3rd October 2024

 Weather: SSW force 1     E 3/4 in the afternoon

 A really good autumn migration day, with beautifully calm conditions on the sea. The first 'nice' bird was a female Pintail followed by 2 Brambling flying south west and lots of passage birds travelling through the islands including 2 Chaffinch ,9 Pied Wagtails and a White Wagtail, about 50 Meadow Pipits, 5 Sklylarks and 2 Song Thrush.

 The next excitement of a brilliant day was a Marsh Harrier that came in from the south, circled and drifted high off towards north Wales and was lost to view, 2-3 minutes later it came in over north end and headed over east Hoyle then south down the estuary and dropped low landing on Tanskies.

 

The first Purple Sandpiper of the autumn was at the north end, on a normal day this would be the headline.

 

 

There were limited numbers of the other regular waders seen but a Snipe was in the SK paddock, 2 Peregrines and the Kestrel were logged, also 4 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. The flat calm sea made spotting birds on the sea a little easier than usual,

On the sea list were 6,000 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Divers and 9 Great Crested Grebes, while 200 or so Brent floated around the islands with 4 Eiders. In the afternoon the second Yellow-browed Warbler of the year arrived in the obs garden, even if it immediately disappeared after a few minutes, not to be seen again. A few records shots were obtained during the brief visit.

Fifty Pink-footed Geese flew over and a Stonechat was found on the island. A great end to a perfect day.

Photos SRW
 

2nd October 2024

 Weather: NE force 3,  ENE 4 in the afternoon

It was worth the visit today just to see one of the two Peregrines that has been around the islands for a while now dive into the Oystercatcher roost and take its prey, it was surprising how quickly the other birds returned once the Peregrine began feeding.

 

There were about 8,000 Oystercatchers in the roost today so safety in numbers may apply but only for 7,999.

 The Brent Geese count had increased to 217, and 488 Shelduck were on the sand in front of the marsh on the ebb tide. Three Common Scoter and 4 Eiders were logged. Two Grey Heron were noted and the 5 Little Egret included the colour ringed bird that has been previously seen.

There were 220 Curlew, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 55 Turnstone, 4 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 60 Redshank and 150 Knot.

 There were no small migrants today but still present were 3 Swallows, 3 Robins, 2 Blackbirds, 7 Wrens, 4 Rock Pipits, 3 Meadow Pipits and 5 Linnets. A Red Admiral and a Small White butterfly were on the wing.

Photos AS

1st October 2024

 Weather: N force 3/4,   drizzle at first,  NNE 4 mid-afternoon.

After the deluge just a slight drizzle to start the day which soon brightened up. A very slow begining to October bird wise. A single Goldcrest again and a Grey Wagtail passing through were the migrants. The wildfowl impressed with 132 Brent, 450 Shelduck, 185 Common Scoter and 3 females of our regular Eiders. Five Swallows included the juvenile from an island nest which is doing well.

 Other residents were 3 Blackbirds, 9 Linnets, 2 Robins and 4 Rock Pipits. A Peregrine flew around here again, there were 8 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons on the shore. Waders included 425 Curlew, 14 Ringed Plover, 58 Turnstone, 50 Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 62 Redshank.

Photos SRW

30th September 2024

 Weather: NNW force 4.   rain

A late afternoon visit in the rain which had been falling all day was to record details from the island for the Winter gull survey. For those that are gull fans the results were as follows: Herring Gull 600, Black-headed Gull  454, Common Gull 71, Great Black-backed Gull 37, Lesser Black-backed Gull 17. Birds seen incidentally were 7 Goosander, a Goldcrest, 2 Swallows, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 22 Ringed Plover, a Grey Plover, 150 Knot, 8 Dunlin. Good counts of 182 Brent were made. 

 

 Seventeen Little Egrets and 750 Shelduck were impressive.

 

 

A juvenile female Peregrine was the only raptor.

 Photos SRW

29th September 2024

 Weather: ESE force 3

 

 'Red sky in the morning etc..' A really spectacular start to the day. 

A single Wigeon first thing was joined by 2 more in the gutter as the tide made, nearby were 3 female Eider with a male seen separately later, 60 Brent fed between the islands but more were tucked away on the west side of the reef and 360 Shelduck could be seen south of the Tanskeys after tide. Two immature Peregrine interacted on the west side, a male and a female with the size difference being very notable.

 

The Kestrel was also about along with a Sparrowhawk which flew around the North End and was later caught and ringed .

 

 Out by the windfarm 3,500 Common Scoter were in the air and at half distance was a Red-throated Diver. Eighteen Bar-tailed Godwit flew east over the Obs and 25 Sanderling flew low over the gutter. Long-legged feeders around the islands were 3 Grey Herons and 9 Little Egrets. There were 60 Redshank and 120 Curlew.

Single Chiffchaffs and Goldcrest were on the island, and in addition to the Sparrowhawk, 2 Robins and a Song Thrush were ringed today.

Photos AS, SRW

28th September 2024

 Weather: NNW force 4   drizzle later in the morning

 

An early start for the morning tide gave impressive views of the mainland and also the 1,500 pink-footed Geese arriving in the Dee.

There are still 4 Swallows on the island which included a juvenile that had just fledged, a very late arrival into this world.

A Goldcrest was present, but not always giving brilliant views.

A Skylark flew over and our regular passerines on the island included 3 Rock Pipits, 10 Meadow Pipits, 5 Blackbirds, 6 Robins and 8 Wrens.

  At least 13 Linnets are still here.

Of the sea birds, seen were 2,000 Common Scoter, 3 Guillemots and 2 Great Crested Grebes while among wildfowl were Brent showing in the order of 150 birds, a good count of Shelduck numbered 324, and just 5 of our Eiders were present. Single Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot were among the more numerous 120 Dunlin, 40 Turnstone, 25 Ringed Plover, 30 Redshank and 200 Curlew.

The Kestrel was not seen but an immature Peregrine was, also 9 Little Egret, a Shag and 2 Grey Herons.

Photos AEH

27th September 2024

Weather: N force 4

 

A mid-morning visit saw the Brent building up towards the winter totals that we expect, there were 158 this morning and with 94 Shelduck present and our 5 of our resident Eiders. Four Swallows are also still here. A Shag was on the whaleback, a Guillemot at sea and just a single Grey Heron and 4 Little Egrets seen.

A number of waders were noted including 310 Curlew, 45 Dunlin, 22 Turnstone and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Photos SRW