Monday 23 October 2017

Today saw another brief gap in the weather, respite from the westerlies often sees a larger number of migrants passing through the island recently. Of particular consequence today was the sea passage.

Divers today were made up of a Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, a single Manx Shearwater was a relatively late record. A small movement of wildfowl consisted of three Wigeons, 33 Common Scoters, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Goldeneye the latter of which was only the 30th record for Bardsey! A Pomarine Skua was a welcome addition to the day totals as was a Golden Plover, and nine Mediterranean Gulls, two Little Gulls, two Sabine’s Gulls and 272 Kittiwakes culminated to today’s gull passage.


A Merlin was still lingering on the Island today, Water Rail numbers increased to five individuals. On the wader front two Jack Snipes were new in and 10 Snipes was a noticeable increase. On the Narrows, seven Purple Sandpipers, three Whimbrels, 57 Curlews, 11 Redshanks and 34 Turnstones were recorded. On the land, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was still in the withies, seven Swallows were probably the last we’ll see passing through this year. Robins numbered 38 and the Black Redstart in Nant Valley was joined today by a second bird, an adult male. Bashing the bushes produced five Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs, 60 Goldcrests and six Firecrests! Additional species included three Coal Tits, 17 Chaffinches, eight Siskins, 53 Goldfinches, 46 Linnets, seven Lesser Redpolls and two Reed Buntings.

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