Saturday 22 November 2014

It was a day of low winds and clear skies; this encouraged a few of the island's smaller avian inhabitants to emerge after yesterday's storm. A Siberian Chiffchaff was found at Nant in the afternoon, where two Chiffchaffs, two Goldcrests, two Song Thrushes and a Blackcap were also recorded. A total of 170 Starlings were feeding amongst the Rock Pipits on Solfach today, although this flock was subject to very frequent attacks by the south Peregrine Falcon pair, which nonetheless failed to capture any. Out to sea, the usual fare of gulls amounted to 105 Black-headed Gulls, 37 Common Gulls, 11 Mediterranean Gulls and 446 Kittiwakes.

The usual flock of Choughs (reaching a maximum of 27 individuals at the moment) continues to make use of the extensive piles of rotting seaweed on Solfach. However, it appears that this flock is currently comprised mostly of island breeding pairs and 'residents'- there are very few 'new' mainland birds amongst the flock, save for one or two birds. Note the ear in the fourth image- a rare sight on birds in the field! 
Starlings
Adult Mediterranean Gull. It has been an excellent year for this species on Bardsey, with a count nearing 60 towards the end of October breaking the record for a day total of this sepcies
Siberian Chiffchaff

1 comment:

  1. Theses are all great shot however I think you out did yourself with the Choughs.

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