11th October 2014

Weather was sunny throughout, with a light SW wind. A Red breasted Flycatcher was new in, along the hedge running south from the lighthouse and showed well throughout the day. 4 Yellow browed Warbler included birds still at Thornwick and old fall plantation. Other passerine totals included 1 Garden warbler, 10 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and 1 Lesser Redpoll. Chiffchaff numbers increased with 17 birds recorded. The good passage of Jay over recent weeks continued, with 4 birds passing old fall and a single in Whelkie Wynds. 4 Swallow and a House Martin were also seen.

Wildfowl movements included at least 310 Pink footed geese south (plus 5 on North Marsh), 6 Whooper Swan, 2 Dark bellied Brent and 3 Barnacle Geese. Sea watch highlights included 1 Sooty shearwater, 1 Pomarine Skua, 6 Great Skua and 12 Little Gull. 7 Little Grebe across the headland represented a particularly high count for the species.

Buckton recorded a Long-eared Owl around the Heligoland trap early morning, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing and 530 Pink footed geese (5 flocks). A Little Owl was calling here overnight near the paddocks off Hoddy Cows Lane.

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Red breasted Flycatcher, Lee Johnson

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Whooper Swans, Andy Hood

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Yellow browed Warbler, Lee Johnson