31st May 2012 – rain WNW1/2
Ringing
An above average total of 144 birds of 16 species were trapped in May comprising Willow Warbler (61), Blackcap (20), Goldfinch (14), Chiffchaff (9), Linnet (8), Dunnock (8), Greenfinch (4), Whitethroat (3), Redstart (3), Lesser Redpoll (3), Spotted Flycatcher (3), Sedge Warbler (3), Chaffinch (2), Swallow (1), Robin (1), Collared Dove(1) .
Miscellaneous
A census of the roof-top nesting gulls on the centre of the island found 65 pairs of Herring Gull and 31 pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gull – an increase from the last survey in 2010. Further work along the Barrow side of Walney Channel also showed a slight increase in Lesser Black-backed Gull but a decline in Herring Gull from 2010 with 1160 pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gull, 255 pairs of Herring Gull and 3 pairs of Great Black-backed Gull located.
Moths
The moth catch included White Ermine, Heart and Dart, Silver-ground Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, Small Square-spot and Spectacle. Just taken delivery of the new micro-moth fieldguide so a few additions to the island list could be expected in the coming months!
The sea again provides the main interest
30th May 2012 – overcast WSW1/2
Offshore
The sea (0800-0900) provided a very similar species list to yesterday, although in reduced numbers, with 32 Manx Shearwater, 31 Gannet, 21 Common Scoter, 11 Guillemot, 6 Sandwich Tern, 5 Kittiwake and single Little Tern and Arctic Tern logged.
Grounded Migrants
A Willow Warbler was the sole evidence.
Diurnal Migration
A few Swallow remain on the move.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 120 Dunlin, 30 Knot and 20 Sanderling.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl continues to hunt the island.
Moths
Highlights from the moth trap included the first Brimstone of the year and a Cockchaffer!.
Offshore
The sea (0800-0900) provided a very similar species list to yesterday, although in reduced numbers, with 32 Manx Shearwater, 31 Gannet, 21 Common Scoter, 11 Guillemot, 6 Sandwich Tern, 5 Kittiwake and single Little Tern and Arctic Tern logged.
Grounded Migrants
A Willow Warbler was the sole evidence.
Diurnal Migration
A few Swallow remain on the move.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 120 Dunlin, 30 Knot and 20 Sanderling.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl continues to hunt the island.
Moths
Highlights from the moth trap included the first Brimstone of the year and a Cockchaffer!.
The sea provides main interest
29th May 2012 – overcast WSW1
Offshore
Overcast skies prompted a check over the sea (0815-0915) and despite the light winds a steady stream of birds were in evidence with 117 Manx Shearwater, 92 Guillemot, 61 Common Scoter, 31 Gannet, 7 Kittiwake, 7 Arctic Tern and 4 Sandwich Tern logged .
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swallow and House Martin remain on the move.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl was seen early morning (0001 hrs!) and the first recently fledged Starling, Goldfinch and Greenfinch are now to be found.
Ringing
A family party of Raven included a colour-ringed bird that had originally been ringed at Sandside, Cumbria in March 2005.
Moths
Highlights from the moth trap include Campion (the first for four years), Green Carpet and a migrant Silver Y.
Offshore
Overcast skies prompted a check over the sea (0815-0915) and despite the light winds a steady stream of birds were in evidence with 117 Manx Shearwater, 92 Guillemot, 61 Common Scoter, 31 Gannet, 7 Kittiwake, 7 Arctic Tern and 4 Sandwich Tern logged .
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swallow and House Martin remain on the move.
Miscellaneous
A Barn Owl was seen early morning (0001 hrs!) and the first recently fledged Starling, Goldfinch and Greenfinch are now to be found.
Ringing
A family party of Raven included a colour-ringed bird that had originally been ringed at Sandside, Cumbria in March 2005.
Moths
Highlights from the moth trap include Campion (the first for four years), Green Carpet and a migrant Silver Y.
Short-staying Avocets
27th May 2012 – hot and sunny NE4
Grounded Migrants
A few newly grounded migrants were again in evidence with 2 Spotted Flycatcher and single Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of House Martin and Swift continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence and 2 Avocet were the stars of the day.
Moths
The moth trap is now beginning to turn up a wider selection of species with the spectacular Puss Moth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Small Elephant Hawkmoth and Poplar Hawkmoth all recorded.
Images
Avocet.
Grounded Migrants
A few newly grounded migrants were again in evidence with 2 Spotted Flycatcher and single Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of House Martin and Swift continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence and 2 Avocet were the stars of the day.
Moths
The moth trap is now beginning to turn up a wider selection of species with the spectacular Puss Moth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Small Elephant Hawkmoth and Poplar Hawkmoth all recorded.
Images
Avocet.
Long-tailed Duck continues in residence
21st May 2012 – bright and sunny/calm
Offshore
The sea again provided variety in not quantity with 15 Gannet, 11 Common Scoter, 8 Guillemot, 6 Sandwich Tern and single Common, Arctic and Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A few newly grounded migrants were again in evidence despite the clear skies with 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Wheatear and single Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence.
Moths
Again dominated by 34 Brown Silver-line but Flame Shoulder, Garden Carpet, Bright-line Brown-eye and Shoulder-striped Wainscot were new for the year while the highlight was a Pale Prominent (less than five previous records).
Images
Pale Prominent.
Offshore
The sea again provided variety in not quantity with 15 Gannet, 11 Common Scoter, 8 Guillemot, 6 Sandwich Tern and single Common, Arctic and Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A few newly grounded migrants were again in evidence despite the clear skies with 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Wheatear and single Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence.
Moths
Again dominated by 34 Brown Silver-line but Flame Shoulder, Garden Carpet, Bright-line Brown-eye and Shoulder-striped Wainscot were new for the year while the highlight was a Pale Prominent (less than five previous records).
Images
Pale Prominent.
Osprey flies through
20th May 2012 – bright and sunny SE1
Offshore
The sea provided just small numbers of Gannet and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A few migrants continue to move through with 15 Wheatear, 5 Spotted Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
A single House Martin was the sole representative.
Miscellaneous
An Osprey flew through late yesterday morning.
Butterflies
The first Common Blue are now on the wing.
Images
Common Blue.
Offshore
The sea provided just small numbers of Gannet and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A few migrants continue to move through with 15 Wheatear, 5 Spotted Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
A single House Martin was the sole representative.
Miscellaneous
An Osprey flew through late yesterday morning.
Butterflies
The first Common Blue are now on the wing.
Images
Common Blue.
Hooded Crow
18th May 2012 – overcast, light rain ENE2/3
Offshore
The sea provided small numbers of Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Just 5 Wheatear and single Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Two Swift were amongst small numbers of Swallow.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow showed too much interest in a brood of recently hatched Mallard ducklings for the liking of the attentive female which soon saw it off!. Several pairs of Barn Owl are now feeding young
Moths
A Silver Y was predictably the first migrant of the year.
Offshore
The sea provided small numbers of Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Just 5 Wheatear and single Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Two Swift were amongst small numbers of Swallow.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow showed too much interest in a brood of recently hatched Mallard ducklings for the liking of the attentive female which soon saw it off!. Several pairs of Barn Owl are now feeding young
Moths
A Silver Y was predictably the first migrant of the year.
Old Favourites continue to linger
17th May 2012 – overcast, light rain S1
Offshore
The sea provided 61 Arctic Tern, 42 Common Scoter, 27 Little Tern, 8 Sandwich Tern and single Red-throated Diver and Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
A sprinkling of newly grounded birds was apparent with 40 Wheatear, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler and single Blackcap and Chiffchaff logged.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence and waders included 2000 Dunlin, 500 Knot, 180 Ringed Plover, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and 6 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow put in another appearance.
Moths
Easily the best attraction of the year so far was dominated by 22 Brown Silver-line along with Angle Shades, Spectacle, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Shuttle-shaped Dart, White Ermine and Dark-barred twin-spot Carpet.
Offshore
The sea provided 61 Arctic Tern, 42 Common Scoter, 27 Little Tern, 8 Sandwich Tern and single Red-throated Diver and Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
A sprinkling of newly grounded birds was apparent with 40 Wheatear, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler and single Blackcap and Chiffchaff logged.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence and waders included 2000 Dunlin, 500 Knot, 180 Ringed Plover, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and 6 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow put in another appearance.
Moths
Easily the best attraction of the year so far was dominated by 22 Brown Silver-line along with Angle Shades, Spectacle, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Shuttle-shaped Dart, White Ermine and Dark-barred twin-spot Carpet.
Long-tailed Duck and Marsh Harrier
16th May 2012 – bright and sunny WNW1/2
Offshore
Two dark phase Arctic Skua amongst small numbers of Gannet, Guillemot and Common Scoter were the pick of morning observations (0830-0900). An evening check (1920-2010) yielded 30 Kittiwake, 20 Sandwich Tern, 20 Gannet, 3 Arctic Tern, 3 Little Tern and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Wheatear continue to dominate with 47 birds logged, however the only other evidence of obviously grounded birds involved a single Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Two Sand Martin were amongst a trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence and six Whimbrel was the best of the waders logged.
Miscellaneous
A female Marsh Harrier drifted over the salt marsh in the evening.
Offshore
Two dark phase Arctic Skua amongst small numbers of Gannet, Guillemot and Common Scoter were the pick of morning observations (0830-0900). An evening check (1920-2010) yielded 30 Kittiwake, 20 Sandwich Tern, 20 Gannet, 3 Arctic Tern, 3 Little Tern and a Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Wheatear continue to dominate with 47 birds logged, however the only other evidence of obviously grounded birds involved a single Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Two Sand Martin were amongst a trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck continues in residence and six Whimbrel was the best of the waders logged.
Miscellaneous
A female Marsh Harrier drifted over the salt marsh in the evening.
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