Mealy Magic - & that Horny Man!
Today (24th) started very slowly as it was the day after the night before - Hollie & Deryk's leaving/retirement party which went on until the early hours. It was a very enjoyable event with a lot of Islanders joining the Obs crowd for alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, dancing & merriment, coupled with a deep underlying sadness & much musing of the many good times had over the past 10 years with H&D at the helm. AW Simon managed to dance so hard he broke his foot - so it's not looking like a great end of the season for him! However we wheeled him into the ringing room for a smart adult Waxwing after breakfast & he is getting a good dose of pampering before going off for an Xray tomorrow (poor Simon!). Waxwings were shrilling outside the Obs at first light today & Phil mananged to trap 10 of them during the morning with walk in traps & apples (it was too windy for the nets). Several Northern Bullfinch were also seen & a smart male ringed. The Black-throated Thrush was present now in the company of a Ring Ouzel (pictured). Mealy Redpolls are still in residence in the south & this afternoon I finally managed to catch up with the snowball of an Arctic Redpoll at Shirva & then the shop - at last!! - though photographing it in strengthening NW winds was not the easiest!