Little Egret numbers start to build

18th June 2019 – bright and sunny SW2
Wildfowl and Waders
Teal have doubled to 4 (all males) and waders included 1000 Knot and 20 Bar-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Little Egret influx was apparent with 10 birds seen.
Breeding Birds
The first Eider and Shelduck broods have now emerged.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Meadow Brown was on the wing while White Satin was new for the year.

Waders already begin to reappear

17th June 2019 – sunny spells SSW3/4
Offshore
Morning observations (0815-0915) included 36 Manx Shearwater, 24 Sandwich Tern, 23 Guillemot, 10 Gannet and single Arctic Tern, Common Scoter and Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Teal remain and waders included 256 Curlew.
Butterflies and Moths
Another Painted Lady was logged and the moth trap catch was dominated by Large Yellow Underwing with 187 logged amongst which were Shark and Green Carpet – both new for the year.

Scaup still here

16th June 2019 – sun and showers S2/3
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed 10 Sandwich Tern, 10 Arctic Tern and 2 Little Tern.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Scaup continues to loiter amongst the Eider moult flock and waders included 150 Knot, 50 Dunlin, 17 Grey Plover and 9 Sanderling.

First Teal return

15th June 2019 – overcast/rain at times SE2/3
Wildfowl and Waders
The first 2 Teal of the autumn have returned.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Painted Lady of the year was logged.

Breeding Teal

12th June 2019 – early rain clearing NE3/4
Offshore
It was a slow morning over the sea (0630-0730), although the now seemingly obligatory Puffin sighting saw 2 birds logged additional records were limited to 100 Sandwich Tern, 53 Common Scoter, 34 Gannet, 11 Manx Shearwater, 5 Guillemot, 4 Kittiwake and a Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
A Chiffchaff was newly arrived.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 21 Swift flew north over the sea.
Wildfowl and Waders
The male Shoveler continues in residence and waders included 70 Dunlin and 20 Sanderling.
Breeding Birds
A pair of Teal have bred on the island for the second successive year.
Butterflies and Moths
Although the moth trap held 204 moths of 27 species the catch was dominated by 109 Large Yellow Underwing while Buff Ermine was new for the year.

Puffin run still continues

11th June 2019 – sunny spells NE3/4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0630-0730) produced just 110 Sandwich Tern, 34 Common Scoter, 21 Gannet, 7 Manx Shearwater, 4 Guillemot and 2 Puffin.
Miscellaneous
A Raven was the only other bird logged.

Marsh Harrier and Yellowhammer

10th June 2019 – bright start, cloud building NNE1/2
Offshore
Early morning observations (0630-0730) included: 150 Sandwich Tern, 130 Manx Shearwater, 34 Common Scoter, 14 Gannet, 2 Puffin and a Fulmar.
Grounded Migrants
A male Yellowhammer was a surprise and presumably a migrant – the species has not bred on the island for many years.
Diurnal Migration
A rather ragged looking female Marsh Harrier headed north over the island.
Wildfowl and Waders
The male Shoveler put in another appearance and a Whimbrel was logged.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Large Skipper are now on the wing.

Velvet Scoter

9th June 2019 – bright and sunny SW3
Offshore
Early morning observations (0630-0800) were led by a male Velvet Scoter amongst 28 Common Scoter with a supporting cast of 565 Manx Shearwater, 170 Guillemot, 165 Sandwich Tern, 140 Gannet, 80 Kittiwake, 32 Razorbill and 5 Puffin.
Wildfowl and Waders
The male Shoveler put in another appearance.
Breeding Birds
Both Wren and Great Tit have bred successfully in the observatory garden for the first time.
Butterflies and Moths
Immigrants in the moth trap involved singles of Rusty Dot Pearl, Dark Swordgrass and Silver Y.

Rain stopped play

8th June 2019 – rain, NNW3 then WNW4/5
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0830) in atrocious conditions produced only 50 Sandwich Tern, 20 Gannet, 15 Common Scoter, 3 Manx Shearwater and a Fulmar.>
Diurnal Migration
A few Swift were out over the sea.