Olive backing a winner

Double trouble - TWO Olive-backed Pipits (Will Scott)

Showing well; Olive-backed Pipit (Will Scott)

Still present; Little Bunting (Graeme Duncan)

Yesterday's ringed bird (David Steel)

Our 6th Red-breasted Flycatcher of the year (Graeme Duncan)



Rare on Farnes - Yellowhammer (David Steel)

Tuesday 23rd October comments:

 

…and tomorrow arrived and we were not disappointed!

 

It’s been another electrifying day on the Farnes as migrant birds arrived from the east throughout the day. The Radde’s Warbler and Little Bunting remained from yesterday whilst huge numbers of winter Thrushes continued to move west over the islands. As each hour past, the action came thick and fast as a Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered with a Red-breasted Flycatcher also new in.

However the day’s headlines were snatched by not one, but two Olive-backed Pipits on Inner Farne; both together! These Siberian visitors were only added to the Farnes list as recently as 2001 but we’ve entertained five since including an individual on Brownsman last week. The birding has been brilliant, although the team are exhausted as they fit the counting around all there other work and with the prospect of even more to come tomorrow, we could be making even more headlines.

 

Noticeable highlights:

•  Long-eared Owl 3
• Olive-backed Pipit 2 together on Inner Farne
• Radde’s Warbler still present for second day
• Yellow-browed Warbler 1 on Inner Farne
• Red-breasted Flycatcher on Brownsman
• Little Bunting 1 for second day on Brownsman

  

Today’s Totals: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel 1 male, Merlin 1, Purple Sandpiper 112, Snipe 7, Woodcock 24, Long-eared Owl 3, Short-eared Owl 2, Skylark 9, Meadow Pipit 2, OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT 2 on Inner Farne, Dunnock 7, Robin 120, Black Redstart 2, Redwing 1,500, Fieldfare 579, Song Thrush 105, Blackbird 260, Ring Ouzel 4, Mistle Thrush 1 (first of the year) Chiffchaff 31, Blackcap 6, RADDE'S WARBLER 1 for second day, YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER 1, Goldcrest 150, RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Brambling 33, Siskin 2, Chaffinch 15, Yellowhammer (first of the year) LITTLE BUNTING 1 for second day and Snow Bunting 1.