Sunday 30 October 2016

The day started with a bang just after first light with a pristine Pallas’ Warbler found in the first mist net round of the day at Nant. Though not annual this comes hot-on-the-heels of last year’s October record and part of a large number in the UK this autumn.



As the morning’s cloud dissipated, overhead migration reached it’s pinnacle of the month with pipits, finches, larks, buntings, and thrushes streaming overhead. The totals of 31 Skylarks, one Grey Wagtail, 1218 Starlings, 1157 Chaffinches, ten Bramblings, 58 Siskins, five Goldfinches, 65 Linnets, one Lesser Redpoll, two Snow Buntings, two Reed Buntings, five Crossbills, two Richard’s Pipits, and three Waxwings were mostly seen heading out to sea off of Pen Cristin. The Waxwings were particularly notable being only the fifth island record and the first since 2012.

Yellow-browed Warblers have dominated many headlines over the last month but it’s still great to see these little Asiatic wanderers coming through. A total of four were seen today with one at Nant, one at Cristin, and two in the withies. The four Siberian Chiffchaffs seen was an excellent tally for North-west Wales whilst five Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs, one Willow Warbler, and 15 Goldcrests were keeping them company.

A flock of four Pale-bellied Brent Geese dropped into Solfach, with a Lapwing and two Black Redstarts not too far away on the Narrows too. Five Water Rails got in on the action with most in the withies though one still crept through the vegetation at Cristin. Another movement of thrushes consisted of 26 Blackbirds, 42 Fieldfares, 18 Song Thrushes, and 117 Redwings, whilst two Bullfinches were still present in Cristin garden.
Lastly, one Red-throated Diver, four Common Scoters, five Mediterranean Gulls, and 460 Black-headed Gulls were noted offshore.


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