Friday 1 November 2013

30th-31st saw most of the action taking place on the sea.

On the 30th 1 Brent Goose flew north west at the south end, 2 Great Northern Divers, 24 Common Scoter, 320 Black Headed Gulls and 1 Arctic Tern were some of the highlights out on the sea. At sea on the non-avian front there was brief appearance off 2 Risso's Dolphins breaking the water in the swell only to vanish again amongst the monstrous waves.

On land a small passage of finches took place including 55 Chaffinch, 18 Greenfinch, 21 Goldfinch and 44 Linnit. 13 Skylarks flew south and 2 Fieldfare's were also seen.

The 31st produced 1 Great Northern Diver, 3 Shellduck flying south west, 11 Mediterranean Gulls with a mixture of ages from adult, second year birds and first winter birds. A good count of 790 Black Headed Gulls and 135 Common Gull were also seen off the south end of the island.

The highlight of the day however was a bird attracted to the lighthouse light during the early hours of the morning on the 31st.........

This very smart young Storm Petrel


Attracted to the lighthouse during the night, in the morning captured by hand, ringed and then later released as night fell. Amazing to think these tiny little critters are out riding the waves in the atlantic ocean and returning to land to breed.

Today, the 1st of November produced a small passage of thrushes early on in tghe day amounting too 17 Song Thrushes, 14 Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing scattered around the island and passing high overhead. A flock of Starling approximately 6-700 strong over the past few days has been seen roaming the lowlands dodging the attacks of the local Peregrine, 6 Lesser Redpoll made an appearance, 1 Common Snipe was flushed from the fringes of one of the ponds on the island and a Water Rail was heard squealing in one of the withies. 

And as the sun was setting 6 Risso's Dolphins were spotter slowly making their way north off the north west coast.

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