A bit of a bonanza on the ground today with heavily overcast conditions and the occasional spits of drizzle in the air dropping a steady succession of arrivals everywhere.
Robins were abundant, with 150 at the Bill alone and most likely in the region of 1000 for the island as a whole;
Goldcrest also topped 150 at the Bill, where 25
Black Redstarts and 20
Firecrests were additional stand-out totals. Most of the other expected late season migrants featured, with 4
Mistle Thrushes, 2
Ring Ouzels and a
Lapland Bunting all new and the
Bearded Tit and
Wryneck both lingering on at the Bill.
The dreariness was really lit up by flashes of orange and yellow today: Robins were popping out of every bramble bush and quarry crevice and Goldcrests were busy in every patch of cover © Martin Cade and Joe Stockwell:
Black Redstarts were frequenting their customary spots but also dropping into less conventional habitat © Nick Hopper (top) and Joe Stockwell (bottom):
