Bird Sightings

A big fall included a Red backed Shrike in Millcombe plus hundreds of common migrants.

The rain and wind was very strong today and made for a damp day overall but a good fall with birds presumably from the East of the country filtering their way across and making it to the West and Lundy. Highlights from today’s fall taking into consideration census, Pondsbury and the Terraces included 40 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Pied Flycatchers, 5 Whinchats, 16 Wheatear, 10 Tree Pipits, 2 Reed Warblers, single Sedge Warbler, 21 Willow Warblers, 24 Chiffchaffs, 7 Whitethroats, 34 Blackcaps, 7 Goldcrests, single Firecrest, 4 Snipe, 3 Ringed Plover, 40 Swallows, single Grey Wagtail, single Teal, and single Yellow Wagtail.

A busy day on the island with a big fall of migrants. Ringing in Millcombe, census, an all round island cruise and a night of disorientated Manx Shearwaters led to a very busy day. The highlights included 5 Common Scoters out in the East; Eurasian Teal on Pondsbury; 6 Black-headed gulls flew North off the East Coast; a Grey Wagtail in Millcombe; a very nice arrival of warblers including large numbers of Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroats, single Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers; 50+ Spotted flycatchers signifying a large arrival; 3 Pied Flycatchers; 2 Firecrest in Millcombe; 453 Shag around the island; 17 Yellow Wagtails in the fields; 15 Whinchat; Sanderling over Quarter Wall; 2 Ringed Plover at Benjamin’s Chair; a Greenshank flew high out to the East over Millcombe; a Green Sandpiper flew low West over the Village; and a Common Sandpiper in the Landing Bay.

Four stray Manx Shearwaters found their way into the Village this evening with one making its way into the Tavern.

A VERY humid start to the day with rain approaching from the east. An odd scenario where it was flat calm but quite warm making a pleasant census.

Whinchat in St John's Valley. ©Thomas Weston

Totals included 11 Mallard in Barton’s Field; 7 Woodpigeons in St Helen’s Field/Millcombe; single Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Turnstone all in the Landing Bay; single Redshank and Snipe over the Church; single Great Black-backed Gull and single Herring Gull over the Village; 4 Shag in the Landing Bay; 12 Carrion Crows and 7 Ravens the only corvids around; single Skylark in the Airfield; 6 Sand Martins, 7 Swallows and a single House Martin south; migrant warblers in Millcombe included 13 Blackcap, single Whitethroat, single Reed Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 18 Chiffchaff with additional 5 Goldcrests and the single Firecrest;  14 Wrens were recorded on the route; 67 Starlings split between the village and the fields; 11 Blackbirds in Millcombe; single Song Thrush on the path down to Millcombe House; single Pied Flycatcher at Stoney Paddock; 11 Robins split between the Village and Millcombe; single Wheatear with 4 Whinchat and 8 Stonechat in SW Field; 3 Dunnock in Millcombe; 37 House Sparrows split between Millcombe and the Village; single Yellow Wagtail and 2 Pied Wagtail in Tent Field; 2 Tree Pipits flew South; 19 Meadow Pipits in the fields, with some associated with 4 Rock Pipits around Old Light; single Chaffinch in the Village; with 30 Linnets, and 17 Goldfinches along the route.

An afternoon in the Landing Bay resulted in a nice arrival of Red admiral butterflies with a whole island count of ~1100 individuals flying in from the East and heading SW back out to sea. There were sightings of coasting Red admirals off the North Cornwall coast. There was also an arrival of Lesser-black backed gulls, 4 Cormorants, and a few hirundines.

Other sightings:

• A couple of extra Snipe over the Village
• A scattering of Whinchats around the island
• Wryneck on the Terraces

Ringing

A short session before the rain lead to four migrants caught.