Quiet ringing month

31st May 2016 – bright and sunny NE3/4/5
Grounded Migrants
Single Wheatear and Blackcap were logged.
Ringing
May proved to be a quiet month with just 133 birds of 20 species handled. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps in brackets). Blackcap 14 (2), Goldfinch 11 (27), Starling 9, Willow Warbler 8, Chiffchaff 5, Blackbird 4 (9), Lapwing 3, House Sparrow 3, Spotted Flycatcher 3, Whitethroat 3, Sedge Warbler 2 (1), Linnet 2 (4), Swallow 1, Wren 1, Siskin 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 1 (12), Dunnock (3), Reed Bunting (2).
Moths
The light trap has finally started to produced significant catches with 247 moths of 44 species attracted overnight. Small Square-spot was the most prominent species but the catch also included Purple Bar, Sandy Carpet, Treble Lines, Small Angles Shades, Buff-tip, Shears, Sand Dart, Bordered Sallow, Brimstone and Broom Moth.

Spring drags on

28th May 2016 – bright and sunny NE1/2
Offshore
Early morning observations produced small numbers of Guillemot, Gannet, Fulmar, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Manx Shearwater and Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
A single Spotted Flycatcher continued the good spring for this species and a Chiffchaff was also logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 600 Dunlin and 110 Ringed Plover.
Miscellaneous
At least one Little Egret continues in residence.

Last rites of spring?

27th May 2016 – sunny spells WNW1
Offshore
A few Gannet and Little Tern were offshore.
Grounded Migrants
Single Spotted Flycatcher and Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
Two Lesser Redpoll moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Sanderling numbers have reduced dramatically over the last few days.

Yellow Wagtail and Garden Warbler

26th May 2016 – overcast/light showers WNW2
Offshore
A check of the sea on the high tide revealed a feeding flock of 22 Arctic Tern, 3 Little Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern recorded.
Grounded Migrants
Single Garden Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat revealed that spring passage is not quite finished.
Wildfowl and Waders
The colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit remained.
Moths
The number of moths attracted to the light trap overnight is rising slowly and is dominated by Brown Silver-line. However, Campion, Treble lines and Scalloped Hazel provided some distraction.

Sanderling origins revealed

25th May 2016 – overcast NE2
Offshore
A check of the sea on the falling tide revealed 4 Common Scoter and 4 Red-breasted Merganser along with feeding flock 50 Arctic Tern, 3 Little Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A single Chiffchaff was the only obvious new arrival.
Diurnal Migration
Four Swift flew over.
Wildfowl and Waders
A colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit was logged and 1000 Sanderling remain.
Ringing
The five colour-ringed Sanderling seen at the weekend had initially been ringed at Griend, The Netherlands (2), Iwik, Mauritania (2) and Ostgronland, Greenland (1).

Spring draws to a close

22nd May 2016 – sunny spells W1
Offshore
Variety was the order of the day during a early morning seawatch (0800-0900) with 240 Common Scoter, 15 Guillemot, 8 Arctic Tern, 7 Gannet, 6 Manx Shearwater, 5 Kittiwake, 2 Little Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern logged.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to single Spotted Flycatcher and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Swallows still trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 3000 Sanderling remain.

Puffin and Great Skua

21st May 2016 – overcast/showers then sunny spells S3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0720-0920 & 1200-1400) were highlighted by single Puffin and Great Skua and the first Fulmar of the year. Also seen were 225 Manx Shearwater, 165 Guillemot, 115 Guillemot, 60 Common Scoter, 28 Kittiwake, 10 Sandwich Tern, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Little Tern, 2 Razorbill and an Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Only evidence by a single Whinchat.
Diurnal Migration
A House Martin was amongst a trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included an exceptional 4000 Sanderling and 2 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
A few Little Egret continue to linger.
Ringing
At least 5 colour-ringed birds were amongst the huge flock of Sanderling.
Butterflies and Moths
Clouded Bordered Brindle and Small Square-spot are now on the wing.

Seabirds and waders

20th May 2016 – sunny spells/rain by evening S2/3
Offshore
A check over the sea on the falling tide (1230-1330) produced 83 Gannet, 39 Kittiwake, 22 Manx Shearwater, 5 Sandwich Tern and an Arctic Skua.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included an impressive flock of 2600 Sanderling and 3 Whimbrel
Ringing
At least one colour-ringed bird was amongst the Sanderling flock

Evening seawatch

17th May 2016 - sunny spells then heavy cloud SSW2/3
Offshore
An evening seawatch on the evening tide as the cloud rolled in (1830-1930) was highlighted by a summer-plumaged drake Long-tailed Duck. The supporting cast provided variety rather than quantity with 44 Guillemot, 36 Gannet, 20 Sandwich Tern, 19 Manx Shearwater, 13 Common Scoter, 8 Razorbill, 4 Kittiwake, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Little Tern recorded.

Buzzard headlines

15th May 2016 - sunny spells WNW2
Offshore
A check of the sea (0700-0800) produced 70 Guillemot, 14 Gannet, 12 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver, 6 Manx Shearwater and single Kittiwake and Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Single Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat were the only obvious new arrivals.
Diurnal Migration
A Buzzard headed north and 2 House Martin were amongst a trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
A few Whimbrel continue to linger.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Little Egret continue in residence.

Dusky Warbler

14th May 2016 – bright and sunny N1 then WNW2/3/4
Rarities
At last a change in the wind direction which immediately produced the goods. The island’s first Dusky Warbler was found residing along the hedgerows of Rakes Lane. Initially showing well and calling regularly, the bird became more elusive when the crowds began to appear mid-afternoon.
Offshore
Small numbers of Gannet, Common Scoter, Guillemot, Little Tern and Sandwich Tern were logged.
Grounded Migrants
The supporting cast for the Dusky Warbler was scant with other obvious new arrivals limited to singles of Whinchat, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 7 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper.
Butterflies
Both Wall Brown and Common Blue are now on the wing.

Little Terns begin to build

13th May 2016 – bright and sunny ENE 3/4
Offshore
A group of 25 Little Tern fed offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A smattering of birds involved 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear and single Whinchat and Blackcap.
Wildfowl and Waders
Just 3 Whimbrel remain.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was logged.

Useless northeasterlies continue to blow

12th May 2016 – bright and sunny ENE 3/4
Offshore
A group of 8 Little Tern fed offshore.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to single Spotted Flycatcher and Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
Whimbrel numbers decrease with just 3 birds logged.

Arctic Skua

11th May 2016 – overcast ENE 3/4
Offshore
An evening check of the sea produced the first Arctic Skua of the year along with 10 Sandwich Tern, 5 Little Tern and 2 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to a solitary Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Swallows continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2500 Dunlin, 1200 Sanderling and 32 Whimbrel.
Butterflies and moths
The first Red Admiral of the year was logged and the moth trap attracted a Puss Moth.

Still quiet

10th May 2016 – rain at times ENE 4/5
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 32 Whimbrel.

A quieter day

9th May 2016 – bright and sunny E4/5
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Spotted Flycatcher and a Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 34 Whimbrel and 2 Golden Plover.

Spoonbill and Turtle Dove

8th May 2016 – sunny spells SE2/3
Rarities
A Turtle Dove circled the observatory garden several times before heading southeast. Later, an adult Spoonbill roosted at Rape Haw on the afternoon’s falling tide before also heading southeast.
Offshore
A group of 10 Little Tern were offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A further smattering included 5 Wheatear, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, 2 Willow Warbler and a Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 27 Whimbrel.
Breeding Birds
The first Reed Warbler has returned to the island’s breeding haunts and the numbers of Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler continue to rise daily.
Moths
The moth trap has finally started to produce results, attracting moths in double figures, including an immigrant Silver Y.

Long-tailed Duck

7th May 2016 – sunny spells E2/3
Offshore
Early morning observations on the rising tide (0730-0900) produced 275 Sandwich Tern, 25 Common Scoter, 12 Gannet, 9 Manx Shearwater, 6 Arctic Tern, 3 Little Tern and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A few birds were in evidence with 14 Wheatear, 7 Willow Warbler, 5 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Blackcap logged.
Diurnal Migration
More activity than of late with 80 Swallow, 15 House Martin and 3 Sand Martin recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
A female Long-tailed Duck roosted amongst the Eider flock over the high tide and waders included 4740 Dunlin, 450 Ringed Plover, 123 Whimbrel and 60 Sanderling.
Moths
Powdered Quaker was added to the year list.

Marsh Harrier flies through

6th May 2016 – sunny spells V1/2
Grounded Migrants
The first Spotted Flycatcher of the year appeared along with 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler and single Stonechat and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A female Marsh Harrier headed southeast over the island at 1300hrs.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2000 Dunlin and 50 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
At least 3 Little Egret continue to linger and a Little Owl was logged

A Blackcap day

5th May 2016 sunny spells S2/1
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were logged.
Grounded Migrants
It was a Blackcap arrival day with 21 birds logged along with 11 Wheatear, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of Swallow continued.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 300 Golden Plover, 33 Whimbrel and 2 Black-tailed Godwit.
Breeding Birds
A Water Rail skulked in suitable breeding habitat.
Moths
The first moths for 11 nights were attracted to the light trap with Brown Silver-line and Angle Shades new for the year.

Whinchat new in

4th May 2016 sunny spells SW2/3
Offshore
Two Little Tern were the best on offer.
Grounded Migrants
A further smattering included the first Whinchat of the year amongst 38 Wheatear along with 7 Willow Warbler and a Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
A further trickle of Swallow moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2 Black-tailed Godwit.

The one that got away!

3rd May 2016 sunny spells WSW3/4
Rarities
A small wader with a white rump seen briefly amongst 5 Dunlin was tentatively identified as a White-rumped Sandpiper.
Grounded Migrants
A smattering included 17 Wheatear, 7 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap and a Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A Lesser Redpoll was amongst a further trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 7 Golden Plover, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Whimbrel.

Arctic Terns finally arrive

2nd May 2016 early rain then sunny spells SW3/4
Offshore
Several checks of the sea through the course of the morning revealed 35 Sandwich Tern, 26 Gannet, 8 Little Tern, 7 Common Scoter, 5 Manx Shearwater, 5 Arctic Tern, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Shag.
Grounded Migrants
A few more migrants than of late with 23 Wheatear, 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler and single White Wagtail and Whitethroat logged.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of Swallow restarted.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 6 dark-bellied Brent Goose while 2300 Dunlin, 9 Whimbrel and 7 Black-tailed Godwit were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Several Little Egret continue to linger.

Mammalian highlight

1st May 2016 overcast/rain S4/5
Offshore
An early morning look over the sea in increasingly poor conditions (0615-0715) produced 19 Common Scoter, 17 Sandwich Tern, 9 Gannet, 7 Red-throated Diver, 5 Kittiwake, and a Manx Shearwater.
Grounded Migrants
Migration remained at a low level with just a single Willow Warbler seen.
Wildfowl and Waders
A late Wigeon lingered and waders included 12 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid was logged.
Mammals
An Otter was the highlight of the day.