Thursday 21 October 2021

The forecast for the day was a brisk North Westerly and we had hoped that this would produce a goodly number of seabirds passing. It produced some, even some quality, but it was still a little disappointing.

A red-Throated Diver flew south and also a Black-throated Diver a little later. A Manx Shearwater passed  the island, possibly one of the last of the season? Only 56 Gannets were seen and eight Shags. Gulls moved south throughout the day, with at least four Mediterranean Gulls seen. Two Little Gulls wizzed south amongst the 70 Black-headed Gulls, eight Common Gulls and 428 Kittiwakes. On the big gull front there were six Lessers, 21 Greaters, and 82 Herrings. Two Sandwich Terns could also be the last record of 2021 too. There were fewer Razorbills than the previous day, with 682 counted. There was a moment of wildfowl too, six Whooper Swans flew west towards Ireland, a Grey Goose sp (probably a White-fronted) headed north over the Observatory, but always heading away from the Observers! and finally the obligatory Common Scoters, 11 of them flew south. A Teal flew south quite distantly with a flock of Razorbills and caused some panic initially before it came closer to be able to click its identification. Later in the afternoon a Grey Phalarope was seen heading south, before dipping onto the sea and was lost amongst the large waves.

Away from the sea there were two Sparrowhawks and two Buzzards. A Kestrel was over the Observatory, and the local Peregrines put on a good show too for folk at the Obs.

A/the Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the withies. There was some southerly passerine passage too, with 45 Skylarks counted, three Swallows, 30 of the 31 Chaffinches seen headed south along with three Bramblings and 82 Siskins. There were also 35 Goldfinches and 16 Linnets.

Goldfinches stopping off for a quick snack

As it looks highly likely that the boat will be leaving tomorrow (Friday) taking the guests off, and just leaving Alison and Fiona for the final week of the season we brought out traditional Halloween pumpkin soup lunch forward and did it today. Thanks to William for helping chopping and peeling Pumpkin.

I made a vat of soup - enough for about 30 people!! - and everyone on the island came and had lunch on the terrace in front of the Obs. Emma baked fresh bread rolls, Gareth brought cakes and Prosecco and everyone had a great time.

it is quite hard to see that the pan there genuinely contains over two gallons of Soup. It took both me and Jeff to carry it over to the Obs!

Souptastic - Thai spiced Pumpkin and Coconut Soup

Some of the gang of 14 for lunch

Jeff also spent some time pretending to be part of his own Formula 1 pit crew, servicing the Honda engine on the old Lawn Mower! 

shall we say it was a slow pit stop!

And Fiona finished entering all this year's moth data onto the database



and the guests were treated to a final fantastic sunset 

another after dark picture - you can almost hear the Redwings!

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