Saturday 3 November 2018

NORTH RONALDSAY - 30th October


A decent day with the wind still bang in the east but much lighter than yesterday and plenty of bright sunshine; the middle census route was pretty quiet although it was very pleasant to be out in the field with the feeling that something could be found, the main feature was 15+ Common Redpolls scattered around the area, all very pale and every one different – very confusing!   Other migrants included 2 Woodcock, 2 Goldcrest, an increase to 28 Fieldfares and 60 Redwing, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Chaffinches, a Robin, a Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin seemingly hunting in tandem around Ancum, a Kestrel and 40 Blackbirds along with 125+ Teal, 10 Gadwall and a single Whooper Swan.

                Opened the nets at Ancum late afternoon but it was predictably quiet with three Twite the highlight, I popped over to Nether Linnay stubble field in between rounds where there was another flock of c15 Redpolls in amongst which was an almost certain COUE’S ARCTIC REDPOLL but with so much variation it was pretty tricky!










A bewildering array of Common Redpolls


This is the potential Coue's Arctic Redpoll but I'm not completely convinced!

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