Hirundines on the move

13th July 2025 – hot with sunny spells E2/4
Offshore
A scan over the sea revealed 60 Sandwich Tern and 8 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
A Blackcap was logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 180 Sand Martin, 150 Swallow, 7 Swfit and single Lesser Redpoll and Yellow Wagtail flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Whimbrel was the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap provided 193 moths of 58 species. Large Yellow Underwing was the dominant species while Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Small Phoenix and Scarce Footman were new for the year.

More Waders

11th July 2025 – hot and sunny/calm
Offshore
A check over the sea (0700-0800) revealed 150 Sandwich Tern, 55 Manx Shearwater, 43 Common Scoter, 21 Gannet and single Little Tern and Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A Great Tit was logged.
Diurnal Migration
Two Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 2 Pink-footed Geese continue to summer. Waders included 230 Redshank, 30 Dunlin, 9 Greenshank and 2 Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap provided 109 moths of 40 species. Smoky Wainscot was the dominant species while Rosy Minor was new for the year.

Hooded Crow remains

10th July 2025 – misty start then warm and humid SW1/2
Offshore
A total of 50 Sandwich Tern and a Gannet were logged.
Grounded Migrants
Another southbound Willow Warbler was logged.
Diurnal Migration
A Swift flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Pink-footed Geese continue to summer.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap provided 196 moths of 64 species, the highest nighttime total of the year so far. Large Yellow Underwing remained the dominant species while Dot Moth and Fen Wainscot were new for the year.

Waders continue to build

9th July 2025 – misty start then warm and humid W1/2
Offshore
A total of 300 Sandwich Tern and 31 Gannet were logged.
Grounded Migrants
Another southbound Willow Warbler was logged along with a Lesser Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A Swift flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 600 Oystercatcher, 180 Redshank, 110 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank, 3 Turnstone and single Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow reappeared after a period of absence.

Arctic Skua and Puffin

8th July 2025 – sunny spells WNW3/4
Offshore
A check over the sea produced just 84 Common Scoter, 52 Sandwich Tern, 11 Gannet and single Arctic Skua and Puffin.
Grounded Migrants
Another southbound Willow Warbler was logged.
Diurnal Migration
A Grey Wagtail flew through.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap provided 98 moths of 37 species. Highlights involved Diamond-back Moth, Silver Y, Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Magpie Moth. The latter was the first of the year while Large Yellow Underwing was the dominant species.

Luke returns

7th July 2025 – light showers clearing NW3/5
Offshore
A check over the sea produced just 20 Gannet, 14 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Scoter and a Shag.
Grounded Migrants
A Willow Warbler was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 55 Dunlin, 14 Black-tailed Godwit and the returning white Curlew.
Miscellaneous
Post-breeding finch flocks included 55 Goldfinch.

Summering wildfowl

6th July 2025 – early rain clearing NW3/5
Grounded Migrants
Two Blue Tit and 2 Whitethroat were the likely product of post-breeding dispersal.
Wildfowl and Waders
The summering light-bellied Brent Goose and Wigeon remain along with 2 Pink-footed Geese while waders included 1000 Oystercatcher, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel.
Breeding Birds
The juvenile Red-breasted Merganser continues to beat the odds.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap provided 118 moths of 49 species. Migrants involved a Rusty Dot Pearl, Dark Sword Grass and Silver Y while other highlights Least Yellow Underwing, Wormwood Pug and Box Tree Moth – the latter the first island record.

Storm Petrel

5th July 2025 – overcast/light showers WSW3/5
Offshore
A check over the sea (0700-0900) revealed the first Storm Petrel of the season along with 100 Sandwich Tern, 74 Gannet, 41 Common Scoter, 9 Manx Shearwater, 2 Arctic Skua and single Red-throated Diver and Mediterranean Gull.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2 Common Sandpiper and single Whimbrel and Wood Sandpiper.

Wood Sandpiper remains

4th July 2025 – sunny spells/rain later SW3/6
Offshore
A check over the sea revealed just 12 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Further signs of autumn involved another Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
Additional waders included 3 Common Sandpiper and single Whimbrel and Wood Sandpiper.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap held 36 moths of 20 species with Garden Tiger new for the year.