4th September 2023

 Weather:  SE 1   sunny and warm, NE 3 by evening

The day started with promise when a Reed Bunting came down near the obs to be photographed.  Later another was calling over the island intermittingly for a while before being caught for ringing. 

 

 

A Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs flitted about in the obs garden, showing surprisingly well for the camera. 

There were thought to be 4 Chiffchaffs and 2 Willow Warblers present this morning, they are now becoming scarcer than the
Chiffchaffs as they depart south. Two Willow Warblers were later caught and ringed.  

 

The Reed Buntings and a passing Siskin (first of the autumn) and 2 Greenfinches are a sign of the approach of autumn proper. A couple of House Martins fed with a few extra Swallows over the island, and a number of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails moving through showed migration is under way, while the Wheatear found early in the day can occur at any time from March until October. It or another was on the west side later.  September is well known as a good month for scarce waders and today was no exception with a calling Greenshank heard but not seen, it appeared to be to the east of the island. Also heard but only glimpsed once was a Raven south of the island chain. Sandwich Terns were estimated at 60 now, with 3 Common terns seen, one of which was feeding a youngster at the north end. 

As the tide flooded 46 Bar-tailed Godwits on the east hoyle, while at the high tide the wader roost was smaller than yesterday, nevertheless 600 Ringed Plover and 45 Sanderling were logged. Two Grey Herons flew passed the north end and later 6 more were west of Middle on the ebb.

 Just the 2 female type Eiders present today with no further ducks except for a single Shelduck flying in to the island early on. Two Kestrels were noted together, possibly both juveniles. The colour ringed Cormorant shown yesterday is still present. Further sightings were a Devil's coach horse beetle, 9 Red Admiral butterflies and a Grey Seal looking as everyone else was feeling in the heat !

Photos AS, SRW