Light movement continues

23rd May 2026 – warm and sunny after misty start SW1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0730) produced 168 Manx Shearwater, 153 Guillemot, 102 Sandwich Tern, 37 Gannet, 16 Kittiwake, 16 Common Scoter, 5 Razorbill and single Arctic Tern and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Two Wheatear and a Willow Warbler were new in.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Wigeon remains and the first 2 Teal return.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
Immigrants in the moth trap involved 5 Small Mottled Willow and 4 Dark Swordgrass.

Migration continues

22nd May 2026 – bright and sunny S2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 51 Sandwich Tern, 33 Common Scoter, 18 Gannet, 6 Guillemot, 4 Shag, 3 Kittiwake, 2 Arctic Tern and single Fulmar and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Two Reed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat were new in.
Diurnal Migration
Three Collared Dove, 2 House Martin and a Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Wigeon remains and waders included 15 Grey Plover.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Seabirds

20th May 2026 – overcast/rain at times SW3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 51 Sandwich Tern, 49 Manx Shearwater, 40 Guillemot, 39 Kittiwake, 11 Common Scoter, 4 Razorbill and a Fulmar.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Arctic Skuas and Puffins

19th May 2026 – rain at times SSE4/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 50 Sandwich Tern, 8 Gannet, 6 Guillemot, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Manx Shearwater and an Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
A Wheatear was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Wigeon remains and waders included 290 Sanderling, 28 Whimbrel and 27 Grey Plover.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Common Tern new for the year

18th May 2026 – early rain clearing V1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 103 Sandwich Tern, 68 Common Scoter, 22 Gannet, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Common Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A Spotted Flycatcher was logged and 2 Wheatear were seen.
Wildfowl and Waders
A late Wigeon was seen and waders included 163 Ringed Plover and single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Arctic Skua and Puffins

17th May 2026 – sunny spells W3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 105 Guillemot, 100 Sandwich Tern, 34 Gannet, 33 Common Scoter, 8 Kittiwake, 7 Arctic Tern, 5 Arctic Skua, 2 Puffin and single Red-throated Diver and Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings included another Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear and a Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Four House Martin were seen.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Wall Brown are now on the wing.

More Puffins

16th May 2026 – bright start/rain later W1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 57 Kittiwake, 34 Common Scoter, 30 Sandwich Tern, 19 Guillemot, 15 Gannet, 3 Arctic Tern, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Puffin and 2 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Three Wheatear were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Two House Martin was amongst a continued trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
A late Wigeon and 2 Whimbrel were seen.
Ringing
Details of the Spanish ringed Chiffchaff recaptured on Walney Island on 8th and 14th May 2026 have been received, it had initially been caught, presumably during its autumn migration, at Cartuja baja, Zaragoza, Spain (1,394kn S) on 19th October 2024.
Mammals
Three Bottle-nosed Dolphin and 2 Harbour Porpoise were offshore.

Lesser Whitethroats continue to arrive

15th May 2026 – sunny spells NW2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea involved 25 Common Scoter, 23 Kittiwake, 20 Sandwich Tern, 12 Guillemot, 7 Gannet and 4 Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Three Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 7 Grey Plover and 2 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Arctic Skua

14th May 2026 – sun and showers NW3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea provided 67 Sandwich Tern, 22 Guillemot, 21 Common Scoter, 19 Gannet, 12 Arctic Tern, 3 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver and an Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings included 2 Chiffchaff and single Wheatear and Blackcap.
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Whimbrel were seen.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.