4th July 2023

 Weather: WSW force 4. later WNW 4

 An early morning visit to the North End found one of the Grey Seals hauled out there, whilst almost 300 were in their usual spot on the West Hoyle.

 

The Immature male Eider was on the Whaleback with a Great Crested Grebe fishing nearby.

 

A flock of 120 Sandwich Terns roosted on the East Hoyle as the tide made and had just a few juvenile birds amongst them.

 A Kestrel hunted around the islands for most of the day.

 

 Oysyercatcher are begining to return, 700 were recorded today but the pleasure was to hear then see 8 Redshank fly in and land on the east side. There were also 12 Dunlin and a single Turnstone. On the island there are juvenile Linnet sitting about waiting to be fed,

 

Meadow Pipits posed for photos, as did the 2 Goldfinch (probable breeders on the island).

 

The only certain visitors during the day were 2 Woodpigeons that flew in from the south and landed briefly on the obs roof then went north down the island, although the best sighting was in the very late evening as 2 Whooper Swnas flew east to west between Little and Middle. 

Photos AS