Tuesday, 11th October 2016

A very frustrating morning as the potential bird of the Autumn, a Red-throated Pipit, flew straight through! IG was doing a vis count on the embankment by the Obs tower when he heard `peeez` coming from behind (he knew exactly what the bird was as he is familiar with the call from several years birding in Asia). As he turned round the Pipit seemed to be coming from the area around the 16th tee where there were several golfers walking around. It gained height and flew east calling about every three seconds, a distinct thin drawn out `peeez`.Unfortunatley this is the pitfall of regular vis counting on the coast, every so often you pick a rare bird up on call and watch as it flies straight over and off into the distance.There's nothing you can do except forget about it and carry on!

Offshore 

11 Shelducks east, 6 Wigeons west, 2 Teal west, 25 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 1 Red-throated Diver west and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

117 Pink-footed Geese south, 24 Jackdaws south, 24 Skylarks south, 11 Fieldfares south-east, 3 Song Thrushes south-east, 214 Redwings south-east, 1 Grey Wagtail south, 12 Alba Wagtails south, 33 Meadow Pipits south, 22 Chaffinch south-east, 31 Greenfinch south, 4 Linnets south and 3 Reed Buntings south-east.

Grounded Migrants 

20 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 6 Song Thrushes, 75 Redwings, 1 Stonechat and 6 Reed Buntings.

Others

330 Wigeons, 65 Teal, 6 Pintails, 4 Shovelers, 7 Little Egrets, 43 Golden Plovers, 500 Lapwings, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Ruff, 75 Dunlins, 550 Redshanks, 1 Med. Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 150 Goldfinch.

 

 Yellow-legged Gull

Ringing

4 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 Above is the British race of Goldcrest and below is a 'continental' bird.

Both were trapped and ringed today. The continental bird is noticeably

paler and brighter than our own birds. Note that it is much greyer 

around the head and neck, and the mantle is greener and brighter.

Monday, 10th October 2016

Offshore

17 Shelducks east, 1 Wigeon west, 10 Pintails east, 19 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west and 1 Guillemot east.

Visible Migration

955 Pink-footed Geese south, 2 Barnacle Geese south, 1 Hen Harrier in off, 56 Skylarks south, 2 Swallows

south, 2 Song Thrushes south-east, 11 Redwings south-east, 5 Mistle Thrushes south,1 Tree Sparrow east, 3 Grey Wagtails south, 24 Alba Wagtails south, 89 Meadow Pipits south, 21 Chaffinch south-east, 21 Greenfinch south, 2 Linnets south, 9 Goldfinch south, 2 Siskins east and 10 Reed Buntings south-east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrushes and 2 Stonechats.

 

 Stonechat

Others

205 Wigeons, 75 Teal, 32 Pintails, 7 Little Egrets, 85 Golden Plovers, 750 Lapwings, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Ruff, 130 Dunlins, 600 Redshanks, 2 Med. Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 60 Goldfinch.

Ringing 

2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff and 7 Reed Buntings.

 

 Chiffchaff

Sunday, 9th October 2016

Another excellent migration day; vis highlights included a good total of Skylarks moving south plus another Lapland Bunting flying west along the embankment calling. Grounded highlights were a noisy Ring Ouzel at dawn and yet another Yellow-browed Warbler found in the mount. Also an interesting Treecreeper was trapped - see pictures.

Offshore

6 Shelducks east, 4 Wigeons west, 1 Pintail east, 22 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers,1 Red-throated Diver west, 2 Guillemots east and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

865 Pink-footed Geese south, 2 Buzzards east, 1 Kestrel in off, 11 Jackdaws south, 18 Carrion Crows south, 1 Raven north-east, 214 Skylarks south, 23 Swallows south, 1 House Martin south, 18 Starlings south, 350 Redwings south-east, 6 Fieldfares south-east, 3 Grey Wagtails south, 53 Alba Wagtails south, 281 Meadow Pipits south, 3 Bramblings south-east, 38 Chaffinch south-east, 21 Greenfinches south, 20 Linnets south, 24 Goldfinch south, 3 Siskins east, 1 Lapland Bunting west and 7 Reed Buntings south-east.

 Buzzard

 Pink-footed Geese

Grounded Migrants

8 Goldcrests, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Ring Ouzel, 10 Redwings, 15 Blackbirds and 12 Song Thrushes.

Others

270 Pink-footed Geese, 420 Wigeons, 1 Gadwall, 170 Teal, 2 Pintails, 7 Little Egrets, 58 Golden Plovers, 675 Lapwings, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Turnstones, 85 Dunlins, 700 Redshanks, 2 Med. Gulls and 1 Kingfisher.

 Stonechat

Ringing

1 Blue Tit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Wrens, 2 Blackbirds, 6 Redwings, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 3 Meadow Pipits and 3 Greenfinches.

 Treecreeper. Note the bright white underparts, broad bright white 
supercilium and greyish looking mantle. This gives the impression of a 
'cold' looking bird when compared to the 'warm' browninsh tones in the mantle of 
British birds. This was certainly an interesting bird! 

 Redwing

Saturday, 8th October 2016

Offshore

2 light-bellied Brent Geese west, 5 Teals west, 85 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Guillemot east, 1 Auk sp. east and 1 Little Gull west.

Visible Migration

1257 Pink-footed Geese south, 78 Jackdaws south, 6 Carrion Crows south, 5 Coal Tits south, 69 Skylarks south, 4 Swallows south, 17 Starlings south, 28 Redwings south-east, 1 Mistle Thrush south-east, 2 Tree Sparrows east, 3 Grey Wagtails south, 36 Alba Wagtails south, 230 Meadow Pipits south, 2 Rock Pipits west, 1 Brambling east, 35 Chaffinch south-east, 22 Linnets south, 6 Redpolls south, 11 Goldfinch south, 12 Greenfinches south and 17 Reed Buntings south-east.

 Pink-footed Geese

Grounded Migrants

6 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 15 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 6 Song Thrushes and 55 Redwings.

 Chiffchaff

Others 

330 Wigeons, 1 Gadwall, 90 Teals, 3 Pintails, 3 Shovelers, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 90 Golden Plovers, 800 Lapwings, 47 Black-tailed Godwits, 65 Dunlins, 700 Redshanks, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 60 Goldfinch.

Ringing

1 Blue Tit, 2 Meadow Pipits, 7 Greenfinches and 3 Reed Buntings. 

Friday, 7th October 2016

A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen briefly this morning skulking in Willows at the bottom of IG's garden. It re-appeared giving better views during the afternoon and it was unringed, making it another new bird.

Offshore 

13 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Red-throated Diver west and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Visible Migration

27 Pink-footed Geese south, 3 Skylarks south, 1 Song Thrush south-east, 3 Redwings south-east, 3 Grey Wagtails south, 21 Alba Wagtails south, 106 Meadow Pipits south, 1 Brambling south-east, 12 Chaffinch south-east, 8 Linnets south and 1 Reed Bunting south-east.

Grounded Migrants

11 Goldcrests, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Redwings and 3 Song Thrushes.

 

 Yellow-browed Warbler

Others

170 Pink-footed Geese, 420 Wigeons, 1 Gadwall, 145 Teals, 4 Little Egrets, 53 Golden Plovers, 550 Lapwings, 48 Ringed Plovers, 155 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Turnstones, 52 Sanderlings, 100 Dunlins, 625 Redshanks and 2 Rock Pipits.

 

 Gadwall

Thursday, 6th October 2016

Another decent arrival day with two more Yellow-browed Warblers being found. The first was trapped & ringed in IG's garden, and a very elusive bird was in the Mount during the morning. A Pied Flycatcher was also found while searching for the elusive Yellow-browed. 

Yellow-browed Warbler

Offshore 

12 Shelducks east, 3 Teals west, 38 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-throated Divers west and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

409 Pink-footed Geese south, 3 Blue Tits - left high to the south, 27 Skylarks south, 2 Swallows south, 2 Song Thrushes south-east, 375 Redwings south-east, 2 Grey Wagtails south, 52 Alba Wagtails south, 244 Meadow Pipits south, 1 Brambling south-east, 20 Chaffinch south-east, 22 Linnets south,1 Redpoll east

and 7 Siskins east.

Grounded Migrants 

12 Goldcrests, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 8 Song Thrushes, 15 Redwings, 12 Robins, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Stonechats, 1 Wheatear and 1 Bullfinch.

 

 Stonechat

Others

280 Wigeons, 130 Teal, 3 Little Egrets, 36 Golden Plovers, 17 Grey Plovers, 570 Lapwings, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Turnstones, 1 Ruff, 80 Dunlins, 700 Redshanks, 2 Med. Gulls, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Ringing

1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 Yellow-browed Warbler

Wednesday, 5th October 2016

A hyperactive and vocal Yellow-browed Warbler played hide and seek in the Mount this morning, spending much of the time in the Sycamores along the east bank.

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 13 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

27 Pink-footed Geese south, 4 Snipe east, 5 Skylarks south, 3 Mistle Thrushes south-east, 2 Grey Wagtails

south, 15 Alba Wagtails south, 42 Meadow Pipits south, 3 Rock Pipits west, 6 Chaffinch south-east, 7 Linnets south and 2 Reed Buntings south-east.

 

 Meadow Pipit

Grounded Migrants

4 Goldcrests, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap and 1 Wheatear.

Others

160 Wigeons, 43 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 33 Golden Plovers, 530 Lapwings, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 155 Turnstones, 75 Dunlins, 550 Redshanks, 1 Med. Gull and 2 Cetti's Warblers.

Ringing

1 Great Tit and 4 Reed Buntings.