The settled climate has persisted this week, winds last as mild easterlies except a far gustier morning at the Fifth. The Fifth was once very quiet, however the week were given a lot more thrilling at the Sixth-Eighth, with 4 Wryneck at the island for 2 days in addition to a first-year Woodchat Shrike at the Sixth.
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| First yr Woodchat Shrike Barton’s Box © Angus Croudace |
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| First yr Woodchat Shrike on Sycamore above Millcombe Pines © Angus Croudace |
Now that we are into the swing of autumn numbers of Sylvia warblers are beginning to upward push, with a couple of dozen Blackcap and Whitethroat most often pushing up Millcombe. Counts of 41, 65 and 40 Willow Warblers at the 6-Eighth, with a noticeable transfer to juvenile birds slightly than the adults that ruled the sooner counts within the season. A few Reed Warblers, Chiffchaff and Commonplace Redstart noticed every day, and one Sedge Warbler at the Sixth (Pondsbury) and Eighth (Millcombe pines). There was once a small push of Firecrest, with 5 at the Sixth. Remaining yr the perfect Firecrest rely was once 3 at the ninth September, with different counts of 3 later in October. The rush this week is prone to constitute native mainland breeders, with Scandinavian birds forming the majority of our passage in October.
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| Firecrest, Millcombe © Angus Croudace |
Flycatchers had been a jov to observe, with the east facet undoubtedly humming with them. Max counts of twenty-two and 45 Noticed Flycatcher at the Sixth and seventh and 18 and 24 Pied Flycatcher at the identical dates. For comparability, ultimate yr top counts of Pied Flycatcher had been 6 in early September, and max rely of Noticed Flycatcher was once 20. This can be a nice comparability which presentations the affect of the sustained easterly winds that we have got been experiencing. Seven Whinchat at the seventh and 11 at the Eighth are nice indicators of extra autumn migrants shifting thru, as are Tree Pipit (two over Millcombe at the seventh, and a minimum of 4 over the island at the Eighth). One or two Siskin have additionally been heard flying over Millcombe two because the Sixth.
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| Noticed Flycatcher above Millcombe © Angus Croudace |
One Swift and one Sand Martin over at the Sixth in conjunction with a small push of 250 Swallows. 5 Space Martin at the seventh had been accompanied via a trickle of 60 Swallow. A Collared Dove was once noticed over Millcombe and at the roof of the barn at the Sixth. The fall has been sluggish at the raptor entrance, with just one feminine Sparrowhawk noticed at the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth.
Two Golden Plover over Millcombe at the seventh, with 5 Ringed Plover additionally recorded north of Quarter Wall. One Commonplace Snipe at Pondsbury at the Fifth and Sixth and 3 at the Eighth. An east coast seal survey additionally grew to become up a Commonplace Sandpiper at Brazen Ward and two Turnstone at North Gentle, in addition to a rely of 26 Oystercatcher. Wader passage is hugely under-recorded at the island and alternatives corresponding to accompanying the marine group on seal surveys is a brilliant excuse to pick out up a few of these birds. Some other Commonplace Sandpiper was once heard from Millcombe within the night at the Eighth. A Gray Heron has nonetheless been seen maximum days.
The primary-year Rose-coloured Starling persisted to seventh, noticed with the opposite starlings as continuously as it’s by myself across the village and Millcombe. The Pintail has been provide till the seventh, spending extra time round Pondsbury than Millcombe.
When it comes to ringing effort, the sunshine winds because the Sixth have intended that the mist nets in Millcombe had been open every day with highlights of 3 Wryneck ringed (one was once stuck within the Heligoland entice at the Terrace). A few delightful night classes at the seventh and Eighth picked up a dozen flycatchers. Our visiting ringers proceed to ring about 20 Manx Shearwater over at the west coast, with a few Typhoon Petrels picked up too.
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| Wryneck, Millcombe © Angus Croudace |