Little Ringed Plover

20th August 2026 – overcast/showers/calm then NE2/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0645-0745) produced 1480 Common Scoter, 1180 Manx Shearwater, 130 Sandwich Tern, 7 Gannet, 6 Shag and 2 Common Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear and a Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Tree Pipit was amongst 10 Meadow Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included a Little Ringed Plover.

Osprey

19th August 2026 – overcast/calm then sunny spells WNW2/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0645-0745) produced 935 Common Scoter, 300 Manx Shearwater, 215 Sandwich Tern, 38 Gannet, 3 Shag and an Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Tree Pipit was amongst 10 Meadow Pipit.
Miscellaneous
An Osprey was the best of the rest.

Little movement

18th August 2026 – overcast/early rain WNW3/5
Diurnal Migration
A Grey Wagtail flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 10 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Four Raven were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held 112 moths of 33 species. Immigrants involved 11 Small Mottled Willow, 9 Rusty Dot Pearl, 3 Silver Y and an Olive Tree Pearl while Feathered Gothic was new for the year.

Light movement

17th August 2026 – early murk/mizzle E1/2
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Single Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail flew through.
Miscellaneous
Butterflies and Moths
Immigrants in the light trap involved 27 Small Mottled Willow, 15 Rusty Dot Pearl, and a Silver Y while 3 Hummingbird Hawkmoth fed on buddleia.

First Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn

16th August 2026 – overcast/showers/calm
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 1000 Common Scoter, 480 Sandwich Tern, 8 Shag and 4 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 8 Sedge Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and a Spotted Flycatcher.
Diurnal Migration
The skies produced 25 Swallow, 20 Meadow Pipit, 6 Tree Pipit, 4 House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
A Marsh Harrier continues to hunt the island and 2 Water Rail were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted 150 moths of 51 species with Golden Dot apparently new for the island. Immigrants involved 23 Small Mottled Willow, 14 Rusty Dot Pearl, 3 Hummingbird Hawkmoth and 2 Rush Veneer while Mullein Wave and Small Dusty Wave were new for the year.

Treecreeper

15th August 2026 – overcast/showers NW3/5
Offshore
A check over the sea revealed 205 Common Scoter, 18 Gannet and 8 Sandwich Tern.
Miscellaneous
A check of the island’s “woodland” produced 10 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Coal Tit and single Jay and Treecreeper.
Butterflies and Moths
At least 3 Hummingbird Hawkmoth remain.

Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier and Osprey

14th August 2026 – overcast/calm then sunny spells WNW2/4
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 535 Sandwich Tern, 390 Common Scoter, 11 Shag, 8 Gannet, 4 Gadwall and 3 Great Crested Grebe.
Grounded Migrants
Warblers involved 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler and 3 Whitethroat and a Cuckoo was logged.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 6 Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders were well represented, sightings included: 2,572 Oystercatcher, 1,363 Ringed Plover, 1,189 Dunlin, 1,077 Curlew, 786 Sanderling, 700 Knot, 482 Redshank, 156 Turnstone, 27 Greenshank, 4 Whimbrel and single Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
Single Marsh Harrier, Osprey and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held 161 moths of 54 species with Mint Moth apparently new for the island and a Bordered Sallow new for the year. Immigrants involved 15 Rusty Dot Pearl and 8 Small Mottled Willow while 5 Hummingbird Hawkmoth were seen.

Wood Sandpiper

13th August 2026 – hot and sunny/calm
Offshore
A check over the sea revealed 400 Sandwich Tern, 20 Common Scoter, 5 Shag, 2 Teal and a Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded migrants involved 7 Willow Warbler, 8 Sedge Warbler and 2 Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 400 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin, 2 Tree Pipit and single Yellow Wagtail and Swift were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included a Wood Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
A Marsh Harrier continues to hunt the island and a Water Rail and the resident Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted 237 moths of 58 species. Immigrants involved 26 Small Mottled Willow, 26 Rusty Dot Pearl, 3 Hummingbird Hawkmoth and 3 Rush Veneer while Chevron, Canary-shouldered Thorn and Narrow-winged Pug were new for the year.

Marsh Harriers

12th August 2026 – bright and sunny ESE2/3
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 500 Sandwich Tern, 10 Manx Shearwater, 9 Shag and a Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
The skies were busier with 410 Swallow, 24 Sand Martin, 5 House Martin and single Swift and Yellow Wagtail logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 3 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Marsh Harrier were hunting over the island early morning and the Hooded Crow remains. The last few House Sparrows are now almost fledged.

Sandwich Terns galore

11th August 2026 – bright and sunny ESE2/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0730) produced 1,590 Sandwich Tern, 66 Common Scoter, 10 Manx Shearwater, 7 Shag, 4 Gannet, 3 Little Tern, 2 Arctic Tern and 2 Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded migrants involved 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Robin and 2 Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 50 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 100 Sanderling.

Chats and wagtails

10th August 2026 – bright and sunny N1/2
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 620 Sandwich Tern and 3 Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Totals of 13 Pied Wagtail, 9 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 2 Robin and a Wheatear were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Hirundines involved 10 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin while 2 Yellow Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Greenshank and 3 Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The Marsh Harrier was again hunting over the island early morning and the Hooded Crow remains.
Dragonflies
Emperor and Migrant Hawker were seen.

Marsh Harrier and first Tree Sparrows

9th August 2026 – overcast/showers WSW2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 200 Sandwich Tern, 9 Common Scoter, 5 Gannet and 4 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded warblers involved 2 Willow Warbler and single Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
Five Tree Sparrows flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Green Sandpiper remains.
Miscellaneous
A Marsh Harrier hunted the island early morning and 120 Goldfinch and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.

Green Sandpiper

8th August 2026 – sunny spells/calm then S1/2
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 48 Sandwich Tern, 16 Manx Shearwater, 13 Gannet and 4 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A Robin was logged and warblers involved 6 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler and single Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
24 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin and 5 Yellow Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Single Merlin, Water Rail and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
Immigrants in the light trap involved 27 Rusty Dot Pearl and a Bordered Straw.

Quiet times

3rd August 2026 – sunny spells E3/5
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0600-0700) produced 154 Common Scoter, 34 Sandwich Tern, 6 Manx Shearwater and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded warblers involved 4 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff. Three Yellow Wagtail were amongst 10 Pied Wagtail
Diurnal Migration
Two Swift were logged.

Merlin and Water Rail

2nd August 2026 – sunny spells V1/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0730) produced 600 Sandwich Tern, 105 Manx Shearwater, 17 Gannet, 12 Common Scoter, 6 Little Tern and 3 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded warblers involved 10 Willow Warbler, 9 Whitethroat, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Eight House Martin and 5 Yellow Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 100 Sanderling and a Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The first Merlin of the autumn was logged and 2 Peregrine and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.

Black Guillemot

25th July 2026 – overcast/showers W4/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0800) produced 220 Manx Shearwater, 90 Sandwich Tern, 56 Common Scoter, 42 Gannet, 10 Guillemot, 2 Little Tern and single Great Crested Grebe, Fulmar and Black Guillemot.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held 161 moths of 43 species with White-line Dart the dominant species while highlights included Archer’s Dart, Southern Wainscot, Shore Wainscot, Small Mottled Willow, Rusty Dot Pearl and Rush Veneer.

Greenshank numbers begin to build

23rd July 2026 – sunny spells WNW3/5
Offshore
A check of the sea produced just 30 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Single Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler were amongst 6 Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Two Collared Dove were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Goosander were logged and waders included 160 Redshank, 38 Turnstone, 26 Greenshank, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and single Whimbrel and Little Ringed Plover.
Breeding Birds
Perhaps 6-7 pairs of Swift have bred on the island this year.
Miscellaneous
Finch flocks are beginning to build with a total of 270 Linnet were recorded.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted Small Mottled Willow, Archer’s Dart, Shore Wainscot and Rusty Dot Pearl.

Spotted Redshank and Osprey

22nd July 2026 – overcast WNW3/5
Offshore
A check of the sea produced just 10 Sandwich Tern 2 Common Scoter and a Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Totals of 27 Whitethroat, 17 Sedge Warbler and 8 Willow Warbler were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included Little Ringed Plover and Spotted Redshank.
Breeding Birds
Linnet and Greenfinch appear to have had a reasonable breeding season
Miscellaneous
An Osprey fishing off the eastern shore was the first this year.

French ringed Willow Warbler

21st July 2026 – overcast W2/3
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 15 Common Scoter, 15 Sandwich Tern and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Five Yellow Wagtail, 7 Willow Warbler and the lingering Cuckoo were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 4 Whimbrel.
Breeding Birds
Oystercatcher appear to have had a reasonable breeding season
Ringing
A Willow Warbler was initially ringed on 24th August 2025 at Gannedel, Chapelle-de-Brain, Ille-et-Vilaine, France (713km S) .

Red-throated Diver and Cuckoo

20th July 2026 – warm and sunny WNW2/3
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 20 Sandwich Tern, 3 Gannet and an early returning Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A Cuckoo was seen and 3 Yellow Wagtail were amongst 10 Pied Wagtail while 4 Willow Warbler were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 50 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 10 Turnstone, 2 Greenshank and single Black-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Four Raven were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted 138 moths of 48 species including Small Mottled Willow, Archer’s Dart, Fen Wainscot and Small Rufous.
Dragonflies
There are now 15 Small Red-eyed Damselflies present and the first Migrant Hawker has appeared.