Thursday, 8 September 2022

8th September 2022

 Weather:  SE force 2, later N force 1

The weather looked ideal again, the difference today is that it delivered a few more visitors than yesterday.

Warblers have been very scarce this last week or two, and at last following yesterday a few more came through the island, a Chiffchaff was seen and 6 Willow Warblers were ringed which was good, but the larger warblers for the most part are still eluding us. Six Wheatears arrived,

 ......and a Greenland individual amongst them was ringed, it was typical for its race being dark in colour, long winged and heavy.


A Tree Pipit and a Reed Bunting were additional migrants and the Swallow passage was better, over 60 drifting through today. Among the other birds ringed was a juvenile Rock Pipit, which was probably raised on the island. 

The large flock of Linnets seems to be getting larger with 86 thought to be present this morning. A few sea birds were recorded, 7 Gannets, 12 Common Scoter, a Guillemot and a Great Crested Grebe, while still 80 Sandwich and 12 Common terns are here.
Waders build up to autumn/winter was illustrated by 9,000 Oystercatchers counted on the tide today, 


..... also 2,000 Dunlin, 330 Ringed Plover, 100 Sanderling and 2 Whimbrel, but none of the regular Bar-tailed Godwits instead there were 3 Black-tailed Godwits, which are scarcer here. Also not regular, a single Snipe was seen. A Peregrine was seen with prey flying off south from the island.

 Some seals are still trying to use the island as a haul out.

Red Admirals are still arriving in some numbers, but today a Comma (a little scarce here) attracted more attention.

Photos JE & SRW

No comments: