The wind was blowing from the North-East this morning, with clear skies overhead, so hopes were high for a day of good movement. 

Gusty wind early on meant that there was a reduced ringing effort, with only the most sheltered nets being opened in the Obs garden and in the Withies. It was clear when opening the nets in the half-light that there had been an arrival of both finches and thrushes overnight, with the distinctive 'tseep' of Redwings being heard from almost every bush in the garden, along with the calls of Blackbirds, the occasional Fieldfare, and many Chaffinches and Goldfinches. The first few rounds were best for thrushes, and by the end of the morning 18 Redwings and eight Blackbirds had been ringed, along with around 35 finches (full totals at the bottom of the post).

Redwing caught at the Obs

1cy male Blackbird caught at the Obs

Steve headed down to the farm where two Bramblings were calling from inside Donygoch garden, while more finches and thrushes continued to pass overhead along with a single Lapland Bunting. On the South End, a Black Redstart was present in the Lighthouse Compound and a further two Lapland Buntings flew over heading south, with one stopping briefly on the coast. Over the sea, gulls were moving north in good numbers too with the vast majority being Black-headed Gulls, 678 were counted along with 24 Mediterranean Gulls and 11 Common Gulls.

Black Redstart on the LSA hut

Black-headed, Common and Mediterranean Gulls heading north

Alex and George headed out once nets were closed,  thrushes peppered the mountainside with Redwings and Blackbirds being flushed out of the gorse, and a trickle more still moving overhead. A couple of nets were opened at Nant, it was quiet, but a surprise was two Firecrests which appeared in the net together, what a treat!

The two Firecrests caught at Nant

Redwing dropping into the island

In the afternoon, Steve headed out again to the north and managed to pick out a Ring Ouzel amongst the hordes of Blackbirds lining the field margins, a nice male too! A ring-tail Hen Harrier appeared on the Mountainside where it slowly made its way north and disappeared round the East Side of the island. A flock of 30 Jackdaws was in the North West fields with 220 Starlings, while 16 Rooks flew over. 

male Ring Ouzel above Carreg Fawr

Starling dropping into NW fields

Full totals include: three Wigeon, one Pintail, five Teal, three Sparrowhawks, three Buzzards, two Merlins, one Jack Snipe, eight Snipe, two Bar-tailed Godwits, 83 Skylarks, 26 Robins, 157 Blackbirds, 84 Fieldfare, 14 Song Thrushes, 585 Redwings, three Mistle Thrushes, one Lesser Whitethroat, four Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, 37 Goldcrests, 21 Great Tits, 294 Starlings, three Bramblings, seven Siskins, 163 Goldfinches, 68 Linnets, 11 Redpolls and one Reed Bunting. 

Ringing Totals: Goldcrest 9, Firecrest 2, Chiffchaff 3, Wren 5, Chaffinch 15, Goldfinch 18, Robin 2, Blackcap 1, Dunnock 1, Redwing 18, Blackbird 8, Starling 2. 84 birds of 12 species.