Tuesday 22 November 2011

During a night of torrential rain, a small attraction at the Lighthouse included a Storm Petrel, this time alive, eight Snipe (one of which was trapped), a Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, 12 Redwings, three Blackbirds and three Song Thrushes
After the sun had risen in the morning, a fresh northerly wind brought a few oddities past at sea, the best of which was a juvenile Sabine’s Gull in amongst a flock of Kittiwakes and Black-headed Gulls. This far exceeds the former latest record on the island, which was on 8th November 1996. A juvenile Little Gull was also among this flock, and a Great-northern Diver and two Common Scoters flew by. A Snow Bunting spent most of the day on the narrows, a Woodcock was seen in the wetlands, and two Siskins, five Goldfinches, four Linnets and two Brambling flew overhead with 45 Chaffinches.
Two Scarce Umbers were also attracted to the Lighthouse during the night, and are the first records of this species for the island. 

The downpours during the night created several large pools on the narrows, and species such as Rock Pipits (top) and Starlings (middle) made use of them. The Brent Geese (bottom) also fed along the edges of the pools.

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