Sunrise over the Wides with a Song Thrush loving the vibes.
Well well well. What can I say. As if birding on the Farnes wasn’t good enough today produced the fall conditions every birder dreams of. Up before dawn as per saw very little on the land. A seawatch ensued with good numbers seen.
11 Red-throated Diver, 13 Common Scoter, 46 Wigeon, 13 Teal and best of all – drake Velvet Scoter! Plus the juvvy Black Tern was hanging around in the mist.
Drake Velvet Scoter warning us today would be crippling!
One of the many Red-throated Divers
As the day progressed it was clear the ease in wind speed and poor visibility was dropping birds. Redwing reached 750+, Song Thrush 120+, Brambling hit 23 west, while the first Fieldfare and Reed Bunting of the autumn turned up. Corvids heard the news and popped out to look with Rook, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow recorded while 2 late Swallows flew through. A Goldcrest dropped in and 5 Wheatear preformed well across Inner Farne.
Jackdaw f##king off west.
Redwings on the move.
Song Thrush here there, everywhere.
Wheatear stonk.
The evening rounds turned up the big birds. Song Thrush numbered 40+ (which on a small island is A LOT), and upon reaching a small patch of Dock a small passerine flushed out, Goldcrest I shouted immediately…but wait, no, small Phylosc…Yellow-browed Warbler! We watched it grovling and I wnt in search of another poss Yellow-browed in the Lighthouse compound, finding 2 more in the process while 15 Brambling swirled around my head. WOW. I honestly cant communicate how fantastic this was.
I was too busy enjoying the Yellow-browed Warblers to take pics so here's a blur.
A Willow Warbler that was feeding with the stripey sprites.
Brambling like this one all around as we watched the rares.
Ciaran and Graeme dashed over from Brownsman which held some good numbers of birds and got onto the Yellow-browed Warblers getting brilliant views. As they chased the 3rd individual I decided to check some pipits out on Top Meadow which turned out to be a good decision as a pipit dropped down all of 15ft away. Bins up. Tree Pipit I crackled across the radio, the bird then fully emerged…no wait Olive-backed Pipit!! They came running. We chased the bird around abit making sure everyone got Id’able views which we did. Unfortunately poor light and it’s skulking natue inhibited any photos. Tomorrow for those I think.
All in all one of the best days birding ever. Here’s some moths:
WILDLIFE RULES
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