Manx Shearwaters

19th June 2018 – sunny start then overcast S2/1
Offshore
Evening observations on the tide and over calm seas (1530-1730) produced 427 Manx Shearwater, 245 Sandwich Tern, 31 Gannet, 18 Guillemot, 13 Common Scoter and 4 Little Tern.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 300 Knot, 100 Dunlin and 6 Turnstone.

Littering Ravens

18th June 2018 – sunny spells WSW3/4
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 270 Sandwich Tern, 103 Gannet, 86 Manx Shearwater, 65 Guillemot, 28 Kittiwake, 15 Razorbill, 14 Common Scoter and 4 Fulmar.
Miscellaneous
The family party of Raven continue to ransack the refuse bins.

Out of season Great Northern Diver

17th June 2018 – overcast/rain by evening SW3/4
Offshore
A first-summer Great Northern Diver fed offshore and additional sightings (0715-0915) included 155 Sandwich Tern, 57 Gannet, 28 Manx Shearwater, 26 Common Scoter, 25 Kittiwake, 9 Guillemot and a Fulmar.

Rain finally clears

16th June 2018 – rain clearing later SSE3 the SW3
Offshore
A check of the sea (1500-1600) as the rain finally cleared revealed 190 Sandwich Tern, 44 Guillemot, 18 Gannet, 4 Kittiwake, 2 Manx Shearwater and a Fulmar.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 104 Curlew, 27 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel.

Great Spotted Woodpecker added to breeding list

15th June 2018 – sunny spells SW3
Offshore
A check of the sea at high tide revealed 50 Sandwich Tern, 26 Little Tern, 6 Arctic Tern and 2 Arctic Skua.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 600 Knot, 224 Dunlin, 88 Sanderling, 35 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel and a Greenshank.
Breeding Birds
A male Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding two juveniles is the first conclusive evidence of the species breeding on the island.
Miscellaneous
Five Little Egret were seen.

Another seawatch

14th June 2018 – sunny spells WSW6/5/4/3 gusting to 8 at first
Offshore
A couple checks of the sea (0820-1010 & 1530-1730) after Storm Hector had passed through produced totals of 405 Manx Shearwater, 114 Gannet, 100 Sandwich Tern, 8 Kittiwake, 8 Guillemot, 7 Fulmar, 6 Common Scoter and 5 Razorbill.
Waders
The flock of 800 Knot remain on the island.

Evening seawatch

13th June 2018 – overcast W1, rain by evening SSW2/3
Offshore
A Black Guillemot was seen on the rising tide before an early evening seawatch (1530-1730) ahead of the approaching weather front produced 605 Sandwich Tern, 73 Manx Shearwater, 39 Guillemot, 14 Gannet, 12 Common Scoter, 11 Razorbill, 2 Kittiwake and 2 Puffin. It has been a record breaking spring/summer for the latter species with a total of 44 birds logged over 11 days.
Waders
A flock of 800 Knot remain on the island – presumably containing mainly non-breeding first-summer birds failing to make the journey back north.

More seabirds

11th June 2018 – bright and sunny NW3/4
Offshore
The sea continues to provide the best rewards with 3 Puffin and 3 Goosander the highlights. Additional records included 190 Sandwich Tern, 72 Guillemot, 38 Gannet, 36 Manx Shearwater, 17 Common Scoter, 13 Razorbill and a Fulmar.
Diurnal Migration
Swallow and House Martin continue to trickle through.

Seabirds and waders

10th June 2018 – Hazy sun V1/2
Offshore
Early morning observations (0715-0845) again provided further Puffins with 8 birds logged. Additional sightings included 90 Sandwich Tern, 73 Common Scoter, 28 Manx Shearwater, 17 Gannet, 12 Kittiwake, 5 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A Blackcap provided evidence that a few birds are still on the move.
Diurnal Migration
A Swift flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 110 Knot, 45 Sanderling, 23 Dunlin, 22 Grey Plover and a Whimbrel.
Ringing
The Knot again proved to be good value with four colour-ringed birds noted.