9th and 10th April
A reasonable morning on the 9th before a band
of rain moved in just after lunch saw a trickle of new birds across the island
including the first Blackcap of the
year at Bewan and the first Collared
Dove of the year at Holland; a varied spread of other landbird migrants
comprised 2 Woodpigeons, a Sand Martin, 315 Meadow Pipits, 9 Rock Pipits, 50
Pied Wagtails, 27 Wheatears, 32 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs, a mobile flock of 6
Carrion Crows and single Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting.
Blackcap, photo Larissa Simulik
The
usual mix of other bits and pieces included a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Merlins
up the west coast (one of which caught a Redwing), the drake Green-winged Teal still, a decent count
of 24 Red-breasted Mergansers and at least 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls which
have been a bit slow in getting going this spring while a pod of 2-3 Risso’s Dolphins were close inshore
off Torness.
With
the returning and victorious Green Champions of the Flyway team the coverage of
the island leapt up from good to comprehensive the following day, so a decent
spread of migrants were dug out despite the strong and very cold NW wind making
things tricky out in the field; an early morning seawatch produced more Auks
bombing past the north end including 125 Puffins and 1,293
Guillemot/Razorbills.
The Northern Harrier is generating a range of speculation concerning its
continued presence on the island – will he leave at all this year, well not just
yet as he was drifting around all over the place today along with the ringtail
Hen Harrier, 3 Merlins and single Sparrowhawk and Peregrine (a huge female who
caught a Lapwing at Phisligar). A
single Barnacle Goose was new for
the year when it flew in from the south while the Whooper Swan and Pink-footed
Goose were still with 733 Greylag Geese.
Landbird
migrant totals through the day included 6 Woodpigeons, 277 Meadow Pipits, a
White Wagtail with 46 Pied Wagtails, an increased 64 Redwings, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2
Goldcrests and 4 Snow Buntings while the Green-winged
Teal remained, 9 Red-throated Divers and 3 Great-northern Divers were
offshore and a single Grey Plover was seen.
This Peregrine really didn't want to relinquish her Lapwing breakfast but did in the end! photo Simon Davies
While this Merlin was certainly more determined to hold onto his Redwing prize when accidentally flushed. photo Simon Davies
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