2nd September 2013 – overcast/drizzle at times SW3/4
Offshore
Morning observations (0930-1000) as the drizzle cleared produced 60 Sandwich Tern, 11 Gannet, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Arctic Skua and single Red-throated Diver, Kittiwake and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Evidenced by 2 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
The first Pintail has returned and 2 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Despite the plethora of Mediterranean Gulls on the other side of Morecambe Bay it remains a scarce sighting on the island and adult in winter plumage proved to be the first of the year. A Peregrine and 2 Little Egret proved to be the best of the rest.
Where were all the Willow Warblers?
30th August 2013 – bright and sunny W3/4
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were the only record of note.
Grounded Migrants
Evidenced by just 3 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler and single Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Five Shoveler were amongst 85 Teal and 3 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Ringing
The month was highlighted by an alarming lack of Willow Warbler with just 5 birds ringed. The low monthly total involved 124 birds of 15 species with individual species totals as follows: House Sparrow (60), Greenfinch (21), Robin (12), Goldfinch (6), Whitethroat (5), Willow Warbler (5), Tree Sparrow (3), Blackbird (3), Sedge Warbler (3), Garden Warbler (1), Dunnock (1), Starling (1), Cuckoo (1), Redstart (1) and Swallow (1).
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were the only record of note.
Grounded Migrants
Evidenced by just 3 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler and single Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Five Shoveler were amongst 85 Teal and 3 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Ringing
The month was highlighted by an alarming lack of Willow Warbler with just 5 birds ringed. The low monthly total involved 124 birds of 15 species with individual species totals as follows: House Sparrow (60), Greenfinch (21), Robin (12), Goldfinch (6), Whitethroat (5), Willow Warbler (5), Tree Sparrow (3), Blackbird (3), Sedge Warbler (3), Garden Warbler (1), Dunnock (1), Starling (1), Cuckoo (1), Redstart (1) and Swallow (1).
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Migration remains slow
28th August 2013 – bright and sunny W3/4
Offshore
A Shag was amongst 135 Cormorant and at least 110 Sandwich Tern were offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 12 Wheatear and 6 Sedge Warbler, 4 Robin and 3 Whitethroat were also logged.
Diurnal Migration
Limited to 13 Tree Sparrow, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl was the best of the rest.
Moths
Recent sightings included less than annual Mullein Wave, Swallow Prominent and Twenty Plume Moth.
Offshore
A Shag was amongst 135 Cormorant and at least 110 Sandwich Tern were offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 12 Wheatear and 6 Sedge Warbler, 4 Robin and 3 Whitethroat were also logged.
Diurnal Migration
Limited to 13 Tree Sparrow, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl was the best of the rest.
Moths
Recent sightings included less than annual Mullein Wave, Swallow Prominent and Twenty Plume Moth.
Migration continues to dawdle
27th August 2013 – bright and sunny NW3/4
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were again offshore.
Grounded Migrants
Two Stonechat and 2 Whinchat amongst 7 Wheatear and 6 Sedge Warbler and 3 Whitethroat were amongst a continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
The juvenile Marsh Harrier again drifted across the island, hirundines involved 100 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin while 15 Tree Sparrow, 3 Tree Pipit and 3 Grey Wagtail were also logged.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Images
Distant record shot of the Marsh Harrier.
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were again offshore.
Grounded Migrants
Two Stonechat and 2 Whinchat amongst 7 Wheatear and 6 Sedge Warbler and 3 Whitethroat were amongst a continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
The juvenile Marsh Harrier again drifted across the island, hirundines involved 100 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin while 15 Tree Sparrow, 3 Tree Pipit and 3 Grey Wagtail were also logged.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Images
Distant record shot of the Marsh Harrier.
Pied Flycatcher and Redstart
26th August 2013 – bright and sunny NE2
Offshore
At least 100 Sandwich Tern were offshore early morning.
Grounded Migrants
A further sprinkling of grounded birds included 16 Willow Warbler – the highest day count of the autumn so far!, 7 Wheatear, 7 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Robin and single Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Garden Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A juvenile Marsh Harrier again flew through and small numbers of birds were also on the move early morning with 100 Swallow, 12 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Tree Pipit.
Images
Redstart.
Marsh Harrier reappears
25th August 2013 – bright and sunny NW2/3/4
Grounded Migrants
A few grounded birds were evident with 26 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Robin, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Whinchat, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher logged.
Diurnal Migration
A juvenile Marsh Harrier drifted over the island and a light passage produced 50 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 3 Tree Pipit and 2 Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2750 Curlew, 600 Redshank, 240 Sanderling, 165 Turnstone, 120 Golden Plover, 110 Bar-tailed Godwit, 44 Grey Plover and single Whimbrel and Ruff.
Miscellaneous
At least one Little Egret remains.
Grounded Migrants
A few grounded birds were evident with 26 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Robin, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Whinchat, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher logged.
Diurnal Migration
A juvenile Marsh Harrier drifted over the island and a light passage produced 50 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 3 Tree Pipit and 2 Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2750 Curlew, 600 Redshank, 240 Sanderling, 165 Turnstone, 120 Golden Plover, 110 Bar-tailed Godwit, 44 Grey Plover and single Whimbrel and Ruff.
Miscellaneous
At least one Little Egret remains.
Wildfowl and Waders continue to build
24th August 2013 – overcast NW3/4
Offshore
Observations (0645-0815) produced 515 Sandwich Tern, 290 Common Scoter, 44 Gannet, 4 Arctic Tern and single Arctic Skua and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A Stonechat was amongst 7 Wheatear and a Spotted Flycatcher was amongst a continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Yellow Wagtail was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 5 Wigeon and 55 Teal while waders included 6400 Oystercatcher, 1050 Redshank, 440 Turnstone, 21 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Four Little Egret and single Little Owl and Merlin were the best of the rest.
Offshore
Observations (0645-0815) produced 515 Sandwich Tern, 290 Common Scoter, 44 Gannet, 4 Arctic Tern and single Arctic Skua and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A Stonechat was amongst 7 Wheatear and a Spotted Flycatcher was amongst a continued trickle of Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A Yellow Wagtail was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 5 Wigeon and 55 Teal while waders included 6400 Oystercatcher, 1050 Redshank, 440 Turnstone, 21 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Four Little Egret and single Little Owl and Merlin were the best of the rest.
Marsh Harrier finally added to year list!
23rd August 2013 – overcast/rain later SE3/4
Offshore
morning observations produced 200 Sandwich Tern but little else of note.
Grounded Migrants
The very slow trickle of Willow Warbler continues.
Diurnal Migration
A Marsh Harrier drifted east over the island and a few House Martin were again amongst a light Swallow passage.
Miscellaneous
Two Raven and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Moths
The micro Eudonia angustea was new for the year.
Offshore
morning observations produced 200 Sandwich Tern but little else of note.
Grounded Migrants
The very slow trickle of Willow Warbler continues.
Diurnal Migration
A Marsh Harrier drifted east over the island and a few House Martin were again amongst a light Swallow passage.
Miscellaneous
Two Raven and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
Moths
The micro Eudonia angustea was new for the year.
A hint of passage at last
22nd August 2013 – overcast misty start then sunny/calm
Offshore
The sea provided 3 Arctic Skua amongst 400 Sandwich Tern
Grounded Migrants
A hint of migration was provided by 5 Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Robin and single Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail and Stonechat .
Diurnal Migration
There was a gathering of 300 Swallow and small numbers of House Martin and Sand Martin early morning before they melted away as the mist cleared. Also logged were 5 Tree Sparrow, 4 Swift and a Tree Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 4 Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper.
Moths
A Feathered Gothic was new for the year.
Images
Cuckoo.
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