By Thomas Weston
Today was a very busy migration day. The visiting ringers were in Millcombe and manned the nets all day. There was excitement in the bushes, but surprisingly not a lot in the air to being. Census was a good one, a day of nice species, and good company. Walking down through Millcombe, the valley was alive with birds. There were at least 14 Robins scattered around, and a healthy number of Dunnocks with 7 recorded. Stonechats have been a good migrant species the last few days and today saw a flock of 5 noted including 2 caught and ringed whilst walking by. By around 08:30, the ringers were busy in Millcombe with a Yellow browed Warbler caught, ringed and colour ringed (a 2nd later to add to the project), lots of Blackcaps (32 on census), Chiffchaffs (18 on census), a couple of Blackbirds (6 seen throughout the route), a Whinchat and a female Pied Flycather all caught and ringed in Millcombe, all being seen around census time. Nine Wrens were quite low and quiet, though obscured by the other species around. Low numbers of finches were seen across the route, which is odd being a time where movement is high. However, this did include 4 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, and 4 Linnets. Resident species such as 10 Carrion Crows, 17 House Sparrows, 46 Starlings, and 7 Ravens were nice to spot and our now resident Water Rail in Smelly Gully. Out in the Landing Bay, 2 Oystercatchers, a Great Black-Backed Gulls, 4 Shags, a single Swallow, and a single Rock Pipit was seen, so a quiet state of affairs. In the woods going off to Brambles and Government, a Song Thrush was a new migrant, a Firecrest and 8 Goldcrest were of note. The team of ringers by this point started catching Meadow Pipits with 193 seen migrating south past, though as with the wind being slightly SW, the most movement was on the east coast again. A Tree Pipit flyover was of note, getting slightly late for this species but this bird has been seen well in Bartons previously. Over the SW Field, a female Merlin flew over high south, and then departed out to sea. In the same view there were two Peregrines showing really well, circling up and heading off to the west. Walking the Airfield and Alba Wagtails were the most commonly found migrant with 11 seen throughout the route. In addtion, a single Wheatear will almost likely be one of the last this year, and a female/1st year Redstart in Brick/Tillage Field was the best on the way back from a very queit Belle Vue Cottages.
Joining the ringers from around 10:30, a very high number of birds were ringed right up to 18:00 resulting in 509 birds caught and processed. There was an upsurge of Meadow Pipits and Swallows with the odd House Martin mixed in throughout the afternoon. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the island 2 Snipe at Pondsbury, another Yellow-browed Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher were both on the Terraces, with a 4th and final Yellow-browed Warbler at St Helen's Copse. This busy, bird filled day was rounded off by a Snow Bunting being found at Rocket Pole Pond this evening and showing incredibly well to those who saw it.