Little Gull

31st October 2022 – overcast/showers SE3/4/5
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0900) were led by an adult Little Gull amongst 127 Common Scoter, 67 Razorbill and 3 Kittiwake. A Shag sheltered along the eastern shore.
Grounded Migrants
A check of a less visited part of the island revealed 5 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap and a Chiffchaff amongst 40 Blackbirds.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was the best of the rest.

Black Guillemot and Short-eared Owl

30th October 2022 – sun and showers SE4/5
Offshore
A check of the sea revealed just 11 Common Scoter and a Razorbill, however, a Black Guillemot sheltered along the eastern shore at high tide.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds involved 6 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush and a Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were on the move including 80 Jackdaw, 18 Chaffinch, 9 Siskin and a Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Goosander was logged.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl hunted the island.
Butterflies and Moths
Migrants in the moth trap involved Rush Veneer, Rusty Dot Pearl and Silver Y.

First Twite reappear

25th October 2022 – overcast/showers S2/3
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 3 Redwing, 3 Blackbird and a Song Thrush, otherwise sightings of grounded birds were limited to 5 Goldcrest and 2 Stonechat.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were on the move including 185 Jackdaw, 16 Chaffinch, 7 Tree Sparrow, 4 Siskin and single Lesser Redpoll and Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 19 Barnacle Geese remain.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow continues in residence and 12 Twite were logged.
Butterflies and Moths
Migrants in the moth trap involved Rush Veneer, Dark Swordgrass and Silver Y.

Spotted Redshank and Jack Snipe

23rd October 2022 – overcast/showers ENE3/4
Offshore
A group of 10 Shag were offshore.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 26 Redwing, 17 Blackbird and 11 Fieldfare, otherwise sightings of newly grounded birds were limited to 2 Goldcrest and single Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 6 Whooper Swan flew through and additional sightings included 7 Siskin, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail and single Brambling and Lesser Redpoll.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 19 Barnacle Geese remain and 3 Goldeneye were seen. Waders included Spotted Redshank and Jack Snipe
Miscellaneous
Two Water Rail were logged.

Great Northern Diver

22nd October 2022 – early showers then sunny spells SW4/5/6
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0800-1000) produced 220 Common Scoter, 25 Razorbill, 11 Kittiwake, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet and a Great Northern Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to single Goldcrest and Chiffchaff.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 19 Barnacle Geese remain.
Miscellaneous
A total of 103 Little Egret were along the eastern shore.

Barnacle Geese remain

21st October 2022 – sun and showers E3/4
Grounded Migrants
Grounded thrushes involved 116 Redwing, 44 Blackbird, 5 Fieldfare and single Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush. Additional sightings were limited to 6 Goldcrest and 5 Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Birds on the move included 760 Jackdaw, 165 Starling, 75 Pink-footed Goose, 22 Skylark, 14 Meadow Pipit, 12 Chaffinch, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Whooper Swan, 2 Siskin, 2 Brambling and single Rock Pipit and Tree Sparrow.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 19 Barnacle Geese remain.
Miscellaneous
The resident Hooded Crow and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.

Cetti’s Warbler and Velvet Scoters

20th October 2022 – overcast/rain then drizzle at times E2/3/4
Rarities
A Cetti’s Warbler was located mid-morning.
Offshore
A check of the sea as the rain cleared to showers (0900-1000) produced 315 Common Scoter, 260 Wigeon, 222 Razorbill, 17 Teal, 2 Velvet Scoter and single Red-breasted Merganser and Goldeneye.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded thrushes involved 172 Redwing and 4 Fieldfare. Additional sightings were limited to 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff
Diurnal Migration
After the excesses of yesterday the only bird of note was a single Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 19 Barnacle Geese were grounded in the conditions.
Miscellaneous
Two Peregrine were the best of the rest.

Spectacular winter thrush movement

19th October 2022 – overcast E4/5/6
Offshore
A Shag sheltered along the eastern shore.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded thrushes early morning involved 15 Redwing and single Fieldfare and Song Thrush.
Diurnal Migration
The skies provided a spectacular thrush passage which took place between 0900 and 1300 with 7,724 Fieldfare and 7,132 Redwing logged, variety was provided by 1,500 Jackdaw, 421 Skylark, 285 Pink-footed Goose, 150 Meadow Pipit, 60 Starling, 15 Whooper Swan, 12 Pied Wagtail, 12 Siskin, 10 Chaffinch, 8 Grey Wagtail, 5 Greenfinch, 3 Stock Dove and 2 Brambling.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow put in another appearance and a Peregrine was the best of the rest.

Another Yellow-browed Warbler

18th October 2022 – bright and sunny NNE1
Rarities
A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen early morning.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 14 Redwing and 5 Song Thrush, also logged were 29 Robin, 21 Goldcrest, 20 Wren and 2 Stonechat.
Diurnal Migration
The skies provided variety with 1050 Jackdaw, 210 Starling, 100 Skylark, 95 Tree Sparrow, 81 Meadow Pipit, 70 Pink-footed Goose, 64 Linnet, 44 Pied Wagtail, 26 Chaffinch, 17 Siskin, 12 Greenfinch, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Brambling, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Rook and single Bullfinch and Lesser Redpoll.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was amongst 3 Sparrowhawk and a Water Rail was seen.
Butterflies and Moths
At least 10 Red Admiral were seen.

Great White reappears

14th October 2022 – sun and showers W2/5
Rarities
The Great White Egret was again on Haws Bed early morning.
Grounded Migrants
A few birds were newly arrived with 5 Goldcrest, 4 Song Thrush and 2 Chiffchaff logged.
Diurnal Migration
Movement prior to the showers setting in included 220 Jackdaw, 20 Meadow Pipit, 20 Pied Wagtail, 20 Linnet, 11 Siskin, 10 Carrion Crow, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch and single Tree Sparrow and Grey Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
A Raven was the best of the rest.

Migration at last!

13th October 2022 – bright and sunny V1/2
Grounded Migrants
After seemingly endless unsuitable conditions the first obvious movement of the month produced 33 Wren, 33 Robin, 15 Dunnock, 14 Goldcrest, 13 Chiffchaff, 8 Stonechat, 2 Blackcap, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush and a Redwing.
Diurnal Migration
Birds moving through the morning included 206 Pink-footed Goose, 180 Linnet, 160 Jackdaw, 160 Starling, 120 Skylark, 40 Meadow Pipit, 22 Swallow, 20 Chaffinch, 18 Pied Wagtail, 5 Siskin, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Rook and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Miscellaneous
Merlin and Peregrine were the best of the rest.
Mammals
Two Otter were seen.
Dragonflies
Migrant Hawker and Common Darter are still on the wing.
Butterflies and Moths
A few butterflies were still on the wing with 5 Red Admiral and a Small Copper seen.

Tawny Owl headlines

11th October 2022 – overcast/showers W2/3
Rarities
A Tawny Owl was on the centre of the island at dawn.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 135 light-bellied birds and a Common Scoter sheltered along the eastern shore. A handful of Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Hooded Crow continues its residency

10th October 2022 – sun and showers WNW4/5/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0830) continued to produce just minimal returns with 156 Common Scoter, 19 Shag, 6 Gannet, 4 Red-throated Diver and 2 Razorbill logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock increased again to hold 250 light-bellied birds, also seen were 7344 Oystercatcher, 1420 Wigeon, 1278 Redshank, 1180 Curlew, 615 Golden Plover, 474 Turnstone, 443 Teal, 153 Grey Plover, 126 Pintail and 22 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains while 65 Little Egret and a Merlin were the best of the rest.

Arctic Skua

9th October 2022 – overcast SSE3/4/5
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0930) produced just 160 Common Scoter, 5 Razorbill, 3 Gannet and single Red-throated Diver and Arctic Skua.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were again on the move with 50 Meadow Pipit, 10 Skylark, 3 Siskin and single Whooper Swan and Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock has increased to hold 232 light-bellied birds and a redhead Goosander was seen.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 2 Peregrine and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held 50 moths of 10 species, Lunar Underwing remains the dominant species while Red-line Quaker and Dark Chestnut were new for the year.

Whooper Swan and Spotted Redshank

8th October 2022 – sunny spells WNW3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea over the last few days have failed to produce anything of note and this morning (0730-0930) continued the theme with just 210 Common Scoter, 8 Red-throated Diver, 7 Razorbill and single Kittiwake, Guillemot and Gannet.
Diurnal Migration
A few birds were on the move despite the conditions with 190 Meadow Pipit, 155 Skylark, 30 Swallow, 3 Grey Wagtail and 2 Whooper Swan logged – the latter the first of the autumn.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Spotted Redshank was amongst at least 12 Greenshank seen.
Miscellaneous
Two Merlin were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held 50 moths of 10 species, Lunar Underwing remains the dominant species while Red-line Quaker and Dark Chestnut were new for the year.

Back to the sea

4th October 2022 – overcast/rain soon SSW4/5/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea on the falling tide and prior to the arrival of the rain (0730-0930) produced 295 Common Scoter, 33 Gannet, 12 Red-throated Diver, 6 Razorbill and 3 Red-breasted Merganser.

A quiet day

3rd October 2022 – overcast SSE3/4
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed 18 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Redwing and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Three Lesser Redpoll and 2 Grey Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 10 Greenshank were seen.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.

Grey Phalarope

2nd October 2022 – sunny spells WNW3/4
Rarities
It has been said previously that at Walney the day after the storm produces the bird and so it transpired today when a Grey Phalarope was seen offshore.
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0930) also produced totals of 416 Common Scoter, 25 Razorbill, 12 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great Crested Grebe and a Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A Jay was a surprise but unfortunately managed to elude the Heligoland trap while 3 Goldcrest were also seen.
Diurnal Migration
A few Swallow managed to trickle through.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was the best of the rest.

Still seawatching!

1st October 2022 – sunny spells W5/6/7
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0930) produced totals of 245 Common Scoter, 35 Gannet, 32 Kittiwake, 6 Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Guillemot and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
A single Wheatear was seen.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Little Stint remains.