|
2006 -
OCTOBER SIGHTINGS
October 31st:
A very windy day!
Census produced counts of 2
Glaucous Gull,
2500 Herring Gull, 1500
Great
Black-backed Gull, 22
Purple Sandpiper,
5 Jack
Snipe,
Long-eared Owl,
2 Waxwing,
Sparrowhawk,
Merlin,
Bluethroat,
Goldcrest,
Mealy Redpoll and
14 Snow
Bunting.
The
‘borealis’
Eider
is still present in the Havens.
October 30th:
A new ‘hornemanni’
Arctic Redpoll
was seen in the north as were 3
Glaucous Gulls.
Also present were the
Shoveler, 2
Waxwing,
Black
Redstart, 2
Goldcrest,
Redpoll
sp.,
Tree Sparrow and
30
Snow Bunting.
October 29th:
The
Bluethroat,
Slavonian
Grebe,
Waxwing
and
Northern
Eider were still
present.
October 28th:
A
Black-throated Diver
off South Light was only the 6th island record.
A
Slavonian Grebe, the
‘borealis’
Eider and 50
Little Auk
were also seen from the island.
Also present were the
Thrush Nightingale,
650
Fieldfare, 4
Whooper Swan,
Shoveler,
2 Peregrine,
Merlin,
Sparrowhawk,
Hen Harrier,
Bluethroat,
the first Waxwing
of the autumn, a single
Tree Sparrow,
32 Snow Bunting and
the
Long-eared Owl was trapped.
 |
Thrush Nightingale
Photos Rebecca Nason |
 |
October 27th:
A productive day for sea-watching
with an unseasonal pod of 5
Orcas
the highlight!
Also seen were a
Velvet Scoter
and
Common Scoter,
Manx
Shearwater, 29
Little Auk, 50
Kittiwake,
3 Great Northern Diver
and 4
Harbour Porpoise.
4 Jack Snipe, 2
Glaucous Gull,
a Long-eared Owl,
Waxwing,
Ring
Ouzel, 2
Tree Sparrow,
a Redpoll
sp.,
Reed Bunting and 60
Snow
Bunting were recorded on census.
The Thrush Nightingale,
Bluethroat,
‘borealis’
Eider,
Hen
Harrier and
Shoveler were all
still present.
October 25th:
A quiet day in the way of common migrants. However, a
‘hornemanni’ Arctic Redpoll was
found early morning at Lower Stonybreck and later trapped at
Barkland. Another surprise in the afternoon was a
Thrush Nightingale in the Havens, the
latest island record by 3 weeks!
Other birds of note included 2 Whooper Swan, 2 each of Merlin
and Peregrine, 7 Woodcock, Short-eared and
Long-eared Owl, Grey Wagtail, Mealy Redpoll and 135
Snow Bunting.
Seawatching from the island and Good Shepherd IV produced 2 Great
Northern Diver, 18 Little Auk, 20 Kittiwake and a ‘blue’
Fulmar.
| |
Arctic Redpoll
Photo Rebecca Nason |
|
Arctic Redpoll
Photo Rebecca Nason |
|
|
Thrush Nightingale
Photo Rebecca Nason
Thrush Nightingale
Photo Rebecca Nason |
|
Arctic Redpoll
Photo Deryk Shaw |
|
| |
Thrush Nightingale
Photo Deryk Shaw |
|
Thrush Nightingale
Photo Deryk Shaw |
|
October
24th: A
clear but cold day with a brisk wind from the northeast. The
Blyth’s Pipit was seen again at Midway
and the Bluethroat, ‘borealis’ Eider and Hen Harrier
are all still around.
Other counts of note included 1 Long-eared and 1 Short-eared Owl,
2 Black Redstart, 3 Ring Ouzel, Mistle Thrush,
Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Jackdaw,
‘islandica’ Common Redpoll, 2 Lapland Bunting and 120 Snow
Bunting.
A Great Northern Diver, Little Auk and ‘blue’ Fulmar
were seen from the island.
|
October 23rd: Yesterday’s
Pipit was relocated mid-morning at Quoy and was thought to be
definitely a Blyth’s Pipit,
the 3rd island record, but was trapped to remove any
doubt. The Olive-backed Pipit
was seen again at Quoy and a
Bluethroat, Shoveler, the ‘borealis’
Eider and Hen Harrier all remain.
Also notable were 2 Long-eared and 2 Short-eared Owl,
6 Little Auk, Great Northern Diver, Grey Wagtail,
4 Ring Ouzel, 27 Goldcrest, 2 Jackdaw, a single
Lapland Bunting and 46 Snow Bunting. |
 |
 |
|
 |
Blyth's Pipit
Photos Deryk Shaw |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
October 22nd:
Clear and calm weather was a pleasant change in birding
conditions. Mid-afternoon a probable Blyth’s
Pipit was found at Burkle while
100yards north the Olive-backed
Pipit was again seen at Quoy. New in
were 7 Short-eared Owls, 8 Ring Ouzels, 70
Goldcrests and Black Redstart. Remaining were
Yellow-browed
Warbler, 2
Bluethroat, 2 Hen Harrier, Long-eared Owl,
Jackdaw and ‘borealis’ Eider. Also of note were 3
Little Auk, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, Grey
Wagtail, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Lapland Buntings and 62
Snow Buntings.
Olive-backed Pipit Photo Paul
Baxter
|
|
Olive-backed Pipit Photo Paul
Baxter |
Blyth's Pipit
Photo Rebecca Nason |
Olive-backed Pipit
Photo Rebecca Nason |
Olive-backed Pipit
Photo Rebecca Nason |
October
21st:
Yesterday’s fog had cleared by morning but was replaced by strong winds and
rain. A late afternoon Richard’s Pipit
and Glaucous Gull were the only notable new arrivals. The
Olive-backed Pipit,
Yellow-browed Warbler, 2
Bluethroat, Long-eared Owl,
Hen Harrier, Jackdaw and ‘borealis’ Eider all
remain. Other counts included a single Great Northern Diver, 3
Ring Ouzel, 130 Blackbird, 57 Fieldfare, 2000+ Redwing,
Lesser Whitethroat, 36 Goldcrest, 40 Chaffinch, 11
Siskin, Redpoll sp. and 19 Snow Bunting.
|
October 20th:
Census was hindered by thick fog throughout the day. There were, however,
two new birds of note in the form of a Jackdaw on Buness and a single
Bean Goose.
Still present were a Yellow-browed
Warbler, Shoveler, Mistle Thrush, 2
Bluethroat, Yellowhammer, the
‘borealis’ Eider and Olive-backed
Pipit while other counts of note included 1000 Greylag Geese,
1 Long-eared and 2 Short-eared Owl, 4 Ring Ouzel,
thousands of thrushes including 60+ Fieldfare, 40 Goldcrest
and 12 Siskin.
A ‘blue’ Northern Fulmar was also seen from the island. |
|
Bluethroat
Photo Rebecca Nason |
October
19th:
Migrant counts remained fairly stable with 950 Greylag Geese, 7
Woodcock, 6 Short-eared Owl, 4 Peregrine, 4 Stonechat,
42 Dunnock, 50 Fieldfare, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 55
Chaffinch, 46 Snow Bunting and a Yellowhammer the only
notable changes.
Remaining birds included a
Shoveler,
Long-eared Owl,
Olive-backed Pipit, 2 Ring Ouzel,
2 Bluethroat, 2 Black Redstart,
Mistle Thrush and a Yellow-browed Warbler.
Seawatching produced a Common Scoter, 5 Little Auk and 2
Great Northern Diver.
October 18th: Notable
counts included an island record of at least 2100 Greylag Geese,
Shoveler, 4 Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Hen
Harrier, 5 Ring Ouzel, 34 Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush,
possibly 2 Bluethroat, Black
Redstart, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler,
a single Mealy Redpoll, a long overdue
Richard’s Pipit and the Olive-backed
Pipit, still showing well in the south.
Seawatching was productive with counts of 2 Common Scoter, 4
Red-throated Diver, 5 Great Northern Diver, 13 Kittiwake,
4 Little Auk, the ‘borealis’ Eider and 10 Harbour
Porpoise.
October 17th:
A
noticeable increase was seen in the number of commoner migrants with 3 each
of Woodcock, Black Redstart and Stonechat, 24
Blackcap, 22 Goldcrest, 46 Chaffinch, 17 Brambling
and 5 Siskin present.
Notable new arrivals included a Red-breasted
Flycatcher trapped in the Gully, a
Little Bunting, 2 Redpoll sp., a single Lesser Redpoll
and another Yellow-browed Warbler
bringing the total to 4. Remaining birds were the
Olive-backed Pipit, Common
Rosefinch, Bluethroat,
Mistle Thrush, 2 Hen Harrier, Shoveler and the Northern
Eider.
Olive-backed Pipit
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
Olive-backed Pipit
Photo Rebecca Nason |
Yellow-browed Warbler
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
October 16th:
The Olive-backed Pipit was still
present and showing well in the south. Census produced a single Shoveler,
2 Hen Harrier, Bluethroat, 3
Yellow-browed Warbler,
Common Rosefinch, 47 Dunnock, 2
Black Redstart, 3 Ring Ouzel, 2 Mistle Thrush, 21
Hooded Crow, 4 Reed Bunting, a single Lapland Bunting, 55
Snow Bunting and the ‘borealis’ Eider.
Seawatching produced 12 Common Scoter and good numbers of auks
including 15 Guillemot and 2 Little Auk.
October 15th:
The 4th Olive-backed Pipit of the
autumn was the best bird of the day with a single Little Stint the
only other notable arrival. The Bluethroat,
2 Yellow-browed Warbler,
Red-throated Pipit, Common Rosefinch
and ‘borealis’ Eider all remain.
Also present were 3 Short-eared Owl, 2 Hen Harrier, Turtle
Dove, 6 Jack Snipe, 3 Tree Pipit, 40 Dunnock,
48 Robin, 3 Stonechat, 2 Black Redstart, Whitethroat,
9 Goldcrest, 4 Lapland Bunting and singles of Mistle Thrush
and Ring Ouzel.
Red-throated Pipit
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
|
Red-throated Pipit
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
Red-throated Pipit
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
|
Little Stint
Photo Deryk Shaw |
October 14th:
Common
migrant counts remained reasonably stable but it was a good day for new
scarce migrants with singles of Short-toed Lark,
Red-breasted Flycatcher and the first
Bluethroat of the autumn, whilst
remaining were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler,
2 Common Rosefinch and the
highly mobile Red-throated Pipit.
Also notable were a Peregrine, 2 Hen Harrier, Turtle Dove,
2 Short-eared Owl, 10 Jack Snipe, 2 Black Redstart,
a single Ring Ouzel, Whitethroat, 5 Reed Bunting, 3
Lapland Bunting and 27 Snow Bunting.
October 13th:
More
south-easterly winds but with little change in migrant numbers. Notable
non-passerines were 4 Goldeneye, single Merlin and
Peregrine, 2 Hen Harrier, 9 Jack Snipe, 12 Woodcock,
Turtle Dove and 2 Short-eared Owl.
Other counts included 2 Grey and a single Yellow Wagtail,
Black Redstart, 3 Stonechat, Reed Warbler, 26 Blackcap,
2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 39
Brambling, Common Rosefinch, 4
Reed, 3 Lapland and 19 Snow Bunting. Thrush
numbers were down on yesterday’s with 6 Ring Ouzel, 2 Fieldfare,
285 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush and 69 Blackbird
present. The ‘borealis’ Eider was seen again in the Havens.
October 12th:
Bird of the
day was a Red-throated Pipit, found late afternoon in the north. Other
notable arrivals were a late Wryneck,
Long-eared Owl, Turtle Dove, Mistle Thrush,
Grasshopper Warbler and a year tick in the form of a Common Scoter
past the south light.
Also present were 120 Blackcap, 24 Jack Snipe, 12 Woodcock,
92 Common Gull, Short-eared Owl, 26 Dunnock, 60
Robin, singles of Black Redstart and Common Redstart,
2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 29
Goldcrest, 27 Brambling, 2 Common
Rosefinch, 2 Lapland Bunting, 24 Snow Bunting, 3
Reed Bunting, and thrush counts of 17 Ring Ouzel, 115
Blackbird, 400 Song Thrush and 4400 Redwing.
October 11th: Strong
south-easterly winds brought with them good counts of migrants. Most
notable were a Little Bunting, 5
Goldeneye, 50 Jack Snipe, 65 Common Gull, 3 Wood Pigeon,
18 Robin, 35 Blackcap, 30 Goldcrest, Pied Flycatcher
and good numbers of thrushes with 7000+ Redwing, 270 Song Thrush,
70 Blackbird and a Ring Ouzel.
Also present were 5 Woodcock, Short-eared Owl, a single
Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, 4
Yellow-browed Warbler, 12 Snow
Bunting and the Common Rosefinch
and ‘borealis’ Eider.
October 10th: Despite
relatively low numbers of new arrivals there were two new birds of note.
The first, a Red-breasted Flycatcher,
was trapped in the Vaadal on early morning trap-round. A stunning
Olive-backed Pipit was then seen briefly
before lunch and relocated on the west cliffs late afternoon. Also present
were a Great Northern Diver, Hen Harrier, 9 Jack Snipe,
4 Short-eared Owl, 2 Tree Pipit, Yellow & Grey
Wagtails, 3 Whinchat, Stonechat, 11 Blackcap, 4
Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, 15 Brambling, 53
Snow Bunting, a single Lapland Bunting and the first
Greenfinch of the autumn.
The Common Rosefinch,
White-rumped Sandpiper and ‘borealis’
Eider all remain.
Olive-backed Pipit
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
Olive-backed Pipit
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Photo
Rebecca Nason |
October 9th:
Noticeable increases included 10 Robin, 2 Woodcock, 13
Lapwing, 15 Song Thrush, 435 Redwing, 35 Blackcap,
2 Yellow-browed Warbler, Grey
Wagtail, 4 Chiffchaff, 10 Chaffinch, 8 Brambling
and 51 Snow Bunting.
Remaining birds were the White-rumped Sandpiper
and ‘borealis’ Eider, 2 Merlin, Hen Harrier,
Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Goldcrest, Stonechat, 3
Whinchat and singles of Lapland Bunting and Reed Bunting.
October 8th: Migrant
numbers were similar to yesterday with counts of 3 Merlin, singles of
Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Hen Harrier, 8 Jack Snipe,
Wood Pigeon, 2 Short-eared Owl, Tree Pipit, Yellow
Wagtail, Black Redstart, 4 Whinchat, Stonechat, 6
Fieldfare, 200 Redwing, 5 Blackcap,
Yellow-browed Warbler, Reed Bunting,
28 Snow Bunting and 4 Lapland Bunting. The
White-rumped Sandpiper and ‘borealis’
Eider were both present in the Havens and the
Common Rosefinch was seen again in the
south.
A ‘blue’
Northern Fulmar, Sooty Shearwater, Red-throated Diver and
3 Harbour Porpoise were seen from the island.
October 7th:
Migrant counts were again low due to strong westerly winds. However, the
afternoon brought a welcome addition to the year list in the form of only
our 4th ever White-rumped Sandpiper,
the first ‘rarity’on the new scrape at Utra. Other birds included the adult
Glaucous Gull, 4 Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier,
Short-eared Owl, Yellow and Grey Wagtails, Stonechat,
7 Fieldfare, 8 Song Thrush, 280 Redwing, 2
Yellow-browed Warbler, a single Lapland Bunting and 18 Snow
Bunting. The ‘borealis’ Eider was seen again outside
North Haven.
 |
|
White-rumped Sandpiper
Photo Deryk Shaw |
October
6th:
A beautiful
sunny day but with very few new arrivals. Non-passerines included Hen
Harrier, Gadwall, 2 Water Rail,
13 Jack Snipe, Whimbrel, Glaucous Gull and 3
Short-eared Owl. Passerine counts were 2 Tree Pipit, Yellow
Wagtail, 7 Fieldfare, 580 Redwing, 2 Yellow-browed
Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, Pied Flycatcher,
Common Rosefinch, Linnet, a
hybrid Tree x House Sparrow, 48 Snow Bunting, 3
Lapland Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting and the first Blackbird of
the autumn.
October
5th: New
arrivals included 3 Woodcock, Whimbrel, Stonechat, 2
more Hen Harrier and another 3 Yellow-browed Warbler bringing
the total to 4. Other birds included Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail,
Gadwall, Water Rail, 100
Golden Plover, Ruff, 12 Jack Snipe, 2 Black Redstart,
200 Redwing, Common Rosefinch,
4 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 3 Lapland Bunting, 17 Snow
Bunting and the Rustic Bunting
was seen in the morning whilst the borealis Eider frequented the
Havens.
11
Long-tailed Duck, 2 Great Northern Diver, 7 Kittiwake and
singles of Red-throated Diver and Sooty Shearwater were also
seen from the island.
October 4th: An
increase in common migrants was noted with counts of 76 Snow Bunting,
95 Greylag Geese, 3 Merlin, Peregrine, 85 Golden
Plover, 5 Jack Snipe, 7 Fieldfare, 19 Song Thrush,
500 Redwing, 25 Chaffinch, 6 Brambling and 7 Lapland
Bunting. Census also produced counts of 2 Tree Pipit, Yellow
Wagtail, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Grasshopper
Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler.
The probable ‘borealis’ Northern Eider,
Common Rosefinch, Hen Harrier and
Rustic Bunting are all still present.
Seawatching
from the island and Good Shepherd IV produced 7 Long-tailed Duck,
2 Sooty Shearwater, a blue Northern Fulmar, 16 Guillemot,
24 Kittiwake and the first 2 Little Auk
of the year.
October 3rd:
Northerly winds brought only a few new birds and a partial clearout of
yesterday’s migrants was noted. A flighty
Rustic Bunting, seen around the Vaadal trap, was bird of the day
while other new arrivals were an adult Glaucous Gull, 3
Yellow-browed Warbler and a single
Turtle Dove. The Hen Harrier, Common
Rosefinch¸ Gadwall and
probable ‘borealis’ Northern Eider all remain. Other counts
included a Tufted Duck, 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Merlin, 2
Kestrel, 2 Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail¸ Black
Redstart, Common Redstart, 250 Redwing¸ 15 Chaffinch,
2 Reed Bunting, 5 Lapland Bunting and 7
Snow Bunting.
October 2nd:
Heavy rain showers throughout the morning made census difficult but there
were still several new birds and good counts of common migrants. Most
notable arrivals were a Ring Ouzel in the north and a juvenile Hen
Harrier seen in the south in the afternoon. Also present were 18
Grey Heron, 16 Jack Snipe, 6 Wood Pigeon, 2 Short-eared
and 1 Long-eared Owl, 6 Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail,
35 Song Thrush, 350 Redwing, 18 Blackcap, 7
Goldcrest, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 50 Chaffinch¸ a single
Common Rosefinch, 5 Reed, 8
Lapland & 6 Snow Bunting.
The probable
‘borealis’ Northern Eider spent much of the day in the havens and
the male Gadwall is still present in
the south.
October 1st:
Uncommon migrants today included 2 Yellow-browed
Warblers, Corncrake, and 2
Lapland Buntings. Also present on the island were the drake
Gadwall
still, the presumed ‘borealis’ Northern Eider, 15 Blackcaps,
Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 3
Garden Warblers, 4 Goldcrests, single Yellow and Grey
Wagtails, Tree Pipit, 1 Short-eared Owl, 11 Jack Snipe,
3 Merlin and 3 Greylag, 30 Barnacle and 18
Pink-footed Geese. A small fall of 100 Redwings late in
the day and cool North-easterly winds gave a distinct feel of autumn.
Yellow-browed Warbler
Photo Rory Tallack |
|
A probable 'borealis'
Northern Eider
Photo Deryk Shaw |
|
