The first day with some real cloud cover, however brief, produced some of the migrants we have been patiently waiting for. The first
Dartford Warbler for the autumn (and only the second for the year) was out on the slopes, a lone
Corn Bunting was located within the Crown Estate Field with a second individual at Barleycrates Lane and 6
Cattle Egrets in off the sea were an excellent addition to the year totals. Today also saw our share of the recent movement of
Crossbills with a day total of 8 across the island. Other birds of note included: a
Red-throated Diver east past the Bill, two
Ring Ouzels, 4
Mistle Thrushes, good numbers of both
Fieldfares and
Redwings, two
Black Redstarts, a single
Firecrest at the Obs, 3
Yellow-browed Warblers across the island, small numbers of
Siskins and
Redpolls and a
Yellowhammer in the stubble fields.
A huge thank you to all our observers in the field today for sending us some cracking records as well as the pictures to accompany them. Corn Bunting and Dartford Warbler © Joe Stockwell, Great Spotted Woodpecker © Pete Saunders, Short-eared Owl/Sparrowhawk dog fight and Stonechat © Debby Saunders:
And thanks to Joe for a couple of recordings from the morning - a flock of Crossbills over the Obs and a snippet of the dawn migrant finch soundscape there:
