A day on Holy Island. Not the right day of course hence no Thrush Nightingale , Blyth’s Reed Warbler or Little Bunting (all seen in recent weeks) but still atmospheric as always. Two Little Egret by the causeway. Started at Chare Ends & walked round to Emmanuel Head. Gannet passage south in full flow. After counting 150 in first five minutes I estimated 1,000 in the hour there. Also 1 Great Skua, plus a few Kittiwakes , Guillemots & Razorbills. Nothing at the lough & on to Crooked Lonnen where the Golden Plover flock was encamped , no American unfortunately. Look at Straight Lonnen but all quite in the stiff S/E breeze. The village proved more productive with a smart male Redstart at the back of the school plus five Brambling. Thrush movement was noticeable all day with many Song Thrush & Redwing dropping out of sky into bushes. Back to car park & drove to Snook. Also fairly quite here but did have single Redstarts at Snook & Half Moon Slack with a Ring Ouzel also at latter site. Even with lack of migrants the numbers of waders & geese were still a fine sight with the wader roost of Oystercatcher & Bar-tailed Godwit on St Cuthbert’s Island impressive. Also the whole Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock of at least 1,500 birds were close to the road. TRD
