Monday 28 September 2020

28th September 2020

Weather: S then SE     partly cloudy

A decent autumn day with quite a lot of birds to look at. The first dark-bellied Brent of the season was idenitfied among the 50 or so pale-bellied forms.

Other wildfowl seen today were a Wigeon flying south early and a Pintail south west later, also a skein of about 800 Pink-footed Geese distantly south east of the islands, while 2 Common Snipe were other typical birds of autumn. Two summer plumaged Red-throated Divers flew passed today as had others recently, while also on the sea were 59 Common Scoters 3 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Sandwich Terns.. As the tide was only a small one waders did not gather in large numbers but included 43 Turnstones and 14 Knot although towards the West Kirby shore were 250 Curlew and 120 Shelduck.

A female Sparrowhawk tussled with Carrion Crows on Middle before coming to the main island, two Peregrines scattered the Oystercatchers several times and 2 Kestrels hunted the island voles. A group of 4  Ravens appeared sporadically, once together but usually as singles.

Six migrating Swallows flew south over the obs, also 3 Grey Wagtails and Skylarks called overhead, including a flock of 8.

On the ground this morning were 2 Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting and 2 Goldfinches briefly, while the 4 Wrens ringed indicated a passage. A flock of Linnets over the last few days continued here with 85 counted today. Meadow Pipits at 35 were more than of late, while 6 Rock Pipits still remain.

Ringed: 4 Wrens, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin.


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