Bird Sightings

An elusive Wryneck was seen around the Upper East Side Path, just north of Millcombe, this afternoon. The Ortolan Bunting was also seen again around Castle Hill for its fifth day. The Barnacle Goose continues to feed alongside the domesticated geese in Barton's Field. A Great Skua was seen on a morning seawatch heading west along the south coast of the island. Three female Teal and a Jack Snipe were seen at Pondsbury. A Woodcock was flushed from the east side. Two Firecrest were recorded, including one ringed in Millcombe in the morning. A Wheatear was seen at the North Light. Six Snow Bunting were seen, including a flock of four ranging between the terrace and Pondsbury, and a single bird seen feeding alongside the Ortolan on Castle Hill. 

Wryneck on the Upper East Side Path ©Richard Campey

The Ortolan Bunting is still being seen feeding around Castle Hill, seawatchers there this morning also recorded Snow Bunting, Great Skua, and Stock Dove. The Barnacle Goose again spent the day in Barton's Field, and 30 Common Scoter were seen flying south past The Battery. A Firecrest was again seen on the terraces, and two Ring Ouzel were recorded including a bird in the Bramble at South Light. A Great Northern Diver was seen in the Landing Bay along with an adult Black-headed Gull, with an additional 1st winter Black-headed Gull at Pondsbury. A Woodcock, Whinchat and Wheatear were also recorded.

Barnacle Goose over Castle Hill ©Richard Campey

The Ortolan Bunting and Barnacle Goose were both still on the island, on Castle Hill and Barton's Field respectively. Clear sunny conditions led to a good count of Hirundines with c500 Swallow and 13 House Martin recorded. Unfortunately no more Cory's Shearwater were seen, but seawatching did produce 190 Auk sp., 11 Razorbill, 16 Kittiwake, two Great Northern Diver, two Cormorant, and two Black-headed Gull. A Jack Snipe was flushed in the evening in Barton's Field, with single Woodcock, Lapwing, and Golden Plover also seen. A Firecrest was in 'Rüppell's Quarry', two Yellow-browed Warblers were seen in Millcombe, with Black Redstart, two Whinchat, two Wheatear, three Grey Wagtail and two Snow Bunting also seen. Four Merlin were also logged, including two hunting Swallows at the North Light. A Wryneck was also present in the late morning in Gorse along the Upper East Side Path, identified at a later date from photos.

Firecrest in 'Rüppell's Quarry', on the terrace. ©Richard Campey

The Cory's Shearwater influx continued with 35 seen today, with all but one of the records before midday. Seawatching produced two Arctic Skua, two Great Northern Diver, five adult Mediterranean Gull, and 49 Razorbill identified with a further 612 Auk Sp. recorded. A lone Barnacle Goose was also seen coming in off the sea over South Light by seawatchers, and spent the rest of the day south of Quarter Wall. Yesterday's Ortolan Bunting was seen again feeding around Castle Hill. Two Purple Sandpipers at Brazen Ward are the first seen this autumn. A Snow Bunting was feeding around the west side of Halfway Wall and a Greenfinch, the first this autumn, was picked up calling among 397 migrating Chaffinch recorded. Two Ring Ouzel, single Black Redstart, and two Wheatear were also seen.

A Raven chasing the Barnacle Goose out of Tillage Field ©Tom Williams