Hints of autumn!

24th June 2026 – warm and sunny NW1/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0530-0630) produced 370 Common Scoter, 50 Sandwich Tern, 4 Manx Shearwater and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Two Blackcap were new in.
Diurnal Migration
A single Grey Wagtail and 2 Swift flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 17 Redshank and single Greenshank and Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted 122 moths of 44 species with Shore Wainscot the highlight.

Colour-ringed Greylag Goose

23rd June 2026 – warm and sunny E2/3
Offshore
A check of the sea (0530-0630) produced 425 Common Scoter, 200 Sandwich Tern, 14 Manx Shearwater, 8 Gannet and an Arctic Skua.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 4 Swift were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 2 Shoveler and a Teal.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Ringing
A colour-ringed Greylag Goose, initially ringed at Windermere on 26th June 2022 was found to have spent much of its time near Blackpool, before apparently joining the moult flock at Barrow Park each summer, presumably the destination when it called in at Walney.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted 133 moths of 51 species with Obscure Wainscot and Blackneck the highlights.

Spoonbill flies through

15th June 2026 – sunny spells E3/5
Offshore
A check of the sea (0700-0800) produced 90 Common Scoter, 38 Sandwich Tern, 8 Gannet, 5 Arctic Tern, 5 Shag and a Red-breasted Merganser.
Diurnal Migration
A Spoonbill flew northeast at 1030hrs and 12 Swift were logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted a Shore Wainscot and a Purple Clay – the latter appears to be the first for the island.
Dragonflies
The first Emperor Dragonfly are now on the wing.

A movement day!

14th June 2026 – overcast NW2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0730) produced 68 Sandwich Tern, 30 Common Scoter, 25 Guillemot, 9 Gannet, 7 Manx Shearwater and a Puffin.
Grounded Migrants
A Blackcap and Grasshopper Warbler were new in.
Diurnal Migration
Single Tree Sparrow, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin flew through.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Arctic Skuas

13th June 2026 – sunny spells W5/7
Offshore
A check of the sea (0700-0800) produced 135 Manx Shearwater, 63 Sandwich Tern, 45 Gannet, 10 Kittiwake, 6 Guillemot, 3 Fulmar and 2 Arctic Skua.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Puffins

12th June 2026 – overcast/rain soon WSW2/5
Offshore
A check of the sea (0700-0800) prior to the rain produced 300 Manx Shearwater, 205 Sandwich Tern, 56 Common Scoter, 41 Gannet, 14 Guillemot, 12 Kittiwake, 3 Puffin and a Fulmar.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 250 Knot and 220 Sanderling.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

A Manx Shearwater day

9th June 2026 – frequent showers WSW4/6
Offshore
A couple of checks of the sea (0700-0900 & 1045-1145) in between the showers produced 1,210 Manx Shearwater, 200 Sandwich Tern, 34 Gannet, 20 Guillemot, 16 Common Scoter, 9 Kittiwake and 7 Fulmar.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted a Bordered Straw.

More Storm Petrels

3rd June 2026 – overcast/rain soon S3/5
Offshore
A couple of checks of the sea (0700-0800 & 1415-15-15) either side of the main rain band produced 257 Sandwich Tern, 107 Manx Shearwater, 39 Common Scoter, 37 Gannet, 17 Guillemot, 5 Storm Petrel, 4 Kittiwake, 2 Razorbill, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and a Fulmar – the latter a scarce bird off Walney these days.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Reed Warbler

2nd June 2026 – sunny spells W3
Offshore
A group of 4 Shag roosted.
Grounded Migrants
A Reed Warbler was new in.
Breeding Birds
The first Eider chicks have emerged and Stonechat, Goldfinch, Linnet and Greenfinch are all feeding recently fledged juveniles.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.