It wasn't just seabirds during this productive autumn. As usual my convenient local patch at Ferry Hills rewarded regular coverage with a great variety of species migrating up the Forth. Highlights this year in addition to Honey-buzzards and Long-tailed Skuas mentioned in previous posts included:
-UK record Tree Pipit day count as listed on the vis mig website Trektellen. Ferry Hills has a long established reputation as one of the best places to see Tree Pipits on autumn migration and this year a new record was set with 334 flying SW in just over two hours on 14th August. FH holds all of the top 10 UK day counts listed on the website, all have been in August; Tree Pipit is a classic early autumn migrant with peak numbers well in advance of the Meadow Pipit migration.
-Good variety of birds of prey. In addition to the unprecedented showing for Honey-buzzard already blogged about, a good variety of other species were recorded including Merlin, Osprey, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, White-tailed Eagle (site first) and Short-eared owl (annual total of 4 which is good for here).
-Days of excellent variety. September 30th featured 40 species including Honey-buzzard, 900 Pink-feet, a Greenshank, first Fieldfare of the autumn, 91 Mistle Thrush, 700 Meadow Pipit and 280 Redpolls.
October 22nd featured 36 species including Short-eared Owl, Black-throated and Great-Northern Diver, 68 Brambling, 1 Hawfinch, 2 Twite and 48 Crossbill. This was the first calm day after the passing of Storm Babet.
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