Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Great April Fall

Great start, Great bird (David Kinchin-smith)

First Great Tit in nine years! (David Kinchin-smith)

Common 'Mealy' Redpoll for second day (David Steel)

Black Redstart meets Puffins (David Steel)


Robin influx....no trees to hide in!

Tuesday 1st April comments: WHAT a start! The grand opening day to the season arrived with torrential downpours, which gave way to Puffins galore with a side order of migrants. A few brave hardy souls ventured out to the islands to greet us as we opened our doors for the first time this season whilst the seabird, especially Puffins, were present in huge numbers.

On the passage migrant front, things have really picked up in recent days as we’ve experienced a good Robin influx alongside good numbers of Wheatears, Chiffchaffs and Meadow Pipits.

On the more unusual front; a Short-eared Owl was an unwelcome guest for the resident large Gulls to mob, whilst a Water Rail scratching at the window of the Pele Tower was very unusual! Throw in two Black Redstarts, Common ‘Mealy’ Redpoll and a Jack Snipe, it’s been a canny start.

However the ‘bird of the day’ belonged to a singing GREAT TIT on Brownsman. Not that unusual you say? Well it’s the first record of Great Tit on the Farne Islands since a bird was on Brownsman on 1 April 2005 (strange timing or what!).
Anyway here goes for another crazy season on Planet Farnes. Hold onto your hats…here we go…..

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