Where were all the Willow Warblers?

30th August 2013 – bright and sunny W3/4
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were the only record of note.
Grounded Migrants
Evidenced by just 3 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler and single Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Five Shoveler were amongst 85 Teal and 3 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Ringing
The month was highlighted by an alarming lack of Willow Warbler with just 5 birds ringed. The low monthly total involved 124 birds of 15 species with individual species totals as follows: House Sparrow (60), Greenfinch (21), Robin (12), Goldfinch (6), Whitethroat (5), Willow Warbler (5), Tree Sparrow (3), Blackbird (3), Sedge Warbler (3), Garden Warbler (1), Dunnock (1), Starling (1), Cuckoo (1), Redstart (1) and Swallow (1).
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.

Migration remains slow

28th August 2013 – bright and sunny W3/4
Offshore
A Shag was amongst 135 Cormorant and at least 110 Sandwich Tern were offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 12 Wheatear and 6 Sedge Warbler, 4 Robin and 3 Whitethroat were also logged.
Diurnal Migration
Limited to 13 Tree Sparrow, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl was the best of the rest.
Moths
Recent sightings included less than annual Mullein Wave, Swallow Prominent and Twenty Plume Moth.

Migration continues to dawdle

27th August 2013 – bright and sunny NW3/4
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were again offshore.
Grounded Migrants
Two Stonechat and 2 Whinchat amongst 7 Wheatear and 6 Sedge Warbler and 3 Whitethroat were amongst a continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
The juvenile Marsh Harrier again drifted across the island, hirundines involved 100 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin while 15 Tree Sparrow, 3 Tree Pipit and 3 Grey Wagtail were also logged.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Images
Distant record shot of the Marsh Harrier.

Pied Flycatcher and Redstart

26th August 2013 – bright and sunny NE2
Offshore
At least 100 Sandwich Tern were offshore early morning.
Grounded Migrants
A further sprinkling of grounded birds included 16 Willow Warbler – the highest day count of the autumn so far!, 7 Wheatear, 7 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Robin and single Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Garden Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A juvenile Marsh Harrier again flew through and small numbers of birds were also on the move early morning with 100 Swallow, 12 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Tree Pipit.
Images
Redstart.

Marsh Harrier reappears

25th August 2013 – bright and sunny NW2/3/4
Grounded Migrants
A few grounded birds were evident with 26 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Robin, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Whinchat, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher logged.
Diurnal Migration
A juvenile Marsh Harrier drifted over the island and a light passage produced 50 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 3 Tree Pipit and 2 Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2750 Curlew, 600 Redshank, 240 Sanderling, 165 Turnstone, 120 Golden Plover, 110 Bar-tailed Godwit, 44 Grey Plover and single Whimbrel and Ruff.
Miscellaneous
At least one Little Egret remains.

Wildfowl and Waders continue to build

24th August 2013 – overcast NW3/4
Offshore
Observations (0645-0815) produced 515 Sandwich Tern, 290 Common Scoter, 44 Gannet, 4 Arctic Tern and single Arctic Skua and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A Stonechat was amongst 7 Wheatear and a Spotted Flycatcher was amongst a continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Yellow Wagtail was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 5 Wigeon and 55 Teal while waders included 6400 Oystercatcher, 1050 Redshank, 440 Turnstone, 21 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Four Little Egret and single Little Owl and Merlin were the best of the rest.

Marsh Harrier finally added to year list!

23rd August 2013 – overcast/rain later SE3/4
Offshore
morning observations produced 200 Sandwich Tern but little else of note.
Grounded Migrants
The very slow trickle of Willow Warbler continues.
Diurnal Migration
A Marsh Harrier drifted east over the island and a few House Martin were again amongst a light Swallow passage.
Miscellaneous
Two Raven and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Moths
The micro Eudonia angustea was new for the year.

A hint of passage at last

22nd August 2013 – overcast misty start then sunny/calm
Offshore
The sea provided 3 Arctic Skua amongst 400 Sandwich Tern
Grounded Migrants
A hint of migration was provided by 5 Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Robin and single Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail and Stonechat .
Diurnal Migration
There was a gathering of 300 Swallow and small numbers of House Martin and Sand Martin early morning before they melted away as the mist cleared. Also logged were 5 Tree Sparrow, 4 Swift and a Tree Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 4 Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper.
Moths
A Feathered Gothic was new for the year.
Images
Cuckoo.

Still little evidence of passage

17th August 2013 – overcast W3/4
Offshore
Early morning observations produced 400 Sandwich Tern, 120 Gannet, 50 Manx Shearwater, 28 Common Scoter, 3 Arctic Tern and single Red-throated Diver and Common Tern.
Grounded Migrants
The slow trickle of Willow Warbler continues.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 800 Redshank, 300 Dunlin, 120 Turnstone and 18 Greenshank.
Ringing
A colour-ringed Cormorant was logged – hopefully details will follow.
Moths
Frosted Orange was new for the year.

Arctic Skuas turn up mob handed

15th August 2013 – overcast SW3
Offshore
The sea provided a gang of 6 Arctic Skua that harried a flock of 230 Sandwich Tern. Also seen were 35 Gannet, 9 Common Scoter, 5 Guillemot, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Common Tern and single Arctic Tern and Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
The slow trickle of Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat continues.
Wildfowl and Waders
Teal and Greenshank numbers continue to build steadily.
Miscellaneous
There are now at least 8 Little Egret on the island.
Moths
Little to report from the moth trap which held just small numbers of the expected species.

Arctic Skuas but little else of note

12th August 2013 – overcast W4/5
Offshore
The sea provided the most interest although just 120 Sandwich Tern, 7 Gannet, 3 Arctic Skua, 3 Common Scoter and a Fulmar were logged.
Grounded Migrants
A Wheatear was amongst another trickle of Willow Warbler logged.
Moths
The moth trap held 225 of 44 species with 22 Silver Y and a Diamond-backed Moth providing the migrant interest while Beautiful Plume new for the year.

First Tree Pipit of the year!

10th August 2013 – overcast W2
Offshore
The sea provided 400 Sandwich Tern and 2 Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
The trickle of Willow Warbler and Whitethroat continues.
Diurnal Migration
Limited to single Swift, Grey Wagtail and Tree Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 17 Whimbrel was the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
There are now at least 6 Little Egret on the island.
Moths
The moth trap held 270 moths of 48 species with immigrants represented by 70 Silver Y, 3 Dark Sword-grass and a Rush Veneer while Small Wainscot was new for the year.

Still slow going

8th August 2013 – sunny spells SE1
Offshore
Again just small numbers of Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Common Scoter were evident early morning.
Grounded Migrants
Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat were amongst the continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Whimbrel was the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
At least four Little Egret remain on the island.
Moths
The moth trap is beginning to get busy again and attracted 555 moths of 55species. Immigrants involved 50 Silver Y and 6 Dark Sword-grass while a Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing was new for the year.

Slow going

7th August 2013 – bright and sunny E1
Offshore
Just small numbers of Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Common Scoter were evident early morning.
Grounded Migrants
A Cuckoo was logged and Whitethroat are now amongst the continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 70 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Sanderling and 7 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
At least four Little Egret are now present on the island.
Butterflies
A Painted Lady was present amongst a small influx of Red Admiral.
Moths
The moth trap attracted 501 moths of 60 species. Immigrants involved 45 Silver Y and 2 Dark Sword-grass while Brown line Bright Eye and Hedge Rustic were new for the year.

Waders continue to build

4th August 2013 – sunny spells S3/4
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) proved disappointing, although single Arctic Skua and Little Tern were recorded the supporting cast was limited to 76 Common Scoter, 32 Sandwich Tern and small numbers of Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Guillemot and Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A sprinkling of Willow Warbler were again logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included: 1100 Dunlin, 140 Knot, 70 Ringed Plover, 60 Turnstone, 60 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Sanderling, and a Whimbrel.

Seabirds to the fore

3rd August 2013 – sunny spells S4/5
Offshore
More activity than of late over the sea with early morning observations (0730-0930) producing 260 Common Scoter, 65 Manx Shearwater, 135 Sandwich Tern, 50 Gannet, 10 Little Tern, 7 Fulmar, 4 Arctic Tern, 3 Arctic Skua and single Common Tern and Great Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Willow Warbler continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders remained prevalent over the high tide with 2500 Dunlin, 14 Knot, 10 Ringed Plover, 10 Grey Plover and 2 Whimbrel logged.
Moths
An exceptional 65 Small Rufous were counted and Rosy Rustic was new for the year.

Arctic Skuas

1st August 2013 – overcast then bright and sunny SE3
Offshore
Two Arctic Skua chased 80 Sandwich Tern and early morning observations (0630-0930) also produced 136 Manx Shearwater, 131 Common Scoter, 74 Gannet, 3 Kittiwake, 3 Common Tern and a Fulmar.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders were prevalent on the falling tide with 1200 Dunlin, 200 Knot, 50 Turnstone, 20 Ringed Plover, 10 Sanderling and 5 Black-tailed Godwit logged.
Moths
The overnight rain put a dampener on the moth trap with just 220 moths of 56 species logged, however, the highlight was a Grey Chi – the first to be recorded for seven years.
Images
Grey Chi.