Sightings October 2010

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1st Two Manx, five Balearics and a Sooty Shearwater flew west, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was lingering offshore and 25 Great Skuas flew east.
2nd A Red-necked Grebe and three Balearic Shearwaters flew west and a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was lingering offshore.

Four Ring Ouzels, 20 Chiffchaffs and 75 Siskins were of note on the land. 

A Barred Warbler was found on the RSPB Reserve and the two juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still at Scotney Pit.

3rd A Balearic and a Sooty Shearwater, a Pomarine Skua, four Long-tailed Skuas, 18 Arctic Skuas and eight Great Skuas flew west and 54 Little Gulls flew east offshore.

A Great White Egret and the Barred Warbler were seen on the RSPB Reserve and the two juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still at Scotney Pit.

4th An excellent day on the land with a Hobby, a flock of six Greenshanks, a Common Sandpiper, a Long-eared Owl on the power station fence, two Tree Pipits, 600 Meadow Pipits, two Redstarts, three Ring Ouzels, 38 Song Thrushes, 21 Blackcaps, 18 Chiffchaffs, singles each of Firecrest, Spotted and Pied Flycatcher, 840 Chaffinches, two Bramblings, 179 Siskins and 90 Reed Buntings.
5th A Long-tailed Skua and 40 Arctic Skuas flew west at sea and 42 Little Gulls were also seen offshore and a Ring Ouzel was of note on the land.

A Great White Egret was seen again on the RSPB Reserve.

6th Seawatching produced a Black-throated Diver, a Manx and two Balearic Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua, two Long-tailed Skuas, 96 Arctic Skuas and six Great Skuas, 116 Little Gulls and 725 Sandwich Terns flying west, 

On the land, 400 Meadow Pipit and two Ring Ouzels were of note. 

Remarkably, the total of juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Scotney increased to three today.

7th Six Mediterranean Gulls, a juvenile Sabine's Gull and three Black Terns were feeding offshore and a Tree Pipit, a Rock Pipit, 14 Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest and 630 Goldfinches were of interest on the land.

The three Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still at Scotney 

8th A decent scatter of typical October migrants with Meadow Pipits, Robins and Song Thrushes in good numbers, a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches going through and bit of interest in the form of singles of Merlin, Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher and Brambling and a lateish Yellow Wagtail.

Over 600 Brent Geese flew west during the morning and nine Arctic Skuas, three Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Little Gulls, two juvenile Arctic Terns and two Black Terns lingering offshore.

The three juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still at Scotney.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers Tryngites subruficollis   Scotney Pit

9th A reasonable arrival of typical late autumn migrants again but nothing of particular note. Grounded migrants included 50 Robins, 34 Song Thrushes, four Redwings, 24 Goldcrests, two Firecrests and a "Continental" Coal Tit whilst birds passing overhead included.26 Skylarks, 73 Swallows, a Tree and three Rock Pipits, 31 Chaffinches, 12 Bramblings, 1225 Goldfinches, 17 Siskins and 17 Reed Buntings.

The sea was also reasonably productive with at least one Long-tailed Skua being seen along with 670 Brent Geese, 27 Wigeon, four Eider, six Arctic Skuas, two Great Skuas, ten Mediterranean Gulls, four Little Gulls and two Arctic Terns. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was also roosting near the fishing boats.

The three juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still at Scotney

10th Most of the days interest was in a decent visible migration during the morning although there was also a decent arrival of grounded migrants with a Whinchat, six Wheatears, 45 Robins, 30 Song Thrushes, two Ring Ouzels and 39 Goldcrests.  Migrants passing overhead included 60 Stock Doves, 32 Skylarks, 107 Swallows, two Rock Pipits, 70 Chaffinches, 5000 Goldfinches, 41 Siskins and 43 Reed Buntings.

A juvenile Long-tailed Skua was seen at the fishing boats in the evening.

The three juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still at Scotney

11th A strong north-easterly wind coupled with clear skies produced very little with just a Short-eared Owl, a Ring Ouzel and 20 Goldcrests of note on the land and 750 Goldfinches passing overhead.

Four Arctic Skuas and three Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore.

12th Overhead passage was dominated by Goldfinches again with at least 1000 moving north along with a handful of other finches and a few pipits whilst the handful of grounded migrants present included 28 Song Thrushes, two Ring Ouzels and 24 Goldcrests,

A Goldeneye flew east offshore and there were ten Mediterranean Gulls, seven Little Gulls and a juvenile Arctic Tern at the Patch.

13th A Hen Harrier, an Avocet, a Short-eared Owl and two Ring Ouzels were the highlights of the day. Other grounded migrants included six Wheatears, three Blackcaps, 21 Chiffchaffs, 25 Goldcrests and a Firecrest whilst overhead, five Sparrowhawks, 45 Swallows, a Yellow Wagtail, three Bramblings and 480 Goldfinches passed through

There were two Arctic Skuas, 16 Mediterranean Gulls and eight Little Gulls feeding offshore

14th A Sooty Shearwater and a Smew flew west offshore whilst there were eight Little Gulls and eight Mediterranean Gulls at the Patch.

It was fairly quiet on the land with just a Ring Ouzel and a Firecrest of note along with 113 Swallows, eight Bramblings, 19 Siskins and 375 Goldfinches passing overhead..

15th A disappointingly quiet day with very few grounded birds and not a great deal passing overhead other than 475 Swallows, two Rock Pipits, three Bramblings, 480 Goldfinches and 13 Siskins of interest.

There was also a bit of a clear out at the Patch with just two Mediterranean Gulls there although a second-winter Caspian Gull was a new bird on the beach.

16th The highlights of the day were two Caspian Gulls (a first-winter and a second-winter) amongst the gulls roosting on the Point, a Short-eared Owl, three Ring Ouzels in the Desert, two Bearded Tits and two Ravens. A Velvet Scoter and three Yellow-legged Gulls was seen off the fishing boats. Visible migration was dominated by 600 Swallows, 70 House Martins and 150 Goldfinches along with a Yellow Wagtail, three Grey Wagtails, four Fieldfares, 20 Chaffinches and six Bramblings.
17th The highlight of the day was a Little Auk which spent the afternoon around the Patch. A good of variety of wildfowl was seen offshore and included 298 Brent Geese, 152 Wigeon, a Pintail, four Eider and a party of four Goldeneye whilst migrants of note on the land included a Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl,166 Skylarks, three Rock Pipits, a late Whinchat, a Firecrest, 25 Long-tailed Tits, 1030 Chaffinches (coming in high and heading NW), 380 Goldfinch, 37 Siskins and 17 Redpolls.
18th

An excellent day with a variety of notable birds.to be seen A Pallas's Warbler was found and soon caught in the trapping area but the real highlight was a party of 12 Long-tailed Tits which arrived and included three individuals which appear to be one of the continental races, presumably europeaus. Other migrants included two Rock Pipits, ten Chiffchaffs, 15 Goldcrests, a Firecrest, a Jay and four Bramblings.

Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus ssp

 

From top to bottom 1) bird 1 europeaus   2) bird 2 europeaus   3) bird 3 europeaus

4) birds 1 and 2 europeaus and 5) europeaus (right) and rosaceous (left).

Note in each of the three europeaus birds a very pale-headed appearance with reduced and fainter blackish patch behind eye, the lack of facial streaking and unmarked shining white breast.

These are the Observatory's first records of any of the continental races in at least 21 years.  

It was quiet offshore but a third-winter Caspian Gull was roosting with the gulls on the Point and yesterdays Little Auk was still feeding offshore.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans  third-winter

19th After the excitement of yesterday it was back to earth today with hardly a migrant to be seen except for late individuals of Wheatear and Willow Warbler.
20th The main feature of the day was a large arrival of thrushes coming in from the east and heading inland. Numbers were dominated by 700 Fieldfares and 620 Redwings. Blackbirds also arrived in good numbers, (about 250) but hung around rather than passing straight through and at least three Ring Ouzels were present. The most frustrating record was of a Waxwing heard calling several times as it flew over the Observatory but not seen. At least 200 Stock Doves, 20 Bramblings, 17 Siskins and 12 Redpolls also passed through but other grounded migrants were very scarce with the best being a Dartford Warbler in the Desert and a late Hobby. At least one of the "europeaus" Long-tailed Tits was still in the trapping area.   
21st A very cold start to the day in calm and clear conditions resulted in a much quieter day than yesterday. The highlight was a Hooded Crow which flew over the trapping area just after dawn whilst other significant records included a Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, two Rock Pipits, 20 Fieldfares, 70 Blackbirds, three Blackcaps, two Firecrests and 60 Lesser Redpolls,  At least two of the europeaus Long-tailed Tits were still present.
22nd Fine weather but a very quiet day with just a Firecrest and a few Siskins and Redpolls passing through of note.
23rd A foul morning with strong south west winds and occasionally torrential rain produced very little offshore other than a Sooty Shearwater, four Arctic Skuas and two Arctic Terns. Not a great deal to be seen in the bushes.

The highlight of the day was this fine Penduline Tit seen on several occasions from the Hanson Hide at ARC.

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus

This bird was ringed with what appears be a BTO ring. It was possible to get a part read which showed that the number ended with 708 and it may have began with an A (or possibly an X). It would be very interesting if anyone can lay claim to the original ringing.

24th Clear skies and a light north-westerly wind resulted in a decent passage overhead but not a great deal in the bushes. The highlights amongst the birds flying over were two Waxwings, a Woodlark and a Buzzard with 330 Stock Doves, 70 Skylarks, 90 Fieldfares, 100 Redwings, 1050 Starlings, 250 Chaffinches, 30 Bramblings, 50 Siskins, 50 Redpolls and 50 Reed Buntings making up the numbers. A Ring Ouzel, a Dartford Warbler and a Firecrest were the best of the birds in the bushes along with at least one of the europeaus Long-tailed Tits still present.

There were ten Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull feeding at the Patch.

25th Another exciting day with the highlights being three parties of Waxwings totaling 14 birds passing through, a Grey Phalarope feeding offshore during the afternoon and a Crossbill over the area. Sheer numbers were provided by an almost continuous passage of Starlings throughout the morning and with at least 12000 being counted. Other species moving in good numbers were Skylark (90), Blackbird (80), Fieldfare (50), Redwing (85), Chaffinch (135), Brambling (47), 15 Siskin and 20 Redpolls. A Woodcock, three Firecrests and a Jay were also of note.
26th Very quiet. Four Firecrests were the only notable birds.

The Penduline Tit was showing very well from the Hanson Hide at ARC during the afternoon.

27th A wet and windy, thoroughly miserable day produced two Velvet Scoters, an Arctic Skua and three Sandwich Terns offshore and an adult Caspian Gull was roosting on the Point. Two Merlins and a Firecrest was the only notable bird in the bushes.

The Penduline Tit was showing very well again from the Hanson Hide at ARC during the afternoon. Further close observation has added a bit more detail to the ring number which is now X??5780. A Pallas's Warbler was also seen during the afternoon.

28th The highlight of the day was a Grey Phalarope which landed on the sea at the fishing boats and then remained close inshore for at least a couple of hours. Other birds were relatively few and far between with just 20 Swallows,140 Goldfinches and 21 Redpolls of note.

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

29th What was presumably the same Grey Phalarope as yesterday was seen again on a couple of occasions off the fishing boats. Strong southerly winds brought a slight improvement in seawatching with about five hours of observation producing a Manx Shearwater, three Pomarine Skuas, five Little Gulls, 50 Kittiwakes and a lingering Sandwich Tern.

There were at least four Firecrests and 15 Goldcrests in the trapping area and two Merlins were seen but there was very little else of interest on the land.

30th Three Firecrests were seen in the moat and 50 Siskins and 45 Redpolls flew over.
31st The highlight of the day was a Pallas's Warbler seen in the trapping area but sadly only seen by one observer. A colour-ringed Caspian Gull seen at the Patch was also of note and seawatching produced five Black-throated Divers, a Slavonian Grebe, two Velvet Scoters, three Pomarine Skuas, two Great Skuas, ten Mediterranean Gulls and over 1000 Kittiwakes. Other birds of note on the land included six Firecrests and 40 Goldcrests and good numbers of birds passed overhead including seven Swallows, a Rock Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, 150 Chaffinches, 12 Bramblings, 70 Siskins, 320 Linnet and 140 Redpolls.