19th August 2011 –overcast W1/2
Offshore
A steady stream of Sandwich Tern were moving past off the western side of the island on the rising tide.
Grounded Migrants
A far quieter day with grounded birds limited to 7 Whitethroat, 5 Robin, 3 Wheatear, 3 Sedge Warbler and 2 Willow Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included the long-staying Little Ringed Plover.
Miscellaneous
Two Little Owl were again on show.
Fall conditions
18th August 2011 –overcast/calm
Grounded Migrants
A small fall was evident with 26 Whitethroat, 18 Willow Warbler, 15 Pied Wagtail, 11 Sedge Warbler, 10 Wheatear, 9 Robin, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Blackcap and single Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler logged .
Diurnal Migration
Seven Sand Martin and 2 House Martin were amongst 50 Swallow early morning and single Yellow Wagtail and Tree Pipit also flew through..
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included the long-staying Little Ringed Plover and Ruff amongst good numbers of Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret continue to roam the eastern shore.
Grounded Migrants
A small fall was evident with 26 Whitethroat, 18 Willow Warbler, 15 Pied Wagtail, 11 Sedge Warbler, 10 Wheatear, 9 Robin, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Blackcap and single Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler logged .
Diurnal Migration
Seven Sand Martin and 2 House Martin were amongst 50 Swallow early morning and single Yellow Wagtail and Tree Pipit also flew through..
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included the long-staying Little Ringed Plover and Ruff amongst good numbers of Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret continue to roam the eastern shore.
Spotted Redshank newly arrived
17th August 2011 –bright and sunny WNW1/2
Grounded Migrants
The first wave of Robin arrived overnight with 14 birds logged, also seen were 17 Whitethroat, 10 Willow Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wheatear and single Chiffchaff and Whinchat.
Diurnal Migration
Two Tree Pipit flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included a newly arrived Spotted Redshank amongst 16 Greenshank, 7 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, Little Ringed Plover and Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Raptors involved Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Little Owl.
Moths
A Dark Swordgrass was the only immigrant in the moth trap.
Grounded Migrants
The first wave of Robin arrived overnight with 14 birds logged, also seen were 17 Whitethroat, 10 Willow Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wheatear and single Chiffchaff and Whinchat.
Diurnal Migration
Two Tree Pipit flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included a newly arrived Spotted Redshank amongst 16 Greenshank, 7 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, Little Ringed Plover and Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Raptors involved Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Little Owl.
Moths
A Dark Swordgrass was the only immigrant in the moth trap.
Redstart brightens a dreary morning
16th August 2011 –early rain then sunny spells WSW3/4
Offshore
A group of 12 Little Tern fished the ebbing tide, also seen were small numbers of Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
A male Redstart brightened up an otherwise dreary morning.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Little Egret remain.
Offshore
A group of 12 Little Tern fished the ebbing tide, also seen were small numbers of Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
A male Redstart brightened up an otherwise dreary morning.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
At least 2 Little Egret remain.
WeBS Counting
15th August 2011 –early rain then sunny spells W3
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0845) produced just 20 Sandwich Tern, 11 Common Scoter, 4 Manx Shearwater and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Two Whinchat were the best of the grounded birds, amongst a handful of Wheatear, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Robin.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Ruff remains and totals from the monthly WeBS count included 3350 Oystercatcher, 1294 Redshank, 788 Curlew, 330 Turnstone, 257 Cormorant, 146 Sanderling, 100 Ringed Plover, 89 Grey Plover, 89 Dunlin, 55 Lapwing, 14 Golden Plover and 9 Knot.
Moths
Square Spot Rustic was new for the year.
Images
Ruff and Swallow.
Offshore
Morning observations (0800-0845) produced just 20 Sandwich Tern, 11 Common Scoter, 4 Manx Shearwater and 3 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Two Whinchat were the best of the grounded birds, amongst a handful of Wheatear, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Robin.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Ruff remains and totals from the monthly WeBS count included 3350 Oystercatcher, 1294 Redshank, 788 Curlew, 330 Turnstone, 257 Cormorant, 146 Sanderling, 100 Ringed Plover, 89 Grey Plover, 89 Dunlin, 55 Lapwing, 14 Golden Plover and 9 Knot.
Moths
Square Spot Rustic was new for the year.
Images
Ruff and Swallow.
More of the same
14th August 2011 – sunny spells NW2/3
Offshore
A group of 39 Sandwich Tern was the only record of note.
Grounded Migrants
A mirror image of yesterday, a Whinchat was the highlight with small numbers of Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat also logged.
Diurnal Migration
A Yellow Wagtail flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A couple of Shoveler were the best of the wildfowl while waders included 35 Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret were again along the eastern shore.
Moths
Mullein Wave was new for the year.
Offshore
A group of 39 Sandwich Tern was the only record of note.
Grounded Migrants
A mirror image of yesterday, a Whinchat was the highlight with small numbers of Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat also logged.
Diurnal Migration
A Yellow Wagtail flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A couple of Shoveler were the best of the wildfowl while waders included 35 Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper and single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret were again along the eastern shore.
Moths
Mullein Wave was new for the year.
Waders and Seabirds
13th August 2011 – sunny spells W2/3
Offshore
Morning observations (0830-1000 & 1045-1200) produced 123 Common Scoter, 85 Sandwich Tern, 42 Gannet, 11 Manx Shearwater, 8 Kittiwake, 4 Arctic Tern, 2 Arctic Skua and a Little Tern .
Grounded Migrants
Remaining thin on the ground, a Whinchat was the highlight with small numbers of Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat also logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 14 Golden Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper and single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret remain along the eastern shore.
Moths
Svennson’s Copper Underwing was new for the year .
Offshore
Morning observations (0830-1000 & 1045-1200) produced 123 Common Scoter, 85 Sandwich Tern, 42 Gannet, 11 Manx Shearwater, 8 Kittiwake, 4 Arctic Tern, 2 Arctic Skua and a Little Tern .
Grounded Migrants
Remaining thin on the ground, a Whinchat was the highlight with small numbers of Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat also logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 14 Golden Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper and single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret remain along the eastern shore.
Moths
Svennson’s Copper Underwing was new for the year .
Little Ringed Plover and Ruff
12th August 2011 –rain/drizzle/mist SSE1/2
Offshore
Again the western shore provided nothing of interest while the eastern shore fared slightly better providing 3 Arctic Tern, 2 Common Tern and a Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A handful of Wheatear, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler remained the best of the grounded birds.
Wildfowl and Waders
The single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover continue to linger and additional waders included 80 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 7 Knot, 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel.
Breeding Birds
Usually still a hive activity at this time of the year, a deathly silence around the gull colony bears testament to this years total breeding failure.
Offshore
Again the western shore provided nothing of interest while the eastern shore fared slightly better providing 3 Arctic Tern, 2 Common Tern and a Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A handful of Wheatear, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler remained the best of the grounded birds.
Wildfowl and Waders
The single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover continue to linger and additional waders included 80 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 7 Knot, 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel.
Breeding Birds
Usually still a hive activity at this time of the year, a deathly silence around the gull colony bears testament to this years total breeding failure.
Skuas move out of Morecambe Bay as the weather clears
11th August 2011 –rain/drizzle/mist WSW3/2
Offshore
Intermittent observations off the western shore throughout the morning (0700-0900, 0950-1025 & 1130-1215) proved unrewarding with just 43 Common Scoter, 26 Sandwich Tern, 4 Kittiwake and 3 Arctic Tern logged. However, a check off the eastern shore proved more fruitful, a Black Guillemot drifted in with the tide and two small groups of skuas were observed coming out of Morecambe Bay and cutting across the island before disappearing out into the Irish Sea. Two Arctic Skuas (juveniles) at 1015 were followed by three Pomarine Skua (two adults and a juvenile) at 1040.
Grounded Migrants
A few Wheatear and a single Willow Warbler were the best grounded birds on offer.
Wildfowl and Waders
The single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover continue to linger and additional waders included 20 Grey Plover, 15 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The first Merlin of the autumn appeared on the island.
Offshore
Intermittent observations off the western shore throughout the morning (0700-0900, 0950-1025 & 1130-1215) proved unrewarding with just 43 Common Scoter, 26 Sandwich Tern, 4 Kittiwake and 3 Arctic Tern logged. However, a check off the eastern shore proved more fruitful, a Black Guillemot drifted in with the tide and two small groups of skuas were observed coming out of Morecambe Bay and cutting across the island before disappearing out into the Irish Sea. Two Arctic Skuas (juveniles) at 1015 were followed by three Pomarine Skua (two adults and a juvenile) at 1040.
Grounded Migrants
A few Wheatear and a single Willow Warbler were the best grounded birds on offer.
Wildfowl and Waders
The single Ruff and Little Ringed Plover continue to linger and additional waders included 20 Grey Plover, 15 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The first Merlin of the autumn appeared on the island.
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