Another Little Ringed Plover

28th August 2014 – sunshine and showers S3
Offshore
A couple of Gannet and a flock of 60 Sandwich Tern was the only records of note.
Grounded Migrants
The theme of the month continues with just a trickle of sightings, amongst which were the first Goldcrest of the autumn, 6 Wheatear and 2 Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A Sand Martin was amongst a trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
The first Wigeon have now returned and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover was logged along with 20 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The first Merlin of the autumn has reappeared and at least 10 Little Egret now roam the saltmarshes.
Moths
A Rusty Dot Pearl was the highlight amongst a poor moth catch.

Another Redstart

20th August 2014 – bright and sunny WNW1/2/3/4
Offshore
A flock of 100 Sandwich Tern was the only record of note.
Grounded Migrants
Another smattering of sightings involved 4 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler and singles of Garden Warbler, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Chiffchaff.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail continues to linger and one Black-tailed Godwit remains.
Miscellaneous
Little Egrets continue to be logged daily.

Green Sandpiper

18th July 2014 – sunshine and showers WNW4/5
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) yielded little other than a single Gannet!.
Grounded Migrants
Tree Sparrow, Willow Warbler and Robin were logged in small numbers.
Wildfowl and Waders
The single Pintail continues in residence and waders included 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper.
Moths
Rusty Dot Pearl was again one of the few moths attracted overnight.

Bonxie

17th August 2014 – sunshine and heavy showers WNW4/5/6
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) were led by a single Great Skua amongst 28 Sandwich Tern, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar and single Manx Shearwater and Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
A few Willow Warbler and Robin were all that was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains and Teal numbers are beginning to build while waders included 11 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Little Egrets continue to be logged daily.

Ruff and Redstart

16th August 2014 – overcast/showers WNW4/5
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0900) yielded little other than 25 Sandwich Tern, 23 Common Scoter, 8 Gannet and single Shag and Arctic Skua.
Wildfowl and Waders
The single Pintail remains and a Ruff was the pick of the waders.
Grounded Migrants
A Redstart was amongst a few Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Wheatear and Sedge Warbler.
Moths
Rusty Dot Pearl was again one of the few moths attracted overnight.

Spotted Flycatcher

15th August 2014 – sunshine and showers WNW1/2/3/4
Offshore
Offshore sightings were limited to a flock of 200 Sandwich Tern feeding offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A Spotted Flycatcher was amongst a smattering of Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Wheatear and Robin were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains while waders included Greenshank, Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
Little Egrets continue to be logged daily.
Moths
The light trap continues to attract a few Rusty Dot Pearl.

Mediterranean Gull

10th August 2014 – rain SE3
Offshore
Offshore sightings were limited to 8 Common Scoter and 7 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A smattering of Whitethroat and Robin were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains while waders included 1710 Curlew and 9 Whimbrel along with Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Little Egrets continue to increase with 10 birds recorded while an adult Mediterranean Gull was bird of the day.
Moths
Immigrants involved 2 Rusty Dot Pearl.

Waders continue to build

9th August 2014 – sunshine and showers W3/4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0600-0700) provided just 62 Sandwich Tern, 29 Common Scoter, 10 Manx Shearwater, 8 Gannet and 2 Little Tern .
Grounded Migrants
A smattering of Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Robin and Stonechat were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains while waders included 950 Redshank, 285 Turnstone, 78 Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
Barn Owl and Peregrine were best of the rest.
Moths
Immigrants involved 3 Rusty Dot Pearl.

Manx Shearwaters on the move

8th August 2014 – sunny spells E3
Offshore
Early morning observations (0615-0815) provided 589 Manx Shearwater, 51 Common Scoter, 37 Sandwich Tern, 22 Gannet and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A slight increase in the number of Whitethroat present was noted.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains while waders included 50 Grey Plover and a Whimbrel.
Moths
Moth numbers continue to decline with only 27 moths of 14 species attracted including Beautiful Plume.

Autumn still to kick off

5th August 2014 – sunny spells SE2/3
Offshore
Observations provided 58 Common Scoter, 44 Sandwich Tern, 21 Gannet, 13 Manx Shearwater and 6 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains while waders included 7 Whimbrel and 3 Greenshank.
Moths
Much quieter in the moth trap than of late with just 184 moths of 30 species attracted overnight, however, Willow Beauty and Hedge Rustic were new for the year.

Excellent Sedge Warbler recovery

3rd August 2014 – overcast with heavy and frequent showers SSW4/5
Offshore
Observations between the showers (0830-0930) provided 77 Common Scoter, 14 Manx Shearwater, 8 Sandwich Tern, 3 Gannet and a Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat headed south and the first Robin of the autumn was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains while waders included Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Grey Plover and Knot, all still resplendent in their summer plumage.
Ringing
An adult Sedge Warbler trapped in breeding habitat on the island on 15th July 2013 was then controlled at Gautegiz, Arteaga, Vizcaya, SPAIN on 13th April 2014 before reappearing back at its breeding site on the island on 15th July 2014 .

Record ringing month

31st July 2014 – sunny spells SW3
Offshore
An evening check over the sea produced a feeding flock of 120 Sandwich Tern and 14 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Willow Warbler continue at a trickle.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Pintail remains while waders included 60 Dunlin, 5 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper.
Ringing
An exceptional 407 birds of 19 species were handled during the month including record numbers of Swallow, Sand Martin and Sedge Warbler. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps in brackets) Sedge Warbler 114 (8), Swallow 104, Sand Martin 55 (1), Greenfinch 30 (1), House Sparrow 13, Goldfinch 9 (12), Blackbird 7 (2), Pied Wagtail 7, Starling 6 (10), Whitethroat 6, Reed Bunting 6, Willow Warbler 2, Linnet 2, Woodpigeon 2, Meadow Pipit 2, Wren 2, Stonechat 2, Dunnock 2 (1), and Song Thrush 1.
Moths
Dotted Clay was new for the year.