With the winds finally dropping again there was a chance to open up the nets at the Obs. It was a slow start but Andy spotted a Yellow-browed Warbler in the spruces and then two were extracted from the nets! It was an otherwise slow day of ringing with only four Goldcrests, five Chaffinches, a Chiffchaff and a retrap Great Spotted Woodpecker. The nets were left open during changeover with our new guests arriving at 11am.

Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warblers

After welcoming the new guests Stuart and Ed headed out around the whole island. During the morning there was good visible migration (vismig) with 61 Skylarks, 96 Meadow Pipits, four Rooks, 53 Starling, 49 Chaffinches, 173 Goldfinches and 34 Siskins recorded. Despite the lack of wind there were also a few birds moving out to sea including 42 Common Scoters, three Great Skuas, one Pomarine Skua and an Arctic Skua.

At the South End there were large numbers of gulls. The highlight was approximately 70 Mediterranean Gulls in varying plumages. There were also 800 Herring Gulls, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 100 Great Black-backed Gulls, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 15 Common Gulls. A few were colour ringed and we look forward to finding out where these were from. 

After visiting the South End, Stuart and Ed walked up to Ty Pellaf and briefly saw 'not a Robin' in the gardens. Another better view by Stuart in terrible lighting showed a cocked tail and white edges to the tail. It was a Red-Breasted Flycatcher! The news quickly went out on the radio with Steve having to come all the way from the North End. The bird worryingly did not show itself until everyone had arrived at which point it gave good views perching and flycatching.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Birds today: 53 Gannets, one Grey Heron, four Wigeons, two Teals, 42 Common Scoters, three Merlins, two Sparrowhawks, three Water Rails, seven Purple Sandpipers, four Snipes, 25 Curlews, four Redshanks, 16 Turnstones, one Pomarine Skua, three Great Skuas, one Arctic Skua, 70 Mediterranean Gulls, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Common Gulls, one Yellow-legged Gull, 10 Collared Doves, four Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 61 Skylarks, three Swallows, one Yellow Wagtail, one Whinchat, two Wheatears, three Whitethroats, three Blackcaps, nine Chiffchaffs, two Yellow-browed Warblers, two Willow Warblers, 27 Goldcrests, one Red-breasted Flycatcher, four Rooks, 53 Starlings, 49 Chaffinches, 34 Siskins, 173 Goldfinches