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Friday 15 October 2021

15th Oct – Marsh Harrier the star of a balmy October day

A magically calm, almost windless day, with long sunny spells and atypical warmth for mid-October.

A basking Painted Lady attests to the positively summery conditions on 15 Oct © Richard Campey

Bird of the day was a first-year Marsh Harrier, seen arriving off the sea from the SE at 08.50, quartering Pondsbury at 11.05, and then at various locations across the island, before thermaling and heading off for the Welsh coast mid-afternoon.

Other notable sightings included six Golden Plover, two Jack Snipe, single Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, two Merlin, 87 Swallow, two House Martin, two Yellow-browed Warbler, two tristis-type Chiffchaff (of which one ringed), a very fat Garden Warbler (also trapped and ringed), a Firecrest, only 30 Redwing, 30 Song Thrush, a Common Redstart, nine Black Redstart (including four together at North Light), 30 Stonechat, four Wheatear, 25 alba wagtails, 26 Rock Pipit, 40 Chaffinch and 3 Brambling.

Black Redstart in typical habitat! Old Light, 15 Oct © Richard Campey

Black Redstart, Old Light, 15 Oct © Richard Campey

Ringing total 74 comprising: 1 Common Snipe (caught by dazzling at night), 1 Skylark, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff (of which one tristis), 4 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Goldcrest, 1 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin, 1 Goldfinch and 47 Siskin.
 
Records contributed by Chris & Carol Baillie, Richard Campey, Stuart Cossey, Tim Davis, James Diamond, Rob Duncan, Paul Holt, Andy Jayne, Tim Jones and Jac Turner-Moss.
 
Raven, South End, 15 Oct © Richard Campey

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