Wednesday, 3 May 2023

3rd May 2023

 Weather: bESE force 4, slight mist ,, sunny morning

 It was fairly quiet this mornign, a Blackcap and a Willow Warbler were ringed on the first round of the traps. A couple of House Martins and a Sand Martin flew about the island in addition to several Swallows joining the residents for a time.There were just 4 Greenland Wheatears present today, they are always a splendid sight.

 A few other migrants were 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Redpoll, 8 Goldfinches and a Sisikin. A Whitethroat sang in the obs garden, but I think we can probably also count that as a migrant. A small trickle of Willow Warblers arrived as the tide flooded. A sea watch during the tide found a Fulmar, quite scarce here in the last few years, also 14 gannets, 10 Guillemots and 70 Sandwich Terns. Eiders appeared in the lagoon as the tide ebbed but today there were 2 adult males and a female. An unexpected surprise was the appearance of a single pale-bellied Brent, most of our wintering birds left over a couple of weeks ago.

 Another sight we thought we have seen for the last time this spring was a flock of 25 Pink-footed Geese heading north out of the estuary first thing. With the breeding season now in full swing on the island, members were very pleased to see Blackbirds feeding young in the obs garden.


The Fox is still suspected of being around the island as it continues to leave clues.A small number of butterflies flew today including Green-veined White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.

Ringed: 5 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap

Photos: SRW

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