Returning Common Scoters head south

16th July 2018 – overcast/showers WNW1/2
Offshore
The sea provided 560 Common Scoter, 265 Manx Shearwater, 70 Sandwich Tern, 31 Gannet, 7 Black-headed Gull and a Mediterranean Gull.
Grounded Migrants
A Blackcap provided the first obvious evidence of return migration.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 85 Knot, 62 Dunlin, 52 Golden Plover, 41 Grey Plover, 12 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 4 Whimbrel and single a single Snipe.
Ringing
The Knot flock included at least 3 colour-ringed birds previously ringed at Altcar on the Dee Estuary.
Moths
A further influx of Silver Y was evident while The Olive was new for the year.