstarts, 8
Whinchats, 140
Wheatears, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 75 White Wagtails, 3 Tree
Pipits, 12 Siskins, 40
Twite, 5 Redpolls and 1 Crossbill-green bird in the plantation.
Wheatears
Willow Warblers were feeding on the ground...........
..........in every bit of scrub; anywhere they could find invertebrates
Redstart
Others
1 Gadwall, 1 Peregrine, 400 Dunlins, 1 Snipe and 126 Black-tailed Godwits.
Dunlin
Ringing
1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 28 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge
Warbler and 1 Tree
Pipit.
Tree Pipit
A very grey looking Willow Warbler
Blackcap
