Friday 20 March 2015

Another lovely calm day began with the excitement of the solar eclipse, which thankfully occurred with clear blue skies around, allowing a true appreciation of this amazing event. With the low northerly winds continuing, there were plenty of new migrants around: the first two Puffins of the year were seen off the North End; a total of 15 Wheatears were scattered around the coast, along with three Skylarks, 252 Meadow Pipits, one Grey Wagtail, 35 Pied Wagtails, the year’s first two White Wagtails and 16 Stonechats; a moderate finch passage in the morning included the year’s first Bullfinch at Nant, plus 31 Goldfinches, 35 Linnets, one Siskin, one Lesser Redpoll and one Reed Bunting; Goldcrest numbers had finally climbed to a higher total of 34, with a small figure of eight Chiffchaffs also present; and thrush numbers were up to two Fieldfares, and singles of Song Thrush and Redwing. Elsewhere on the island, singles of Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were seen, and two Water Rails were present in the lowlands. A large gathering of large gulls in Solfach at high tide involved some 81 Herring Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, one Black-headed Gull and three Common Gulls.

Displaying P1200039.JPG
Bullfinch- the first spring bird for a couple of years, the last being a probable escaped male, bearing a ring of non-scientific origin. (C) Mark Carter






A handful of images of the solar eclipse


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