Sunday 8 September 2019

Today the weather was flat calm, with low cloud throughout the day.

With the calm weather the opportunity was taken to do some ringing both at the observatory and in the withys and it soon became apparent there were birds around! Goldcrests especially were filling the nests joined by Robins and smaller numbers of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. A couple of Grey Wagtails were heard going over as well as a Skylark and a few snipe flushed from the wetlands; a good variety of migrants! Throughout the day over 100 birds were ringed, the highest this year so far.

Elsewhere things started to hot up when news of a Goshawk seen over the mountain got out. This is a very good record for the island and after seeing some photos and a member of staff seeing it in the evening it was confirmed! It proved to be a good day for birds of prey in the end too with singles of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Kestrel all seen.

 By the afternoon some totals started to be put together with Goldcrests providing the most obvious improvements in numbers with a day total of 92 birds! Other warbler numbers included 13 Willow Warblers, 19 Chiffchaffs, 14 Blackcaps, three Whitethroats, and singles of Garden Warbler and Reed Warbler. More totals of migrants included five Spotted Flycatchers, 16 Wheatears, a big increase to 20 Robins, 21 White Wagatils, five Grey Wagtails, 60 Meadow Pipits, two Tree Pipits over the observatory, 144 Swallows, a years high count of five Skylarks, a single Greenshank, three Snipe and 12 Ringed Plovers. A very good day!

It wasn't over yet either. An evenings walk around the south end produced a Lapland Bunting in with a small Flock of Meadow Pipits. A bird that was on the cards with there being a few around north Wales, but always a nice bird to see and hear.

Lapland Bunting With a Meadow Pipit

Goshawk


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