Bird Sightings

A Grey Wagtail headed northwest over Millcombe at dawn, with three Firecrest and a Sparrowhawk also logged in Millcombe throughout the day. Three Siskin were a notable sighting with limited finch migration recorded this autumn. A Lapwing was seen around Ackland's Moor. One Wheatear was reported, and a Spotted Flycatcher frequented the Teasels in the village. A Cormorant was seen on the water at Pondsbury, and a single Grey Heron flew south past the terrace in the afternoon. Seawatching produced 92 Gannet, 4 Kittiwake, and 5 Auk sp. . The Short-toed Lark was also seen for the 13th day.

Short-toed Lark (3rd October) © Tom Williams

A migrant Siskin calling over Quarter Wall Copse marks the first record of the autumn. A Yellow-browed Warbler and Common Whitethroat were recorded in St John's Valley, and a Willow Warbler on the Lower East Path. Four Firecrest were logged across the island, with three in Millcombe/St John's and the other in Bracken at Gannets' Combe. A Whinchat was at Ackland's Moor during census, and six 'Greenland' Wheatear were recorded across the island. The first-winter female Ring Ouzel continues to be seen around Belle Vue Cottages. Two Spotted Flycatcher were seen, one individual in Quarter Wall Copse and the other sheltering on stone walls at Old Light Cottage. Three Lapwing headed south late morning, eight Cormorant were seen heading north, and four first-winter Grey Heron were seen mid-afternoon with birds on both east and west coasts north of Halfway Wall. Two Merlin were logged including a new-in male, and the Short-toed Lark continues its stay for the 12th day.

Spotted Flycatcher at Old Light Cottage © Myra Allen

A Yellow-browed Warbler was the highlight of the morning's census in Millcombe, joined by six Firecrest and a female-type Pied Flycatcher seen later in the day. Migrant thrush counts increased with seven Redwing, six Song Thrush, and a Ring Ouzel recorded. A male Marsh Harrier was photographed flying south over the island in the morning, and a male Merlin was seen around Pondsbury in the afternoon. A single Stock Dove at Pointless Wall is an unusual record, as was a juvenile Common Ringed Plover feeding in the heathland at the North End Plateau. The Short-toed Lark is still present and feeding well along the main track by Halfway Wall.

Juvenile Common Ringed Plover © Adam Hobbs

North-easterly and overcast at dawn delivered the first Redwing of the season in an otherwise slow-going trundle around Millcombe. Yesterday's Ring Ouzel overnighted on the island and remained faithful to Belle Vue Cottages again this morning. Highlights elsewhere include a Whinchat near Ackland's Pond, Spotted Flycatcher in Millcombe and a Merlin off the Terrace. Single adult Cormorant north, Grey Wagtail south, new-in Sparrowhawk , Goldcrest increase to 25 individuals and arrival of Carrion Crow bolstered the island count to 62 the best of the rest. Swallow passage is always difficult to untangle true passage from milling birds, but a conservative estimate of 232 individuals is roughly half of yesterday's tally. Two Redwing passed overhead calling during a nocturnal survey of South West Field later in the evening.

Short-toed Lark, Pondsbury Area (yesterday) © Neil Barnes

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