What a beautiful day and with the sun out it certainly felt a lot milder. With the light so good it was off to Church Ope Cove, where I had expected to see the Black Redstart again. Search as I did, I just couldn't locate it. All I could find were the "resident" Pied Wagtails, Grey Wagtail, Wrens, 2 Robins and a good count of 21 Rock Pipits. On the beach I met up with a chap called Dominic down here from Bath for the day, we tried to locate the Black Redstart, but failed miserable.
After I left the beach I walked up to Pennsylvania Wood in search of the Yellow-browed Warbler and within 5 minutes it appeared above me. For the next 10 minutes or so I had fantastic views as it fed high up in the tree tops. Eventually it moved further up the slope and disappeared just as Dominic appeared in the wood.
Unfortunately for Dominic the best we could do for the the next 30 minutes was a flock of 20+ Long-tailed Tits, 4 or 5 Goldcrests and a Firecrest. The only good bit of news was that at least Dominic managed a sighting of the Black Redstart, when it dropped down from above the north cliff on the cove.
On my walk it was quite noticeable that the number of Robins has increased along with more Blackbirds. There were a few Chaffinches about and I also managed to see 2 Siskins overhead.
The sun also brought out a few insects with several Bluebottle Flies seen and a Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax)
Here are few images from today:
One of the many Robins on the island. This friendly chap was at the top of the steps by Rufus Castle.
The warm sun, brought out a few insects like this Bluebottle....
.........and this Tapered Drone Fly
On the way down to the cove a Kestrel looks on from the Rufus Castle.
On the huts the "resident" Grey Wagtail was chasing the flies......
....with her mate who it appeared to have found a swarm.
One of the 21 Rock Pipits on the pebbles.
At the back of the huts the Hebe is still providing food for the White-tailed Bumblebee
Whilst in the grounds of St Andrews Church another Robin poses for a picture.
Here it is feeding on insects in the canopy.
A very mobile bird it did at times stop for a photo.
Here it is about to fly off again.
Same shot as above but slightly enlarged.
Three very short videos of the Yellow-browed Warbler.
Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Note
More on Yellow-browed Warblers Here.
Birds Recorded: 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 21 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, 10+ Robin, Black Redstart (seen by Dominic), Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 30+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 15+ Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, 2 Siskin and Goldfinch.
Insects: 7 Bluebottle Flies and 1 Tapered Drone Fly