Moths provide the main interest

21st July 2014 – bright and sunny NW1/2
Offshore
Early morning observations produced 70 Little Tern and 14 Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
Another Willow Warbler was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 30 Grey Plover and 2 Common Sandpiper.
Moths
The light trap attracted 515 moths of 60 species overnight with Evergestis pallidata the highlight.
Images
Evergestis pallidata.

Little Terns and Arctic Skua

20th July 2014 – sunny spells NW1/2

Offshore

Slightly more activity than of late (0800-0900) provided 70 Little Tern, 70 Sandwich Tern, 28 Common Scoter, 20 Gannet, 7 Arctic Tern, 2 Kittiwake and a dark phase Arctic Skua.

Grounded Migrants

A solitary Willow Warbler was logged.

Wildfowl and Waders

Waders included a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Common Sandpiper amongst 75 Dunlin, 20 Sanderling and 15 Grey Plover.

Miscellaneous

Single Stock Dove and Little Egret were logged.

Images

Sand Martin – a rather infrequent visitor to the ringing hut.

Sedge Warbler control

19th July 2014 – rain at times
Offshore
A group of 12 Little Tern provided the offshore highlight.
Grounded Migrants
A solitary Willow Warbler provided evidence of movement.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swift continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 4 Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpiper.
Ringing
A single mist net erected across the small wetland area continues to provide extraordinary numbers of Sedge Warbler with over 60 individuals now identified including a control with ring sequence Y470*** .
Moths
The trap held 529 moths of 88 species but only Narrow-winged Pug was new for the year although a Buff form Poplar Hawkmoth was interesting.

Little Egrets begin to build

17th July 2014 – sunny spells W1/2
Offshore
Morning observations (0730-0830) again only produced small numbers of Gannet, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern and Common Scoter.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 15 Whimbrel and single Common Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Little Egrets increased to 4 birds.
Moths
The trap held 577 moths of 65 species including 165 Dark Arches and 113 Large Yellow Underwing while Bordered Sallow was new for the year.

Nothing new!

16th July 2014 – rain at times
Offshore
Early morning observations again proved to be very disappointing with just small numbers of Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Sandwich Tern and Common Scoter recorded.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swift moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 6 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper and 2 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A single Little Egret was logged.

Sedge Warblers have a good breeding season

15th July 2014 – bright and sunny NW4/3/2/1
Offshore
Early morning observations proved to be very disappointing with just 4 Gannet recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Pintail remains in residence and waders included 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper.
Ringing
An evening visit to a small wetland area on the island to target a newly formed Swallow and Pied Wagtail roost also revealed a healthy Sedge Warbler population with 31 birds trapped and ringed.
Moths
Overnight rain dampened the attraction to the light trap though The Crescent was new for the year.

Whimbrel and Curlew return in force

13th July 2014 – sunny spells NW3/4/5
Offshore
Morning observations provided 116 Manx Shearwater, 72 Common Scoter, 50 Gannet, 40 Little Tern, 16 Sandwich Tern and a Red-breasted Merganser
Wildfowl and Waders
A total of 27 Whimbrel were amongst 2390 Curlew while the drake Pintail and 6 Black-tailed Godwit remain.
Miscellaneous
Several Little Egret have now returned to the island’s saltmarshes.
Moths
A quieter night than of late with just 278 moths of 72 species recorded – highlights involved the first V Pug of the year.

Water Rail breeding confirmed

12th July 2014 – overcast SE1
Offshore
There was little evidence of movement early morning (0645-0745) with just 10 Common Scoter, 5 Gannet and single Sandwich Tern and Kittiwake logged.
Grounded Migrants
A few Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler are beginning to head south.
Diurnal Migration
Again a trickle of birds were in evidence with 12 Swift, 7 Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Pintail is now moulting into eclipse plumage and waders included 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Whimbrel, 5 Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper.
Breeding Birds
Two juvenile Water Rails provided evidence of breeding – a rare event on the island.
Miscellaneous
Several Barn Owls were about early morning and a Stock Dove was an uncommon island sighting.
Moths
A total of 450 moths of 75 species were attracted to the light trap overnight, however only Feathered Ranunculus was new for the year.

Little Ringed Plover

10th July 2014 – bright and sunny NW3/4/5
Offshore
Morning observations (0530-0730) produced 246 Common Scoter, 25 Gannet, 21 Manx Shearwater, 24 Sandwich Tern, 2 Guillemot and a Red-throated Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Little Ringed Plover was the pick of the waders while the drake Pintail and 4 Black--tailed Godwit remain.
Miscellaneous
Post-breeding flocks of finches are starting to build with 110 Linnet and 25 Greenfinch logged.
Moths
A total of 474 moths of 65 species were attracted to the light trap overnight. Immigrants involved Diamond-backed Moth and Dark Sword-grass while a Coast Dart was the pick of the local species.