by Greg Lee
Census today and a relieving change from deafeningly strong winds on the patrol. Things were a little encouraging though still a bit quiet. The main difference was hearing the calls of birds overhead, including the chirrup of a Snow Bunting over Millcombe. Initially, I thought this was the Rocket Pole bird having a stretch of the wings, but throughout the day, it appeared that there had been a small arrival of these charming birds onto the island, with at least six being the total of the day. Millcombe itself was also busier with a smattering of Blackcaps, Goldcrests and weirdly, a good number of Dunnocks (where are these birds coming from?). At least three Common Snipe were also flushed by me around the census route and three Golden Plovers were together flying over the airfield. Overhead, Skylarks, Chaffinches and Siskins were flying over and a Greenfinch also caught my ear over Quarter Wall, later being seen in Millcombe by another observer. Interestingly, a distant photo of a Reed Bunting at Quarter Wall Pond revealed this bird to be ringed. Sadly, I wasn't able to relocate or get closer to the bird but it would've been fascinating to obtain the information from the ring. Back in the Village, I was bemused to encounter a Song Thrush hanging about near the Vehicle Shed. Recently, a Robin has rather taken to the area, seemingly becoming quite territorial over its patch of concrete and gravel and both birds were loitering as I walked past.
Snow Bunting by G.Lee
Song Thrush by G.Lee
We're very fortunate to have lots of observers on the island at the moment and the discovery of our third Rosefinch of the autumn near Government was the highlight of the day. Like the other individuals, this one was very partial to the Blackberries and showed quite well before melting into the Bramble scrub. On the non-avian front, Simon and Kirsty were treated to a display of breaching from a Bluefin Tuna. These gigantic, awe-inspiring fish are now in great numbers in the south-west, where, unlike some other species of Tuna, they are able to regulate their body temperature, allowing them to feed in the more nutrient-rich, colder seas. I'm hoping to see some to but haven't been successful so far on countless scans of the ocean.