Bits and pieces

26th October 2013 – overcast SW3
Offshore
Observations (0800-0900) provided 200 Razorbill, 140 Common Scoter, 38 Kittiwake, 3 Guillemot and single Gannet and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to 8 Chaffinch, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Tree Sparrow and a Mistle Thrush.
Miscellaneous
A post roost flock of 5000 Starling circled over the island at dawn.
Moths
Rusty Dot Pearl was the first moth for a while.

Ring Ouzel

25th October 2013 – early rain SE4/5
Grounded Migrants
Grounded thrushes involved a Ring Ouzel, 10 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush while other sightings included 3 Blackcap and a single Goldcrest.
Miscellaneous
A Stock Dove was a welcome sight of what is a declining species on the island.

Meally Redpoll

24th October 2013 – bright and sunny V1
Grounded Migrants
A Meally Redpoll was the pick of the newly grounded birds which also included 6 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing and a Song Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
Light passage produced 82 Pink-footed Geese, 30 Skylark, 20 Chaffinch, 10 Meadow Pipit, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 2 Brambling, 2 Tree Sparrow and single Fieldfare and Grey Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
Two Raven were the best of the rest.

Puffin finally added to year list

22nd October 2013 – early rain then sunny spells S4/5
Offshore
Observations (0840-0940) were led by a single Puffin amongst 105 Common Scoter, 55 Razorbill, 14 Gannet, 7 Kittiwake and a Red-throated Diver.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 18 Whooper Swan flew through.

Brent Geese continue to arrive

21st October 2013 – overcast S4/5
Offshore
A check over the sea early morning(0800-0900) produced 41 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, 8 Razorbill and single Scaup, Red-throated Diver and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A Goldcrest was the only evidence of grounded birds.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock increased to 86 pale-bellied birds and Wigeon numbers remained high with 1000 birds logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 10 Little Egret were seen.

First Purple Sandpiper reappears

20th October 2013 – sunny spells and showers S4
Offshore
Just Small numbers of Gannet, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver were seen.
Grounded Migrants
A single Goldcrest was all that was to be found.
Diurnal Migration
A small skein of 14 Pink-footed Geese and a single Brambling were recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held steady at 78 birds and Wigeon increased to 1600 birds. The first Purple Sandpiper reappeared.
Miscellaneous
Little Egrets were again much in evidence along the eastern shore.

Brent Goose influx

19th October 2013 – overcast/rain S3
Offshore
A check over the sea early morning produced 17 Gannet, 8 Razorbill, 8 Common Scoter and single Guillemot and Rd-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 20 Blackbird and 2 Song Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 14 Whooper Swan and a solitary Grey Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 78 pale-bellied birds and 1100 Wigeon were logged.
Moths
The Satellite was new for the year.

First Twite of the autumn

18th October 2013 – overcast SE4/5
Offshore
A quiet morning over the sea with just 9 Common Scoter, 8 Gannet, 3 Razorbill, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Shag on the move.
Grounded Migrants
A smattering of sightings involved 3 Goldcrest, 2 Wheatear and single Redwing and Song Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
Another light passage produced 100 Pink-footed Geese, 43 Jackdaw and single Rock Pipit and Siskin.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 14 pale-bellied birds and additional wildfowl included 42 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Goldeneye. Waders included 22 Greenshank and single Whimbrel and Ruff
Miscellaneous
The first Twite of the autumn appeared and 3 Raven, 2 Merlin and a Peregrine were also recorded.

More Barnacle Geese

17th October 2013 – sunny spells SW3
Offshore
Razorbills were still on the move with 675 birds logged otherwise observations (0730-0830) were limited to 21 Gannet, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Kittiwake and 2 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Only evidence by 5 Blackbird and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Again a light passage produced 30 Jackdaw, 2 Lesser Redpoll and single Rock Pipit and Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 50 Barnacle Geese were logged.
Miscellaneous
A total of 46 Little Egret were seen and at least one Water Rail was present.

Razorbills on the move

15th October 2013 –sunny spells NE2
Offshore
Observations (0730-0830) provided 520 Razorbill, 18 Common Scoter, 38 Gannet and 4 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
There was evidence of the overnight arrival of a smattering of birds with 26 Robin, 16 Dunnock, 10 Wren, 8 Blackbird, 6 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff and single Song Thrush and Goldcrest logged.
Diurnal Migration
Some small scale movement was evident with 105 Jackdaw, 80 Pink-footed Geese, 35 Skylark, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Swallow, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Lesser Redpoll and single Brambling and Grey Wagtail logged.
Miscellaneous
Good numbers of Little Egret remain along the eastern shore.

Record numbers of Little Egret

14th October 2013 – overcast NE3
Offshore
Observations (0800-0900) provided 200 Razorbill, 170 Common Scoter, 8 Gannet, 4 Shag, 4 Red-throated Diver and 3 Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 6 Blackbird, 3 Redwing and single Blackcap and Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Just small numbers of Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Pied/White Wagtail were on the move.
Miscellaneous
An impressive total of 52 Little Egret were counted along the eastern shore.
Mammals
Three Harbour Porpoise were offshore.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel and Brambling

13th October 2013 – sunny spells NE3/4
Rarities
A Yellow-browed Warbler was again in Vickerstown Park, continuing to favour the area between the pumping station and bowling green.
Offshore
Morning observations (0730-0830) produced 300 Common Scoter, 86 Razorbill, 10 Gannet, 2 Red-throated Diver and a lone Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved single Ring Ouzel, Fieldfare and Redwing amongst 6 Blackbird. Other newly grounded birds were limited to 10 Robin, 2 Blackcap and solitary Goldcrest and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A further 120 Pink-footed Geese headed south and other sightings included 30 Tree Sparrow, 5 Siskin and the first Brambling of the autumn.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Ruff was the best of the waders.
Moths
Figure of Eight and Feathered Rannunculus were both new for the year.

A quiet day

12th October 2013 – sunny spells NE3/4
Offshore
Morning observations produced 55 Common Scoter, 21 Razorbill, 6 Gannet and 2 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 6 Redwing and single Song Thrush, Blackbird and Fieldfare.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 410 Pink-footed Geese headed south while 17 Tree Sparrow were also logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 5 Little Egret were logged.

First Whooper Swans move through

11th October 2013 – sunny spells NE4
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 22 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush and 2 Fieldfare. However, a Chiffchaff was the only other obvious evidence of overnight movement.
Diurnal Migration
Again wildfowl were on the move with 340 Pink-footed Geese, 32 Whooper Swan and 4 Barnacle Geese seen. Also logged were 70 Linnet, 50 Meadow Pipit, 30 Chaffinch, 30 Starling, 23 Tree Sparrow, 20 Pied/White Wagtail, 10 Skylark, 5 Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll.
Wildfowl and Waders
Again 2 Shoveler amongst 130 Teal were the best of the wildfowl.
Moths
A Tawny Pinion was new for the year.

Hen Harrier and Pink-footed Geese

10th October 2013 – sunny spells N2/3/4
Offshore
Morning observations produced 50 Common Scoter, 39 Razorbill, 4 Gannet, 4 Red-throated Diver and a Scaup.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 100 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush and a Fieldfare. Otherwise newly grounded birds were limited to a solitary Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Geese were on the move throughout the morning with 1000 Pink-footed Geese and 30 Barnacle Geese logged. Also recorded were 300 Meadow Pipit, 220 Starling, 60 Skylark, 40 Chaffinch, 35 Pied/White Wagtail, 33 Linnet, 20 Redwing, 12 Tree Sparrow, 2 Swallow and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Shoveler were the best of the wildfowl.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included a ringtail Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Merlin.

Yellow-browed Warblers continue to linger

6th October 2013 – sunny spells SW4
Rarities
The two Yellow-browed Warblers remain on the centre of the island. The birds favour the trees and scrub between the bowling green and pumping station in Vickerstown Park.
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) produced 390 Razorbill, 135 Common Scoter, 127 Gannet, 6 Red-throated Diver and a Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to several Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Again only light passage was recorded with 300 Meadow Pipit, 30 Jackdaw, 7 Carrion Crow, 6 Pied/White Wagtail, 4 Skylark and 2 Grey Wagtail logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of pale-bellied Brent Geese has increased to 24 birds.
Miscellaneous
At least 24 Little Egret were along the eastern shore.

Yellow-browed Warbler continues to linger

5th October 2013 – sunny spells SW4/3
Rarities
At least one Yellow-browed Warbler remains on the centre of the island. The bird favours the trees and scrub between the bowling green and pumping station in Vickerstown Park.
Offshore
Morning observations (0730-0830) produced 435 Razorbill, 325Common Scoter, 45 Gannet, 11 pale-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Pintail, 2 Guillemot and a Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Wheatear and 2 Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Only light passage was recorded with 500 Meadow Pipit, 180 Pink-footed Goose, 48 Jackdaw, 30 Pied/White Wagtail, 30 Linnet, 25 Starling, 25 Skylark, 12 Carrion Crow, 10 Chaffinch, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Swallow and a Lesser Redpoll logged.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl and Water Rail were logged.
Moths
The Brick and Red-green Carpet were both new for the year while migrants included Rush Veneer and Silver Y.

Yellow-browed Warblers and Turtle Dove

4th October 2013 – overcast with rain at times/calm then SW3
Rarities
There are now two Yellow-browed Warblers on the centre of the island. The birds favour the trees and scrub between the bowling green and pumping station in Vickerstown Park. A Turtle Dove was only the second to be recorded on the island this century.
Offshore
Morning observations (0830-0930) produced 425 Common Scoter, 11 Gannet, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Two Chiffchaff and single Spotted Flycatcher and Stonechat were the only additional evidence of grounded birds.
Diurnal Migration
Birds were on the move between the pulses of rain through the morning with 2300 Meadow Pipit, 95 Chaffinch, 40 Snipe, 33 Pink-footed Goose, 31 Siskin, 30 Starling, 20 Pied/White Wagtail, 10 Skylark, 10 Linnet, 7 Reed Bunting and 3 Grey Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
At least 5 Little Egret were seen and raptors included Merlin and Peregrine.
Moths
Large Wainscot and Red-lined Quaker were both new for the year.

Yellow-browed Warbler

3rd October 2013 – overcast SE4/5, rain later
Rarities
A Yellow-browed Warbler was on the centre of the island for its third day. The bird favours the trees and scrub between the bowling green and pumping station in Vickerstown Park..
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) were highlighted by a second-winter Mediterranean Gull, additional sightings included 155 Razorbill, 60 Common Scoter, 5 Gannet, 5 Guillemot, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Common Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Otherwise limited to 30 Robin and 8 Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A pulse of activity mid-morning produced 600 Meadow Pipit, 130 Starling, 70 Skylark, 20 Pied/White Wagtail, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Snipe, 2 Siskin and a Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wigeon and Teal numbers continue to build steadily and a Black-tailed Godwit was logged.
Miscellaneous
At least 3 Little Egret were seen.