by Greg Lee
After yesterday's astonishing day of birds, where those on the island had been treated to thousands of thrushes arriving and leaving, it was expected that things would probably be on the quieter side. Although this was true, it was still a great day to be birding on the island with still a great host of thrushes in Millcombe as I started census, a Ring Ouzel being spotted first thing. Due to the heavy rain, things were a bit delayed, but after it had passed over, it was possible to get out and see what was beginning to move as the sun came out. Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were flitting in the trees and gleaning tiny invertebrates. Chaffinches and Siskins appeared to be on the move, particularly the former with 800 being the full total at the end of the day. Reaching the further west side of the island, I was surprised to see the track to Old Light was quite busy with thrushes, with several Redwings and a Fieldfare feeding quite confidently as I walked past. Usually, both species of thrush are pretty shy, so I was pleased to get reasonably close to these smart birds. Back in the Village, a Jackdaw was a nice sighting and the first of the autumn.
Redwing by G.Lee
Fieldfare by G. Lee
It was a bit of a raptor-fest today with a few Red Kites appearing on the thermals up in the northern reaches of the island before eventually drifting southward. It actually took me a while to connect with these birds, despite the fact that over winter I'll be seeing these now widespread raptors very regularly. However, patience paid off and I got the sight of two drifting over Barton field very high, one of which seemed to go into the stratosphere before eventually drifting over the Bristol Channel. As it turns out, a late addition to the log also came in the form of just the second Marsh Harrier of the year photographed off the East Coast making a beeline for the mainland. A couple of Merlins were also sighted, one of which was a lovely steely blue male, no doubt enjoying the stream of migrants passing through the island. The ringtail Hen Harrier was also still present today and favouring the grassy areas around Pondsbury, assumedly one of the duo seen over the past couple of days.
It was also a good day for Jack Snipe, with several seen around the island and also a Woodcock near Pondsbury, the latter the first of the autumn. The ever-present Snow Bunting was showing very well around Rocket Pole.