Just setting off for the Ned Hill track when a text from DJS saying he,d had a quick glimpse of a bird on the old farm building, Ned Hill top which had the jizz of Black Redstart but could have been a Dunnock.
After I sat scanning for 5 minutes the bird appeared on the top right hand corner of the building but some distance away. For a few heart stopping minutes this bird had the look of a Black Redstart silhouetted against the sky but luckily I had the scope in the back of the car and the bird sat long enough for me to scope then snap it, a Dunnock.
The track produced no Siskin but several Goldfinch and Linnets were on the thistle tops and up to 4 Wheatear were still in the area.
Below in the field a Weasel was tangling with a large rabbit but it soon gave up and left, the weasel probably being a young one as adult Weasels don.t give up.
Nice to meet a blast from the past birder up there , Michael Welch and young lady partner who reported Wheatears on the top of the hill.
Good to see 2 Swifts through the Causeway Foot Col along with several Swallows.
September tomorrow and the peak visible migration month so if its going to happen it will happen soon.
Vis Mig today
2 Swifts........................................>S
c100 Swallows............................>S
Several reports of Siskin both local and beyond.
9 Cormorant................................blogging. Count of 15 at Ogden this time last year
BS