By Thomas Weston
Sunrise by Thomas Weston
A very calm and relaxing morning with a slight chill in the air was enough to head down to Millcombe.
I opened a couple of nets and sat watching the sea. There was no movement at all to begin, our Manx Shearwaters have mostly gone, but some still return to feed their chicks. After a little while, the first two Gannets started to move, followed by another couple and a few more after that. Watching these birds I noted a dark, quick flying bird heading North low over the water. It was not one our local feeding Shags but a dark phase Arctic Skua heading north along the island. What a nice surprise having not seen one this spring at all. The bird was not in pursuit but presumably heading out into the Channel to find some other seabirds to mob.
A wing extention on a Willow Warbler - never seen that! Thomas Weston
In the valley a couple of Tree Pipits dropped out the sky as the sun rose, being a nocturnal migrant this was probably a sign to stop and fatten up for the next hop. A Yellow Wagtail did the same and the Willow Warblers started to move. In the nets, a couple of new Robins were of note. Fully completed their post-juvenile moult, it could be said they were born on the island or elsewhere - you never know! There was a very 'fat' Blackcap caught, with a small number of Willow Warblers to add to the tally.
The arrival of the mothtrappers was very nice, they caught over 100 moths of which there were a few migrants in there too! They also reported a Goldcrest which was almost certainly a new migrant, as it was at Old Light.
Cormorants over Millcombe by ThomasWeston
In the Valley, a flock of 4 Spotted Flycatchers passed through at speed before heading off. I ended up catching one and the others passed through at speed. As I started to close the nets, a flock of 6 Cormorants headed South at hieght. Walking on up the Millcombe drive there were two more Spotted Flyctachers, followed by another couple in Smelly Gully, and a flock of 8 at Barton Field. At the top of the valley, it seemed there was a phenomenal migration day going on as the sounds of a Bunting species flying over was in fact a Ortolan Bunting. The bird, seem by myself and visiting ringer Sam was a medium sized Bunting, the beige, pinkish belly and distinct facial markings, plus pretty brown wings, with the accompanying call was all great identification features.
Spotted Flycatcher in Millcombe Thomas Weston
On a mission to relocate the bird, it seemed to fly towards Benjamin's Chair area, I stumbled across another couple of Spotted Flycatchers and a nice pulse of Sand Martins, House Martins, and Swallows. In addition, Greg had a Pied Flycatcher, Ringed Plover, Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler, more Spot Flys, and the first Redstart of the autumn.