Sunday 19 August 2018

19th August 2018

Weather:WSW force 3/4
Despite the continuing presence of the Bonaparte's Gull, the focus today was on the sea with a stiff westerly bringing in good sea birds. A large total of 23 Arctic Skuas were noted, a big improvement on recent weeks, also 102 Manx Shearwaters, 59 Gannets, 40 Common Scoter, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Kittiwakes, 2 Guillemots and a Shag. Not to be outdone, there were good counts of shorebirds including 11 Whimbrel, 107 Ringed Plover, 5 Little Egrets and the regular immature Eider. A Mediterranean Gull was among the over 600 Black-headed Gulls on the shore with 700 Sandwich Terns.

Only 6 Swallows noted today and 2 Willow Warblers in the paddocks, also a Comma butterfly which is scarce on the island.
 photos AS

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