1st October 2013

"Weather: wind SE force 3/4 increasing force 5, mist, cloudy with brighter intervals

Observers were greeted with a stunning sky this morning but expectations had been lowered over recent days as to what birds may be found.

October is the month when special birds are expected in the coastal hotspots, however the headline today must be the finding of a new insect for the island. Mid morning a Black Darter dragonfly was found on the main track near the Heli and was seen three or four times along the centre of the island, unfortunately it was too mobile to be photographed but was very welcome in what has been generally a poor year for dragonflies on the islands.

One or two Rock Pipits have evaded the potter traps in the last week or so but two succumbed today to the tasty meal worms on offer and indeed another was trying to enter the traps at the same time proving there were three present today, a fine reward for the Obs members persistence over the previous two weeks. We have not ringed a Rock Pipit for some time and two together is a bonus indeed.

A Song Thrush was in the trapping area early but little else, the only warbler being a Chiffchaff ringed yesterday. A Merlin was in the south cove for a while; a strange mixed flock flew between the islands consisting of 8 Wigeon, 4 Teal and a single Brent (which could not be refound). Late morning a Greenland Wheatear landed (left), the first on the main island for many days now and was duly ringed.

On the sea were noted 3 Gannets, 3 Guillemots, 5 Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe, while on the shore a Little Egret and 35 Bar-tailed Godwits.

Ringed: 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Greenland Wheatear, 1 Song Thrush,1 Wren [ 622-32 ]

(DB,CJ, + SRR&LPL et al)