Just a seawatch

15th May 2024 – sunny spells E2/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0700-0800) revealed 205 Sandwich Tern, 194 Common Scoter, 117 Kittiwake, 35 Gannet, 15 Guillemot, 5 Razorbill, 4 Manx Shearwater, 3 Red-throated Diver and single Arctic Skua and Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Wheatear.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.

Garganey lingers and more Spotted Flycatcher

13th May 2024 – fog/mist/rain later SE2/4
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed 165 Sandwich Tern, 11 Common Scoter, 4 Little Tern and a Common Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings involved 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear and single Blackcap and Garden Warbler amongst 11 Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A few Lesser Redpoll continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Garganey remains.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.

Garganey lingers and first Spotted Flycatcher

12th May 2024 – warm/sunny spells/murky E2/3
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed just a few Gannets and Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings were limited to 4 Wheatear and single Willow Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher – the latter the first of the year.
Diurnal Migration
A few Lesser Redpoll continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Garganey remains and Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal were also logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.
Dragonflies
Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Four-Spotted Chaser have all now emerged.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Wall Brown was on the wing.

Late Fieldfare and Garganey continues to linger

11th May 2024 – warm and sunny ESE2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea before the heat haze kicked in (0700-0800) provided 250 Sandwich Tern, 76 Common Scoter, 14 Gannet, 13 Kittiwake, 8 Little Tern, 6 Red-throated Diver and 3 Manx Shearwater.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings were limited to 2 Wheatear and a late Fieldfare.
Diurnal Migration
A few Lesser Redpoll continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Garganey and a drake Wigeon were logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.

Avocets and Garganey

10th May 2024 – overcast/misty E1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0730) provided 1000 Common Scoter, 100 Sandwich Tern, 7 Gannet, 3 Shag, 2 Guillemot and 2 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings were limited to 13 Wheatear and single Reed Warbler, Whinchat and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Limited to 3 Lesser Redpoll and single Pink-footed Goose, House Martin and Tree Sparrow.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Garganey remains and the Brent Goose flock held 20 light-bellied birds; waders included 2 Avocets.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.
Mammals
Another Roe Deer was seen.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Small Copper was on the wing.

Garganey and Curlew Sandpiper

9th May 2024 – mist/fog SW1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea before the visibility again closed in (0700-0800) provided 165 Sandwich Tern, 51 Common Scoter, 9 Gannet, 6 Red-throated Diver, 4 Razorbill and 2 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings included 15 Wheatear and a Willow Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
A drake Garganey was new in and the Brent Goose flock held 62 light-bellied birds; waders included 39 Whimbrel and the single Curlew Sandpiper.
Breeding Birds
The first broods of waterfowl are beginning to emerge with Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard and Little Grebe all escorting youngsters.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.
Butterflies and Moths
Immigrants in the moth trap involved Rush Veneer and Silver Y.

Curlew Sandpiper

8th May 2024 – fog/mizzle SW1/2
Grounded Migrants
Sightings involved 25 Wheatear, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and single Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whinchat.
Diurnal Migration
Totals involved 8 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Siskin and a House Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 64 light-bellied birds; waders included 1926 Oystercatcher, 1238 Dunlin, 89 Whimbrel and single Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap held a Waved Umber - just the second island record.

Low key migration continues

7th May 2024 – sunny spells NW1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0615-0715) produced 157 Common Scoter, 134 Sandwich Tern, 15 Gannet, 14 Kittiwake, 12 Red-throated Diver, 8 Guillemot and an Arctic Skua. In addition, the raft of 6000 Common Scoter was again in the mouth of the bay.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings included 31 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Stock Dove flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 90 light-bellied birds; waders included 17 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.
Mammals
A Roe Deer was a surprise.
Butterflies and Moths
Immigrants in the moth trap involved Diamond-back Moth and Silver Y.

Spoonbill, Puffins and fall of Wheatear

5th May 2024 – overcast/calm
Offshore
Observations over a calm sea (0545-0645) revealed 540 Common Scoter, 150 Sandwich Tern, 43 Red-throated Diver, 40 Guillemot, 23 Gannet, 20 Little Tern, 18 Kittiwake, 12 Razorbill, 6 Puffin, 4 Arctic Tern, 4 Manx Shearwater and an Arctic Skua. In addition, the raft of 10000 Common Scoter was again in the mouth of the bay.
Grounded Migrants
A reasonable day produced totals of 158 Wheatear, 15 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 3 Whinchat and 2 Garden Warbler – the latter the first of the year.
Diurnal Migration
A Spoonbill headed north and a total of 16 Lesser Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 20 Whimbrel and 15 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence and a Merlin was the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
Immigrants in the moth trap involved Diamond-back Moth, Dark Swordgrass and Silver Y.

Wood Sandpiper headlines

4th May 2024 – overcast/mizzle/murk SW2/3
Offshore
Just 40 Sandwich Tern, 2 Gannet and 2 Red-throated Diver appeared through the gloom.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Wheatear and 3 Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Lesser Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 30 light-bellied birds and waders included 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank and a Wood Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow is still in residence.

Black Guillemots and Arctic Terns

3rd May 2024 – overcast/showers/calm
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0830) revealed the Common Scoter flock in the mouth of the bay had increased to 10000 birds. Also seen were 51 Arctic Tern, 21 Sandwich Tern, 11 Guillemot, 7 Gannet, 7 Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Black Guillemot, 2 Manx Shearwater and 2 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 6 Wheatear, 5 Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Five Lesser Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1000 Dunlin and 2 Whimbrel.

First Swift of the year

2nd May 2024 – bright and sunny ENE3/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 300 Common Scoter, 54 Sandwich Tern, 20 Gannet, 17 Kittiwake, 5 Red-throated Diver and 2 Little Tern.
Diurnal Migration
The first Swift of the year and 450 Pink-footed Geese flew through.

Common Scoter numbers build

1st May 2024 – overcast/calm then sunny spells SE2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0730) revealed a large raft of 6000 Common Scoter in the mouth of the bay, also seen were 16 Sandwich Tern, 10 Guillemot, 6 Red-throated Diver, 4 Gannet, 2 Shag and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 11 Wheatear, 3 Willow Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 250 Pink-footed Geese and 5 Lesser Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 750 Knot, 100 Sanderling and 4 Whimbrel.
Breeding Birds
The Cetti’s Warbler continues to hold territory.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Holly Blue was on the wing.