Saturday 5th October
A beautiful still day throughout – conditions which were a very welcome change from the strong winds as of late. Lots of sunny spells in the early morning up until 11:00, then thick fog for about an hour or so – clearing by the early afternoon, though staying mainly overcast for the rest of the day.
Sightings included the Grey Heron, the female Sparrowhawk, a single Water Rail, a number of calling Manx Shearwater over the Village in the evening, 15 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, a lone Firecrest, 10 Goldcrest, 4 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 8 Robin, 1 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 2 alba wagtails, 50 Meadow Pipit, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and 3 Linnet.
Sunday 6th October
The winds return! Once again it was a day of strong north-westerlies coupled with scattered clouds and sunny spells in the morning – giving way to beautiful clear skies by the afternoon.
Today saw a small overnight arrival of migrants in clear, calm conditions, including a small fall of Goldcrest (40) and Blackcap (30) as well as some decent October Swallow passage throughout the day (totalling 107). Highlights includes a young Dotterel which was found foraging around the Old Hospital in the afternoon, a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling that made a brief appearance in the High Street pig sty, and a total of 3 Snow Bunting were recorded along the main track up to North End.
Other sightings included the Grey Heron in Barton Field, 20 Gannet, a single Cormorant, 2 fly-over Golden Plover, female Sparrowhawk, a calling Water Rail, 30 Kittiwake, 30 Woodpigeon, a Merlin, 5 Skylark, a Sand Martin, 10 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, a lone Firecrest, 6 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, a late Spotted Flycatcher, 14 Robin, 10 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 12 Pied Wagtails, 6 Chaffinch, 40 Goldfinch and 20 Linnet.
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| The long-staying Grey Heron outside Barton Cottages, 6 Oct © Dean Jones |
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| Small Coppers took advantage of some sunny shelter to feed on Yarrow in Millcombe, 6 Oct © Dean Jones |
Monday 7th October
A very wet start to the day with frequent squalls and fog rolling in on strong south-westerly winds up until 13:00 at least. The winds then shifted to the west/north-west by the afternoon and the fog gave way to a mix of sunny spells and overcast periods.
The birding highlight today was undoubtedly the presence of a Kingfisher in the late morning – a bird which whizzed past Martin Thorne as he was taking photographs of a number of tagged seals (animals which have been rescued and rehabilitated) in the Devil’s Kitchen.
Other sightings included 7 Fulmar on ledges in Jenny’s Cove, the Grey Heron again, 6 Gannet, a single Cormorant, 19 Oystercatcher, a Snipe, the female Sparrowhawk, 2 Water Rail, a Great Skua, 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 30 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Blackbird, 5 Robin, 4 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 46 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chaffinch, 8 Goldfinch and 20 Linnet.
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| The wind and waves pile into Jenny's Cove on a stormy afternoon, 7 Oct © Dean Jones |
Tuesday 8th October
Breezy westerlies again this morning picking up to a strong wind by the afternoon. Lots of lovely sunny weather and scattered clouds today with only one or two brief showers in the late morning.
Highlights included the second Treecreeper of the autumn in Millcombe and the re-appearance of the young Dotterel, this time around the Quarry Cottages.
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| Juvenile Dotterel, Quarry Cottages, 8 Oct © Ester Spears |
Other sightings included the long-staying Grey Heron, 20 Gannet, 2 Cormorant, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Water Rail, 16 Kittiwake, 10 Woodpigeon, 2 Skylark, 80 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 10 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbird, 6 Robin, 2 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 50 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chaffinch, 8 Goldfinch and single Linnet.
Report composed of sightings from Zoë Barton, Paul Bullock, Darrin Dowding, Ken Ebsworthy, Jane Harding, Dean Jones, Ryan Miller, Dawn Murphy, Grant Sherman and Martin Thorne.
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