31st October 2012 – overcast, rain/heavy at times S5
Offshore
Early morning observations (0800-0900) provided small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Gannet, Common Scoter, Razorbill and Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Only evidenced by 3 Blackbird.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included: 900 Wigeon, 103 pale-bellied Brent Goose, 104 Shelduck, 5 Pintail and 4 Shoveler.
Ringing
A total of 538 birds of 23 species were ringed during the month, with a lack of finches providing a below par total. Individual species totals were Goldfinch (126), Meadow Pipit (81), Greenfinch (59), Goldcrest (55), Chaffinch (51), Blackbird (34), Dunnock (22), Blue Tit (20), Robin (19), Song Thrush (16), Wren (16), Lesser Redpoll (8), Great Tit (6), House Sparrow (6), Coal Tit (5), Chiffchaff (3), Tree Sparrow (3), Redwing (2), Reed Bunting (2), Pied Wagtail (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Merlin (1).
Standard Fare
30th October 2012 – rain at times W4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0830) provided 66 Common Scoter, 35 Razorbill, 27 Kittiwake and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 10 Blackbird.
Diurnal Migration
Three Whooper Swan flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The pale-bellied Brent Goose flock held 87 birds. Waders included 10000 Oystercatcher, 1000 Golden Plover, 700 Knot, 220 Lapwing and 20 Bar-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included 3 Merlin and a Peregrine.
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0830) provided 66 Common Scoter, 35 Razorbill, 27 Kittiwake and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 10 Blackbird.
Diurnal Migration
Three Whooper Swan flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The pale-bellied Brent Goose flock held 87 birds. Waders included 10000 Oystercatcher, 1000 Golden Plover, 700 Knot, 220 Lapwing and 20 Bar-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Raptors included 3 Merlin and a Peregrine.
Back to the mundane
29th October 2012 – sunny spells/calm
Offshore
A check over the sea yielded just 13 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Diver
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 29 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing and a Fieldfare. Single Chiffchaff and 10 Goldcrest were also logged.
Diurnal Migration
Little activity in the skies apart from 40 Pink-footed Geese, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin and a Brambling.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Water Rail and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker are present and 3 Rock Pipit were recorded.
Butterflies
A Red Admiral was still on the wing.
Offshore
A check over the sea yielded just 13 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Diver
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 29 Blackbird, 5 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing and a Fieldfare. Single Chiffchaff and 10 Goldcrest were also logged.
Diurnal Migration
Little activity in the skies apart from 40 Pink-footed Geese, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin and a Brambling.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Water Rail and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker are present and 3 Rock Pipit were recorded.
Butterflies
A Red Admiral was still on the wing.
Cetti’s Warbler brightens a dreary day
28th October 2012 – rain/heavy at times W4/5
Rarities
A dreary day was brightened late afternoon when a Cetti’s Warbler was found in the scrub around the pond near the kennels at North Scale.
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) before the rain set in produced 105 Razorbill, 38 Common Scoter, 15 Kittiwake and single Black Guillemot and Gannet.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 35 Pintail gathered over the tide.
Miscellaneous
A gathering of 48 Little Egret included at least two colour ringed birds. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and 17 Twite were the best of the rest.
Rarities
A dreary day was brightened late afternoon when a Cetti’s Warbler was found in the scrub around the pond near the kennels at North Scale.
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) before the rain set in produced 105 Razorbill, 38 Common Scoter, 15 Kittiwake and single Black Guillemot and Gannet.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 35 Pintail gathered over the tide.
Miscellaneous
A gathering of 48 Little Egret included at least two colour ringed birds. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and 17 Twite were the best of the rest.
Ring Ouzel stars
27th October 2012 – early frost the bright and sunny N3/4
Grounded Migrants
Thrushes were led by a male Ring Ouzel, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing amongst a total of 75 Blackbird. Additional sightings included 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Quieter than of late although sightings included 420 Starling, 120 Pink-footed Geese, 24 Whooper Swan, 6 Siskin, 4 Brambling and single Rock Pipit and Lesser Redpoll.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 20 Whooper Swan rested on the ebbing tide, a pair of Gadwall were newly arrived and waders included Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl was logged and other odds and ends involved 16 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Little Egret and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Butterflies
A late Red Admiral was on the wing.
Dragonflies
A Common Darter was logged.
Grounded Migrants
Thrushes were led by a male Ring Ouzel, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing amongst a total of 75 Blackbird. Additional sightings included 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Quieter than of late although sightings included 420 Starling, 120 Pink-footed Geese, 24 Whooper Swan, 6 Siskin, 4 Brambling and single Rock Pipit and Lesser Redpoll.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 20 Whooper Swan rested on the ebbing tide, a pair of Gadwall were newly arrived and waders included Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl was logged and other odds and ends involved 16 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Little Egret and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Butterflies
A late Red Admiral was on the wing.
Dragonflies
A Common Darter was logged.
Snow Bunting heads sightings
26th October 2012 – bright start then overcast NE2/3/4
Offshore
A check over the sea (0930-1000) revealed 45 Pintail, 14 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye and single Shag and Scaup.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 14 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush and single Redwing and Fieldfare. Two Goldcrest were the best of the rest.
Diurnal Migration
Pink-footed Geese were again on the move with 740 birds logged, associated with this movement were 11 Whooper Swan, 4 Barnacle Geese and a Greylag Goose. Additional sightings were led by a male Snow Bunting along with 430 Jackdaw, 255 Starling, 10 Chaffinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Brambling.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 4 Whooper Swan rested on the island’s flooded fields.
Miscellaneous
The Barn Owl was still hunting at dawn and additional sightings included 12 Little Egret, 2 Raven and 2 Water Rail.
Ringing
The second colour-ringed Sanderling of the autumn had been ringed at Gardskagi, ICELAND on 15th May 2011.
Offshore
A check over the sea (0930-1000) revealed 45 Pintail, 14 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye and single Shag and Scaup.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 14 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush and single Redwing and Fieldfare. Two Goldcrest were the best of the rest.
Diurnal Migration
Pink-footed Geese were again on the move with 740 birds logged, associated with this movement were 11 Whooper Swan, 4 Barnacle Geese and a Greylag Goose. Additional sightings were led by a male Snow Bunting along with 430 Jackdaw, 255 Starling, 10 Chaffinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Brambling.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 4 Whooper Swan rested on the island’s flooded fields.
Miscellaneous
The Barn Owl was still hunting at dawn and additional sightings included 12 Little Egret, 2 Raven and 2 Water Rail.
Ringing
The second colour-ringed Sanderling of the autumn had been ringed at Gardskagi, ICELAND on 15th May 2011.
Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans on the move
25th October 2012 –overcast NE2/3/4
Offshore
A quick check over the sea provided 6 Shag and a solitary Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 21 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush and 8 Blackbird. Five Goldcrest were the best of the rest.
Diurnal Migration
Sightings were dominated by 980 Pink-footed Geese and 24 Whooper Swan. Also seen were 14 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Brambling and a Siskin.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl hunted the island at dusk.
Offshore
A quick check over the sea provided 6 Shag and a solitary Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 21 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush and 8 Blackbird. Five Goldcrest were the best of the rest.
Diurnal Migration
Sightings were dominated by 980 Pink-footed Geese and 24 Whooper Swan. Also seen were 14 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Brambling and a Siskin.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl hunted the island at dusk.
Long-tailed Skua headlines
23rd October 2012 – overcast NE1
Offshore
Early morning observations (0840-0940) were led by a pale phase juvenile Long-tailed Skua that sauntered out of the bay between 0855-0905 along with 295 Common Scoter, 26 Razorbill, 14 Scaup, 5 Shag and single Red-throated Diver and Guillemot
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved the first 6 Fieldfare of the autumn along with 10 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 4 Mistle Thrush and 2 Song Thrush. Also ssen were 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Little activity in the skies apart from 4 Rock Pipit and single Swallow and Fieldfare.
Miscellaneous
The flock of 17 Twite and 2 Water Rail remain and 2 Raven and a Merlin were also logged.
Mammals
The calm seas revealed 3 Harbour Porpoise.
Offshore
Early morning observations (0840-0940) were led by a pale phase juvenile Long-tailed Skua that sauntered out of the bay between 0855-0905 along with 295 Common Scoter, 26 Razorbill, 14 Scaup, 5 Shag and single Red-throated Diver and Guillemot
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved the first 6 Fieldfare of the autumn along with 10 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 4 Mistle Thrush and 2 Song Thrush. Also ssen were 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Little activity in the skies apart from 4 Rock Pipit and single Swallow and Fieldfare.
Miscellaneous
The flock of 17 Twite and 2 Water Rail remain and 2 Raven and a Merlin were also logged.
Mammals
The calm seas revealed 3 Harbour Porpoise.
A quiet day
22nd October 2012 – overcast/early drizzle NE2/3
Grounded Migrants
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was the pick of the grounded birds which were otherwise limited to 9 Redwing, 5 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Brambling and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Few birds were on the move with 10 Chaffinch, 10 Meadow Pipit, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Brambling and 2 Raven the best on offer.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Water Rail remain.
Grounded Migrants
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was the pick of the grounded birds which were otherwise limited to 9 Redwing, 5 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Brambling and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Few birds were on the move with 10 Chaffinch, 10 Meadow Pipit, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Brambling and 2 Raven the best on offer.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Water Rail remain.
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