Wednesday, 25th September 2013

The south-easterly winds and murky conditions produced an arrival of migrants today, the undoubted highlight being the Observatory`s first ever record of Golden Oriole. Ian and Seumus were birding in the cemetery when a Spotted Flycatcher flew out of some Sycamores, they moved a little to their right to get better views when a sudden flash of green and yellow flew out, and "Golden f*****g Oriole" was shouted out! The bird flew in front of them and landed in another patch of Sycamores in a garden adjacent to the cemetery and quickly disappeared.

 

With the finding of the Oriole the thinking was something else could be around so the peninsular was given a good thrashing but nothing else turned up. A nice selection of common migrants were observed though, making it an enjoyable day.

Offshore

7 Wigeon east, 7 Eiders, 33 Common Scoters west and 6 Sandwich Terns.

Visible Migration 

105 Pink-footed Geese south, 5 Snipe east, 1 Whimbrel west, 3 Skylarks south, 23 Swallows south, 1 Dunnock south, 10 Grey Wagtails south, 33 Alba Wagtails south, 553 Meadow Pipits south, 1 Rock Pipit south-west, 8 Chaffinch south and 5 Reed Buntings south.

Grounded Migrants

1 female/immature Golden Oriole, 5 Goldcrests, 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Redwing, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 15 Robins, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat, 10 Wheatears, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 13 Pied Wagtails.

 

 Stonechat

 

 Wheatear

Others:

68 Ringed Plovers, 170 Sanderlings, 350 Dunlins, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 300 Turnstones and 1 Med. Gull.

Ringing

1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock and 2 Chaffinch.

 

 Knot