The prolonged settled weather welcomed another stunning push of late migrants. The clear highlight was the strident song of a first-summer male Common Rosefinch singing in Millcombe. First picked up at 0655 by Steve Wing, the bird was backed the by vocalisations from Willow Warbler and Cuckoo. A monthly high count of 13 Common Whitethroat was recorded around Millcombe and Lower East with decent numbers still pushing through. The Goldcrest pair continue to nest build in Millcombe conifers and the Hooded Crow continues to favour Tillage Field and Water Tanks.
Another late Sand Martin trickled through, accompanied by 106 Swallow and 211 House Martin. Fours of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff across the southern valleys and copses, plus singles of female Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Sedge and Garden Warbler. 52 Starling nests were located, predominantly around the village and Spotted Flycatcher remain abundan with 16 birds still knocking around!
A lone Ringed Plover pressed north and 2 Dunlin frequented SW Field Flash. An adult female Sparrowhawk put in a brief appearance over East Side near Quarry Cottages, 14 Gannet were logged offshore and a second-calendar year Cormorant reappeared on Pondsbury. TwoYellow Wagtail called overhead and a third was on the deck in St Helen’s Field, while a single White Wagtail patrolled Lighthouse Field along with 2 female Greenland Wheatear.
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| First-summer Rosefinch, Millcombe © Richard Campey |
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| Dunlin, SW Field Flash © Richard Campey |
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| Fantastic crowd joined bird log this week. From left to right: Joe Parker, Dennis Weir, Kerri Gorentz, Tony Taylor, Eamonn O’Donnell, Ann Taylor, Dez Higgins, Dick Coombes, Gerry Lyons, Steve Wing, Luke Marriner, Geoff Oliver, Richard Campey, Tim Jones, Tim Davis, Rich Taylor, Rebecca Taylor, Chris Baillie, Carol Baillie. |