Friday 7 November 2014

A first winter Sabine's Gull was nice surprise in an otherwise quiet sea watch today, it passed south down the west coast along with a hand full of Kittiwakes, Black-headed Gulls, Razorbills, two Common Gulls and one Mediterranean Gull. 

On the island a total of four Woodcocks, one unfortunate individual took flight around the plantation and was moments later spotted by an adult Peregrine soaring above the mountain which stooped after it and tremendous speed, whether it got its prey is unknown but it goes to show how sharp eyed the Peregrine is. Again a Short-eared Owl was flushed from the mountain vegetation.

Finch numbers seem to have dropped off again as the wind has picked up from the west, one Lesser Redpoll, eight Goldfinches and 12 Chaffinches were the only ones seen. A small scattering of 11 Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests, one female Blackap, ten Blackbirds, three Song Thrushes and 6 Redwings were present. Starling numbers have also decreased but a total of 380 were still seen mostly feeling in the fields and the wash up kelp and seaweed on the shores. 


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