Joe Adamson mid October

Tory Records 12^th – 18^th October 2017

Whooper Swan

15^th Oct. Flock of 41 over West Town, coming in from the north. Second flock of 17 over North Lake. Flock heard and poorly observed over An Club at 2000hrs.

Pink-footed Goose

15^th Oct. 3 birds with the flock of 41 Whoopers

Greylag Goose

15^th Oct. 17 flying west, north of hotel.

Barnacle Goose

14^th Oct. 4 over West Town. 12 over West Town on 18^th Oct.

Eider

14^th Oct. 4 in harbour (3 females)

Wigeon

14^th Oct. 4 North Lake

Teal

14^th Oct. 6 North Lake

Grey Heron

15^th Oct. At least 4 on the Island

Common Buzzard

12^th Oct.  2 behind the Post Office.  13^th Oct. 1 over West Town. 17^th Oct. 1 near lighthouse

Sparrowhawk

14^th Oct. 1 over football pitch. 17^th Oct. 1 south of Anton’s garden. 18^th Oct. West Town.

Kestrel

Individual on 14^th, 15^th, 16^th  and 17^th Oct.

Peregrine Falcon

15^th Oct. 1 East Town. 17^th Oct. 2 East End

Merlin

12^th Oct. Imm over West Town. 17^th Oct. 1 near Lighthouse

Water Rail

15^th Oct. 1 heard south of Grace Anne’s house. 17^th Oct. 1 calling near magic bush

Redshank

18^th Oct. 7 at harbour.

Ringed Plover

15^th Oct. 1 heard in harbour. 17^th Oct. 1 at harbour. 18^th Oct. 11 at harbour

Golden Plover

Singles flying south over island on all dates.

Snipe

15^th Oct. Up to 25 over island

Arctic Tern

14^th Oct. Imm. in harbour

Wheatear

1 at harbour on 18^th Oct.

Skylark

17^th Oct. 1 over East Town

Song Thrush

15^th Oct. 1 West Town. 17^th Oct. 1 Anton’s East Garden.

Redwing

15^th Oct. Influx of c. 150 over island. 17^th Oct. Large influx involving several hundred birds.

Fieldfare

17^th Oct. 1 West Town

Blackcap

17^th Oct. 2. One in each of Anton’s gardens

Willow Warbler

14^th Oct. 1 West Town

Chiffchaff

15^th Oct. 1 East Town. 17^th Oct. 1 Anton’s East Garden

Chough

A pair over island on all dates. Appears to be only one pair on the island. 18^th Oct. 5 over West Town. (These birds are probably some of the flock of 17 that Anton saw coming in from the mainland on the same day)

Chaffinch

17^th Oct. 1 in Anton’s East Garden

Brambling

17^th Oct. Up to 6 birds on the island.

Siskin

15^th Oct. 1 in Anton’s East Garden

Snow Bunting

15^th Oct. 2 over East Town. 17^th Oct. 1 over cliffs in East.

Chris Ingram 30th October

Barnacle Goose 16 in east

Greylag 4 in east

Wigeon 13 on south lake

Teal 12 on east lake

Eider 16 (Anton)

Heron 2 possibly 3

Buzzard 1 west town

Kestrel 1 west town

Peregrine 2 over west town

Lapwing 4 in west

Curlew 13

Turnstone 31

Chough 2

Chiffchaff 3

Blackcap 3

Blackbird 2

Song Thrush 2

Redwing c.100

Robin 2

Chaffinch 2

Brambling 1 (Anton)

Redpoll 1 over calling

The tree by the priest's house has been completely cut down much to the annoyance and anger of many of the islanders.  It seems the guilty party has gone into hibernation!!

Regards Chris

Joe Adamson 12th October

A Merlin and two Buzzards was the best on Tory today. Here 'til next Wednesday.

Chris Ingram 9-10th October

I was on Tory on 9th and 10th October; winds were strong SW and birding conditions again challenging.  List as follows:

Barnacle Goose  flock of 6 flying around south lake on 10th

Wigeon  5 on south lake on 10th

Teal  6 on east lake on 9th

Heron  1 both days

Kestrel  1 on 10th

Ringed Plover  3 on beach on 9th

Dunlin  1 each day

Curlew  max of 3

Redshank  6 on beach on 10th

Chough  max of 3 on 9th

Hooded Crow  flock of 12 on beach on 10

Robin   1 west town on 10th

Linnet  3 west town on 9th

Snow Bunting  2 in east on 9th

Snow Bunting C.Ingram

Chris and Theo

Hi Peter,

Theo and I were on Tory on 28th and 29th (when we were stranded!) and briefly on 30th.  Conditions were very challenging with high winds and frequent showers.  Sightings as follows:

Wigeon  4 on south lake on 28th

Teal  3 on south lake on 28th, presumably same on east lake on 29th

Heron  2 on 29th

Kestrel  1 ech day

Ringed Plover  1 on beach each day

Black-tailed Godwit  1 flying east past south lake on 29th

Lapwing  1 at south lake on 29th

Chough  4 each day

Goldcrest  1/2 each day

Robin  1/2 west town each day

Wheatear  1 on 29th

Meadow Pipit  small influx on afternoon of 29th

Goldfinch  2 on 29th

Linnet  2 on 29th

Greenland Redpoll  1 on 29th

Regards Chris

Chris Ingram 21-22nd September

Hi Peter,

Here are my sightings for 21st and 22nd September:

Kestrel  1/2 both days

Merlin  1 on 21st

Water Rail  1 by the bog on 22nd

Ringed Plover  1 on beach on 21st, 4 there on 22nd

Knot  1 on beach on 21st

Snipe  few both days

Swift  1 over West Town on 22nd, flying east

Chough  flock of 6 both days

Willow Warbler  3 on 22nd

Lesser Whitethroat  1 in hotel bush on 22nd

Robin  1/2 both days

Pied Flycatcher  1 in Anton's on 21st

Wheatear  1 on 21st

Stonechat  1 on 22nd

Linnet   3 on 22nd

Regards Chris

Robert Vaughan

Another quite day yesterday but a miserable, wet start to it. Chris picked up a/the lesser throat by the hotel and a swift at the east end. 3 willow warblers, 2 chiffchaffs and a couple of reed buntings about. A goldcrest was in the marsh behind west town and surprisingly had several calling along the cliff top above the football pitch. 2 water rails seen around the heli pad again, had 2 redpolls briefly that looked quite small but couldnt get much on them. Hopefully be back out again next month.

22nd September Ronert Vaughan

Quite day yesterday, but very bright and calm start to it. A male blackcap, 2 new reed buntings (a female in west town and a male in east town each day) hinted that there may be movement but that was it. The pied fly was still about, hunting from the playground early on. Had 2 redpolls a few times around west town but never showed well. 5 robins, song thrush, 6 chough, 2-3 kestrel and a merlin about. This morning is pretty miserable out here, rain and wind, will be off this evening.

Robert Vaughan 20th part two

A quite day with all day drizzle and fairly windy at times. The pied fly was still about, a few laplands and 2 redpoll flying around west town early on. Flushed an imm and ad water rail around the helipad, with another calling in Antons east patch. A knot was in the harbour this eve, with a single ringed plover earlier. Merlin and 2 kestrels about. Out to sea a few gannet, 2 kittiwake, a fulmar and 3 razorbill. 3 willow warbler also. 

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Water Rail

Robert Vaughan 20th September

A new redpoll in west town. Looks good for Meally Redpoll

Gerard Murray 19th September

Some shots from yesterday

Chough

Eider

Pied Flycatcher

Greenland Redpoll

19th September

Hey Peter, great to see you and Ger out here today. Not too much to report you didn't have yourselves. 2 greenland redpoll ranging about west town, the lesser throat appeared again early morning, and an early goldcrest in the afternoon. 2 or 3 lapland buntings were up around the lighth-house, and I flushed a corncrake near the heli-pad. The juv stonechat was still about and nice views of Gers pied fly again this eve. 

Lapland Bunting

Robeet Baughan and Ralph Sheppard 18th September

Another nice day, bit of a clear out over night. 2 greenland redpoll became 3 this afternoon in west town. 20 twite were very flighty over the football pitch. A lapland at the east end never settled. Song thrush and redwing east end with 4 or 5 robins about today, atleast 3 yday. 2 kestrels, a juv sprok amd buzzard about, 1 manxie out to sea in an hour this eve! 2 wheatear and 7 chough. Had a spotty juv stonechat yday, not sure how local it was.

Chough

Greenland Redpoll

17th September Robert Vaughan

A good start with a lot of phylloscs. Quitened down afternoon and evening. Red throathed pipit at the south lake, flushed twice. Buffy lesser throat west town. 2 greenland polls, 2 whinbrel, 10 white wags, 10 willow, 10 chiff, 7 chough, kestrel, merlin and buzzard. Quite out to sea.

Lesser Whitethroat

Red-throated Pipit

Robert Vaughan is on Tory for a few days. Best so far Red throated Pipit (2nd island record), 2 Greenland Redpolls, 1 Lesser Whitethroat amd plenty of willow/chiffchaff

Lapland Buntings

A flock of at least five Lapand Bunting at the Lighthouse today. Grace Meenan had a Greenland Redpoll.

Migrants -Redpoll

First migrant of the season via Anton

Chris and Theo 24-26 May

Theo and I were on Tory on 24th - 26th May. List as follows: 

Greylag 2 still present north lake

Shelduck 2 on east beach on 25th

Manx Shearwater

Storm Petrel 1 west on 25th

Buzzard 1 on 26th

Peregrine 1 on 25th

Corncrake 2 in east, about 10 west town

Dunlin up to 10 present

Sanderling 1 on west beach 25th / 26th

Whimbrel 2+ each day

Curlew 1 each day

Black-tailed Godwit 1 on 24th and 25th

Great Skua 2 off east on 25th

Iceland Gull 2cy bird still present

Arctic Tern very small numbers

Little Tern 3 breeding pairs (Gerry Bond)

Wood Pigeon 1 present each day

Collared Dove 1 present on 24th and 25th, influx on 11 on 26th

Hooded Crow flock of 12 on 25th

Sand Martin 2 on 24th

House Martin 1 on 24th and 25th

Chiffchaff up to 3 present

Blackcap 1 singing on 25th

Sedge Warbler 3/4 singing males

White Wagtail 1 on beach on 26th

Tree Pipit 1 flushed from Anton's east on 25th (TC)

Reed Bunting max of 4, pair mating on 25th

Regards Chris

Turtle Dove

A photo from today

Robert Vaughan 6th-11th May

Hi Peter,
I was on Tory 6-11 May, blue skies and sun beating down each day
again! Highlight was 2 white-bills of the east east end on 9th and
10th, a leach's petrel on the 8th and a very showy wood warbler the
same day.

Red-throated Diver- 1 summer bird flying east on the 9th.
Great Northern Diver- Approx 20 each day.
White-billed Diver- 1 winter bird on the 9th, 2 winter birds on 10th.
Fulmar- good numbers each day.
Manx Shearwater- Small numbers each day, bigger push on the 8th.
Leach's Storm-petrel- 1 flying east on the 8th.
Gannet- Good numbers passing and feeding off-shore.
Cormorant- Atleast 20 around the island each day.
Shag- Bigger numbers than Cormorant.
Mute Swan- 6 adults.
Whooper Swan- Sub-adult still on the east lake.
Greylag Goose- 6 or so each day, moved between east and west end.
Brent Goose- 2 2nd years 7th west end.
Mallard- 3 females with 5-9 young spread out. Approx 10 adults each day.
Tufted Duck- 9 west end.
Eider- 2 males together a few times and a pair east end on the 8th.
Buzzard- 1 reported by the 'T' a few times,I only saw it on the 8th.
Peregrine- Adult male and 2nd year male most days.
Merlin- Female east end flew to the mainland on the 9th, female by the
lighthouse on 10th.
Corncrake- Atleast 10 singing males, 7 west town, 3 east. Probably 2
females atleast around West town.
Pheasant- Female East town.
Oystercatcher- Several pairs, 3 eggs on a nest east end.
Ringed Plover- 50 plus about the island, several pairs, 1 with 4 eggs east end.
Golden Plover- Small numbers each day.
Lapwing- Common, 4 tiny chicks around the east lake each day.
Sanderling- 1 West town on 10th had been seen by others previously.
Turnstone- not huge numbers, 10 each beach and a few around the island.
Dunlin- huge numbers! A few large flocks, one of 250+ moving between
east and west beach, a few pairs west end.
Common Sand- 2 each day, probably a bit of turn-over of individuals.
Redshank- A few pairs about.
Black-tailed Godwit- 3 west end 7th and 8th.
Bar-tailed Godwit- 1 on the 7th, 2 each day afterwards.
Curlew- 2 on the 9th and 10th.
Whimbrel- Approx 20 each day, mostly flocks moving off shore.
Snipe- several flushed and drumming each day.
Great Skua- a pair along the north cliffs most days.
Black-headed Gull- c. 50 each day at the lighthouse lake.
Common Gull- c. 200 most days.
Herring Gull- Common, no counts.
Lesser-black backed Gull- small numbers each day.
Great Black-backed Gull- Small numbers each day.
Kittiwake- Common, small passage off-shore.
Iceland Gull- 2nd year each day.
Little Tern- 2 feeding off west end on the 9th.
Arctic Tern- 7 9th west end, a few off the east end on 10th.
Puffin- Common.
Black Guillemot- Less conspicuous than last month, small numbers around.
Razorbill- As above.
Guillemot- As above, no 'bridled' birds seen.
Feral Pigeon- c. 10 each day.
Collared Dove- A pair on the 6th, 1 each day after that.
Cuckoo- 1 1st summer male around the football pitch on the 11th.
Skylark- common.
Sand Martin- 1-2 on the 9th.
Swallow- Common.
House Martin- 2 east end each day, atleast 7 on the 9th.
Rock Pipit- c. 50 each day, 1 Littoralis west town.
Meadow Pipit- c. 50 each day.
Pied Wagtail- Several, 3 fresh juvs. on the west beach on 11th.
White Wagtail- 2 most days.
Wren- Common.
Robin- 1 East end 6th and 7th.
Wheatear- Common.
Whinchat- 1 male on the 6th.
Stonechat- 1 male on the 8th, east end.
Blackbird- Female dead east end on the 8th.
Whitethroat- Female magic bush on the 6th, male east end on 8th.
Sedge Warbler- several singing birds from the 7th.
Willow Warbler- 2 most days, a northern bird on the 10th in the magic bush.
Wood Warbler- Chris found 1 on the east beach on the 9th.
Chiffchaff- c. 5 most days.
Goldcrest- 1 West town on the 6th.
Hooded Crow- atleast 18.
Raven- 2 pairs, 3 fledged young in the west end.
Chough- 2 pairs.
Starling- Common, several families out from the 8th.
Tree Sparrow- c. 20 each day.
Chaffinch- Female 6th- 9th west town.
Linnet- 2 pairs.
Goldfinch- 1 a couple of times on 8-10th.
Siskin- Female on the 7th and 8th. 3 Males on the 10th and 11th.
Reed Bunting- Female east end, a pair below Graces and marsh behind
the Kings house.

All the best,
Robert