By Thomas Weston
Census was good but felt very autumnal. A cold wind came up the valley and through the Village. I walked into Millcombe with the calls and sight of Redwing heading SE. There seemed to be a good overnight passage of the species so I presume these were ones lagging behind their friends. There was a small uptake in Song Thrushes and Fieldfare with 9 of the former and 6 of the latter. Chaffinches were also moving in good numbers with over 150 birds heading SE, whereas on the mainland they were heading NE! A single Alba Wagtail was the first for a few days, and it was nice to hear some Siskin heading overhead in ones and twos. Blackbird numbers never really were super high today with 16 recorded across the route, however Starlings were apparent in good numbers with over 240 seen including a couple of flocks very fresh in off the sea. Other visible migrants included a Chiffchaff, 3 Linnets and 12 Meadow Pipits all of which have not been seen for a few days.
Lingering locals and stationary migrants included 12 Carrion Crows, 5 Ravens, 9 Robins, a single Firecrest, 3 Dunnocks, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Great Black-Backed Gulls, 3 Gannets, 2 Water Rails, 2 Peregrines, 3 Goldfinches, 6 Wrens, 2 Auk spp., 18 House Sparrows and 16 Mallards.
Wigeon in Bartons by Thomas Weston
Scarcities on route included the 1st year male Wigeon, and the Jackdaw seen briefly in Bartons but not for long so no idea where that bird is hanging out.
A lot of admin today, but a walk to the Quarries resulted in a Stock Dove, 2 Merlins, a Kestrel, and a couple of Redwing and Fieldfare with some Gannets offshore.
By Thomas Weston
Fieldfare in the Village by Thomas Weston
Census started well with no rain, but omminous skies. Eleanor and I walked down to Millcombe firstly spotting our friendly Jackdaw feeding with the House Sparrows, Starlings and Chickens. Walking through the top of Millcombe, we have seemingly missed all the recent rarities and scarcities hanging out here! Today, there was a couple of Blackbirds totalling 14 across the whole route. Overhead a flock of 6 Ravens were annoying 3 Peregrines. Other corvids about included 21 Carrion Crows across the route, but no Jays having one sighted and photographed on Monday. The Monday record was the first since 2003, a 23 yr gap which we hope does not mean we have to wait another 23yrs for the next one!! Gliding down the valley, a single Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawks were the best as well as 2 nervous Goldfinches. In Millcombe the first of 29 Redwings were spotted, as well as a single Firecrest and Goldcrest in the pines. Offshore, the east winds were strong and 3 Shags battled the winds, a Gannet flew by, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls passed overhead with a Herring Gull, and 23 Oystercatchers were on Millers Cake. Back to the bushes and 3 Wrens will almost certainly be the lowest count this year for this species. There was a flock of 5 Long tailed Tits in St Johns with another 2 seen at the Quarries meaning we still have at least 7 on island. Semi-resident species, with some being big migrants last month, were low with 6 Robins, 6 Dunnocks, 8 Chaffinches, 3 Song Thrushes, and 6 Woodpigeons the best. A single singing Water Rail was heard on the way out of Millcombe, with the totals on the Plautaeu being quiet for sure. There was a noticeable flock of 16 Fieldfare with Redwing in Lower Lighthouse Field, whislt a female Merlin flew by. Nothing to note on the second half until the Village where we spotted 55 Starlings, 12 Mallards, the male Wigeon, a female Teal, and 26 House Sparrows.
By Thomas Weston
A very wet Siskin....
Siskin in the Village by Thomas Weston
A day off, but a wet one to say the least. A walk around the Village and Millcombe yielded 4 Long-tailed Tits in St Johns Valley with 2 Goldcrests, very soggy Chaffinches, a Siskin hiding in a wall(!), single Goldfinch, 12 Fieldfare, 22 Song Thrushes, 32 Redwing, 8 Blackbirds, the male Wigeon in Bartons, the Jackdaw outside Pigs, and 5 Ravens overhead with the 'normal' House Sparrows and Starlings.
Nocturnal wanderings around a couple of fields resulted in a Woodcock seen and ringed, 5 Snipe seen (2 ringed), as well as 3 Redwing seen and ringed.
Lundy map - click to enlarge