By Greg Lee
When heading back to the Lodge last night, I had noticed that the mist had rolled in from the sea, only clearing at dawn, just before I began my census for the day. It perhaps wasn’t surprising that there hadn’t been a substantial arrival of migrants. Instead, it was a select few highlights down in Millcombe including a couple of Pied Flycatchers, a ringed Yellow-browed Warbler (from yesterday), a Song Thrush and a small collection of Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Firecrests. The upper section of the island was very quiet indeed, but this wasn’t particularly surprising; in fact, the main highlight of it all was wearing my new wellies and my socks keeping warm and snug. Something that wouldn’t have happened with my old pair or my walking boots.
Yellow-browed Warbler by G.Lee- Colour-ringed as part of an ongoing project into the migration of this Siberian species
We are lucky to have a few other birders on the island at the moment and so a few other interesting sightings during the day included at least two other Yellow-browed Warblers, the Snow Bunting at Rocket Pole, a very late Swift at Halfway Wall, and a Common Redstart along the Beach Road.
Redstart by N. Barnes