Curlew Sandpiper remains

31st August 2021 – overcast NNE1/2
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea produced just 8 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to single Whitethroat and Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Sightings involved 64 Tree Sparrow, 12 Tree Pipit, 10 Grey Wagtail and 10 Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 17 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and single Curlew Sandpiper.

Curlew Sandpiper

30th August 2021 – overcast NE1/2
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea (0800-0900) produced 120 Common Scoter, 22 Gannet, 3 Shag and single Fulmar and Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to single Goldcrest and Garden Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Just 26 Tree Sparrow, 20 Swallow and a Grey Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 10 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and single Curlew Sandpiper and Ruff.
Mammals
An Otter put in an appearance.
Butterflies and Moths
A total of 29 moths of 17 species were attracted overnight with Frosted Orange and Square-spot Rustic new for the year.

Wood Sandpiper headlines

29th August 2021 – sunny spells NE1/2
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea (0730-0830) produced 75 Sandwich Tern, 70 Common Scoter, 28 Gannet, 17 Pintail, 5 Wigeon and single Mediterranean Gull and Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to 8 Wheatear and 2 Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 40 Tree Sparrow, 40 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin 2 Tree Pipit and a Grey Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl continue to increase with 32 Wigeon logged. Waders included 350 Sanderling, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and single Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff and Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
Two Raven and a Peregrine were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
A total of 35 moths of 20 species were attracted overnight with Blood-vein a new species for the island.

Ruff

28th August 2021 – bright and sunny NE1
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea revealed 20 Gannet and 5 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded were limited to 2 Willow Warbler and a Sedge Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 160 Swallow, 36 Tree Sparrow, 31 Sand Martin, 12 House Martin, 6 Grey Wagtail and 5 Tree Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 280 Sanderling, 10 Greenshank, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ruff.
Miscellaneous
Peregrine and Merlin continue to be recorded.

Marsh Harrier drifts south

27th August 2021 – bright and sunny after early cloud V1
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
A juvenile Marsh Harrier headed south along with totals of 50 Swallow, 32 Tree Sparrow, 15 Grey Wagtail and single Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl continue to increase with 40 Teal logged. Waders included 12 Greenshank and a Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Merlin and Peregrine were the best of the rest.

Hen Harrier

26th August 2021 – bright and sunny after early cloud NE1/2
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea revealed 70 Common Scoter, 6 Gannet and 2 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded were limited to 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler and single Great Spotted Woodpecker and Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A ringtail Hen Harrier moved through and 23 Tree Sparrow, 3 Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail were also logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 80 Sanderling and 5 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A total of 485 Linnet were seen and additional raptors involved Merlin. Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

Osprey moves through

25th August 2021 – bright and sunny/calm
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to 6 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
An Osprey headed south along with totals of 100 Swallow, 28 Sand Martin, 9 Tree Sparrow, 5 Grey Wagtail, 3 House Martin, 3 Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank and a Ruff.
Miscellaneous
Two Raven were the best of the rest.

Wader counting

24th August 2021 – bright and sunny NE1
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea (0700-0800) revealed 400 Common Scoter, 20 Sandwich Tern, 7 Gannet and a Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded were limited to 3 Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
100 Swallow, 23 Tree Sparrow, 5 Tree Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Sand Martin and a House Martin were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2160 Redshank, 1620 Curlew, 1042 Dunlin, 370 Turnstone, 222 Ringed Plover, 122 Grey Plover, 120 Sanderling, 120 Golden Plover, 39 Greenshank, 32 Whimbrel, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was again seen.

Migration in action

23rd August 2021 – early drizzle then sunny SE1
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds involved 48 Willow Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 6 Robin, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat, 2 Whinchat and 2 Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
Visible migration involved 250 Swallow, 31 Tree Pipit, 16 Grey Wagtail, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Tree Sparrow and a Yellow Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 6 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was recorded.

Spotted Redshank and yet another Mediterranean Gull

22nd August 2021 – overcast/drizzle then sunny spells WNW3
Offshore
An early morning check over the sea revealed 300 Common Scoter, 40 Sandwich Tern, 25 Gannet and single Mediterranean Gull, Arctic Skua, Shag and Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds involved 30 Pied Wagtail, 9 Willow Warbler, 2 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Whinchat and a single Spotted Flycatcher.
Diurnal Migration
Visible migration was meagre with 20 Swallow, 15 Pied Wagtail, 11 Grey Wagtail, 3 Tree Pipit and single Yellow Wagtail and Tree Sparrow logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl numbers start to build with 27 Teal and 7 Wigeon seen. Waders included 12 Greenshank, 12 Whimbrel, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and single Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
Both Merlin and Peregrine were recorded.
Butterflies and Moths
Migrant butterflies involved Painted Lady and Red Admiral.

Hooded Crow reappears

20th August 2021 – overcast, calm
Offshore
A scan over the sea revealed 120 Sandwich Tern, 64 Common Scoter and 5 Gannet and single Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds involved 16 Willow Warbler, 4 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Robin, 2 Sedge Warbler and single Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher.
Diurnal Migration
Visible migration begins to build with 70 Swallow, 13 Tree Pipit, 10 Pied Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 House Martin and single Swift and Tree Sparrow logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 16 Greenshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow put in its first appearance in a while.
Mammals
An Otter was logged.
Butterflies and Moths
Migrant butterflies involved Painted Lady and Red Admiral.

First Tree Pipit of the autumn

19th August 2021 – overcast/drizzle at times, calm
Offshore
A quick scan over the sea revealed 30 Sandwich Tern, 10 Common Scoter and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Another light fall produced 21 Willow Warbler, 9 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear and a Sedge Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Visible migration produced 37 Sand Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail and single Tree Pipit and Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 29 Greenshank, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
Flocks of 435 Linnet and 110 Goldfinch were targeted by 3 Sparrowhawk and a Merlin.
Butterflies and Moths
Migrant butterflies involved Painted Lady and Red Admiral.

Wood and Green Sandpipers

15th August 2021 – overcast/drizzle at times WSW2/3/4
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Willow Warbler and a Sedge Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
A nice selection of waders included 12 Greenshank, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.

Willow Warblers drop in

10th August 2021 – sun and showers WNW3
Offshore
A single Shag was the highlight of a quick scan over the sea.
Grounded Migrants
A small fall of overnight migrants produced 52 Willow Warbler, 18 Wheatear, 10 Sedge Warbler, 2 Robin and a Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A light passage produced 20 Sand Martin, 5 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin, 3 Yellow Wagtail and single Sift and Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 7 Greenshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Dragonflies
The first Migrant Hawker was on the wing.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap attracted 190 moths of 55 species overnight with Hedge Rustic for the year.

Black Guillemot remains

9th August 2021 – sun and showers WSW3
Offshore
The morning check over a quiet sea (0700-0800) revealed just 82 Common Scoter, 25 Sandwich Tern, 14 Gannet, 11 Shelduck, 7 Manx Shearwater and a Black Guillemot.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 100 Sanderling and 3 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Species less frequently seen on the island included Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper.

Black Guillemot and Mediterranean Gull

8th August 2021 – overcast/showers W4/5
Offshore
The morning check of the sea (0700-0900) produced 170 Sandwich Tern, 152 Common Scoter, 89 Gannet, 79 Manx Shearwater, 2 Mediterranean Gull and a Black Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds were limited to 3 Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 3 Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit.

Another Mediterranean Gull

7th August 2021 – overcast/rain soon SSE3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0645-0745) before the rain closed in produced 128 Common Scoter, 125 Gannet, 13 Sandwich Tern and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull - it has been an excellent early autumn for this species.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Black-tailed Godwit was logged.

Black Guillemot and Arctic Skua

6th August 2021 – overcast/rain then showers SW4
Offshore
A check of the sea on the falling tide as the rain cleared to showers (1145-1345) produced 500 Common Scoter, 231 Manx Shearwater, 163 Gannet, 54 Sandwich Tern, 3 Fulmar and single Arctic Skua and Black Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Evidence of migration was provided by 2 Yellow Wagtail amongst 12 Pied Wagtail along with 4 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Wheatear and a Sedge Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
A total of 11 Black-tailed Godwit were logged. >
Mammals
Two Common Dolphin were offshore.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap attracted 182 moths of 46 species overnight with Dark Spectacle and Six-striped Rustic new for the year.

Arctic Skuas

5th August 2021 – overcast/rain later SE4
Offshore
Busier over the sea with the early morning check of the sea (0700-0800) produced 915 Common Scoter, 202 Gannet, 81 Manx Shearwater, 20 Sandwich Tern, 4 Arctic Skua, 3 Kittiwake and single Arctic Tern and Fulmar.
Wildfowl and Waders
Six Black-tailed Godwit were logged.

Remaining slow

4th August 2021 – bright and sunny ESE2
Offshore
The early morning check of the sea (0700-0800) produced 175 Manx Shearwater, 53 Gannet, 51 Common Scoter and 15 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Evidence of movement was limited to 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat and single Wheatear and Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Two Tree Sparrow moved through.
Dragonflies
Dragonflies on the wing involved 40 Common Darter, 6 Brown Hawker, 6 Emperor Dragonflies and single Emerald Damselfly and Black-tailed Skimmer.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap attracted 193 moths of 47 species overnight with Small Wainscot the first for the year. Second brood Holly Blue and Wall Brown are now on the wing.

Greenshank influx

3rd August 2021 – sunny spells ESE2
Offshore
The early morning check of the sea (0700-0800) provided just 33 Gannet, 30 Common Scoter, 26 Manx Shearwater and 12 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Further evidence of some movement was provided by 5 Whitethroat, 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Wheatear and a Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Yellow Wagtail flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 26 Greenshank and a Whimbrel.

Further hints of autumn

2nd August 2021 – sunny spells E1
Offshore
The early morning check of the sea (0545-0645) produced just 73 Common Scoter, 22 Gannet, 14 Sandwich Tern and 7 Manx Shearwater.
Grounded Migrants
Evidence of movement was provided by 6 Sedge Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat and a Yellow Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Sand Martin and Swallow moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 60 Sanderling.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap attracted 282 moths of 51 species overnight with Small Rufous the first for the year.

Black Guillemot

1st August 2021 – overcast/drizzle at times NE1/2
Offshore
The early morning check of the sea (0630-0830) was dominated by Manx Shearwater with 1550 birds logged. Also seen were 120 Gannet, 50 Common Scoter, 48 Sandwich Tern, 2 Kittiwake and single Black Guillemot, Common Tern and Little Tern
Grounded Migrants
The 2 Cuckoo remain and additional migrants involved 10 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and single Wheatear, Whinchat and Rock Pipit.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 10 Tree Sparrow flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 4 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap attracted 222 moths of 44 species overnight with Fen Wainscot and Mouse Moth the first for the year.