28th March 2012

The breeze stayed in the south east overnight but veered to west late morning and for at least the next few days with the prospect of less visible migration on the island, we still await the hoped for Ring Ouzel or Black Redstart, while the first Swallow and Sandwich Tern are surely not far off. The second Mealy Redpoll of the spring was ringed together 5 Lessers, also a control bird (ringed elsewhere), amazingly the second such Redpoll control this spring; about 30 others called as they passed through, although Siskins were harder to come by today with only 3 being heard during the morning. Twelve Goldfinches (right) and 6 Greenfinches were about but no Chaffinches today. A very small fall of Goldcrests (8), and Chiffchaffs (5) were the only warblers with a single male Wheatear at the north end that failed to trapped for ringing. Meadow Pipit passage was almost nonexistent today, and only a very few Pied Wagtails with a single White made it to the island. The Merlin was joined by another as they flew down the west side today (or have there been 2 all along?). Single Wood Pigeon and Little Egret showed, some Canada Geese were heard in the dark before dawn, also heard only was a Pheasant (presumably the regular bird at Red Rocks) whose voice can carry in still conditions.

The great majority of Redpolls (left) ringed over the last  week have been caught in the Newton heligoland trap, but today all preferred the obs gaden mist net which was very still in the light breeze ( right)

The Mealy Redpoll can be seen below, it is the right bird in both pictures.

Ringed:- 5 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Linnets, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Robin.

(BSB,DB,CJ, et al)              [292-19]         photos BSB