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Friday 11 October 2019

9th to 11th Oct – Rosy Starling & Dotterel remain; good seawatching

Wednesday 9th October

A day of strong westerlies; overcast with a number of heavy downpours in the afternoon.

Birding highlights included the continued presence of the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling which was seen resting on top of one of the sparrow nestboxes in the farmyard in the mid-afternoon. The young Dotterel also remained on the island for another day in its new favoured spot next to Quarry Cottages.

Other sightings from a rather soggy day's birding included 7 Cormorant past Rat Island, the long-staying Grey Heron, the female Sparrowhawk, 12 Skylark, 8 Swallow, 3 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a Robin, 2 Stonechat, a Pied Wagtail, just 15 Meadow Pipit, a Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch and 2 Snow Buntings on the track next to Tibbetts.

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling in the farmyard, 9 Oct © Dean Jones

Juvenile Dotterel near Quarry Cottages, 9 Oct © Dean Jones

Thursday 10th October

Not much has changed weather-wise since yesterday with strong west-south-westerlies throughout, overcast and a number of showers or out-and-out downpours again...

Star birds from today included the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, this time feeding within the chicken enclosure in the farmyard. Additionally the first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was seen flitting through the canopy behind the Millcombe gas store, accompanied by a number of Goldcrest and the Treecreeper.  Lastly a Little Egret was seen flying north along the east coast in the late morning. 

Other sightings include the Grey Heron again, a male and female Sparrowhaw, a flyover Golden Plover, a single Snipe, 7 Woodpigeon, 10 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 10 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbird, 7 Robin, a single Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail, 33 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 12 Goldfinch, a single Lesser Redpoll, 12 Linnet and a Snow Bunting on the track next to Tibbetts.

Friday 11th October

A morning seawatch produced a nice selection of 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas, a Mediterranean Gull and a Great Northern Diver, amongst good numbers of auks and Kittiwakes. Records from later in the day will be added in due course.

Report composed of sightings from Zoë Barton, Paul Bullock, Darrin Dowding, Ken Ebsworthy, Andy Jayne, Dean Jones, Pete Lambden, Ryan Miller, Tim Smith and Martin Thorne.

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