16th November 2011

The first Snow Buntings of the winter on the ground were found on Middle island from just before the tide, feeding on the shorter grass area of the west side (left), hopefully they may stay a while as others have done. After a quiet start with very few birds about log 'write-ons' began appearing during the morning, beginning with a Bonxie that flew from the west close to the north end and then unsettled the birds on the east hoyle tide edge before continuing away north east(right). A single Wigeon also made a flying visit(left) after a couple of Teal rested briefly on the sea, and a Golden Plover flew south off the east side. At the south end 4 Common Snipe flew west and 2 Little Egrets (including the ringed bird) fed in the gutter. Later in the morning 3 Redwing(right) arrived but failed to find the traps attractive, neither did the 3 visiting Blackbirds and the sole bird ringed today was 1 of the 2 Chaffinches on the island. Overhead several flocks of starlings, the largest being a group of 180, passed through, also a single Grey Wagtail. A Peregrine was seen to catch a wader on the shore and carry it away despite the attention of the Crows. Not a bad day for the middle of November!

(DB,CJ,KMc) [1020-47] photos CJ