A sunny day with a robust northerly breeze produced a superb fall of migrants on the island right now, loved by all birders and visitors. At this time’s totals are as follows: 7 grownup Mallard nonetheless taking care of 4 younger (this quantity is getting smaller by the day!), 18 Swift, a single Racing Pigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 10 Woodpigeon, 18 Oystercatcher, one other fly-over Ringed Plover (probably the identical as yesterday), 56 Kittiwake, 22 Nice Black-backed Gull, 298 Herring Gull (with a little bit of a marked motion up the East Aspect) and 83 Lesser Black-backed Gull (no counts of auks on this windy day). There have been 4 Storm Petrels heard on the Battery final evening. The male Kestrel was very energetic right now – however not the feminine, which hopefully means she is sat on the nest – and 4 Peregrine have been famous. The Hooded Crow was nonetheless current in Tillage Discipline. Two late Sand Martin have been seen early on, and 142 Swallow and 351 Home Martin have been logged all through the day, as have been 5 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and 12 Widespread Whitethroat. However by far the spotlight for all islanders was the marked enhance in Noticed Flycatchers; although not fairly Portland numbers (200+) by Lundy requirements a rely of 42 was very welcome, 9 of which have been feeding collectively on the Barton Discipline fence. Nevertheless, rarity sensible the birds of the day go to the Tims once they had two male Crossbill in Millcombe early on feeding within the pines earlier than transferring off north. No Signal of the Purple Heron right now!
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| Pair of Crossbill © Tim Jones |
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| Peregrine and Lesser Black-backed Gull © Richard Campey |
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| Noticed Flycatcher © Richard Campey |
