20th April 2025

Weather: ESE force 3

A slightly disappointing day with only a few migrants down on the ground, chief of which was a Whitethroat which is the second on the island this year but became the first to be ringed.

The 2 Wheatears present were a little elusive this morning, popping up occassionally, and 2 flava (yellow) wagtails called over head, while 4 White Wagtails were down on the ground.

 

No Chiffchaffs this morning but there were 5 Willow Warblers.

 Eight Goldfinches represented the finches (in addition to the resident Linnets), 

 

and 20 Swallows flew through with 12 Sand Martins, while 2 Starlings were down in the gardens in an unseasonable visit. Eleven Whimbrel were the highlight of the waders,

 

as well as 1,500 Knot, 100 Dunlin, 120 Sanderling and 6 Ringed Plover. Surprise on the sea at the north end were 4 Shags consorting together, an usual sight especially at this time of year.

Two early Manx Shearwater flew south distantly off the west side and both Gannets (75) and Sandwich Terns (750) fished off the north and west of the islands. The 2 Brent still refuse to leave us, unlike the 130 Pink-footed Geese thank went north soon after dawn this morning. Just one Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets were seen.

 Four Mallard (3 males) are still on the pond.

 

 It was not feeling warm enough for butterflies to get about but one Green Veined White made it.

 Photos AEH, CJW

19th April 2025

 Weather: E force 4

 A mid-morning visit found the island very quiet for birds, indeed the highligjht could be said to be 3 Canada Geese flying by the island!

 

although there were 6 Goldfinches. The sea was worth looking at however, there were 4 Red-throated Divers, 35 Gannets and 350 Sandwich terns.  

and 20 Common Scoter, including a pair sitting on the island.

 There were 3 Little Egrets and a single Grey Heron.

Photos: SRW

18th April 2025

 Weather: ESE  force 4  spots of rain

One hundred and twenty Pinfeet geese flew north out of the estuary. A search of the island produced 6 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a male Whitethroat (first of the year). Non - warblers here were 2 White Wagtails, 4 Goldfinches and a Swallow. A Whimbrel was heard calling while other waders seen were 25 Curlew, 6 Ringed Plover and 18 Turnstone. The 2 Brent were still here, also 12 Shelduck and 4 Mallards on the pond (1 female). Eight Red-breasted Mergansers were off by the west hoytle and 110 Gannets were fishing offshore with 420 Sandwich Terns.

17th April 2025

 Weather: SW force 2/3

A light south westerly enabled a Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warblers to reach us, 

  also a male Blackcap and 4 Wheatears (3 Greenland race).

 

 About 12 Swallows passed through, 3 Goldfinches called overhead and a Woodpigeon came down on the island for a while. 

 Four Pied Wagtails were here and a pair seemed to be considering staying the summer.

 The tide was still on the ebb when Gannets fished off the west side (60), 

 

as did Sandwich Terns, around 300 with 2 Common Terns, and on the west hoyle as the tide flooded were 20 distant Little Terns, the first seen this year. Ten Red-breasted Mergansers also favoured the distant west hoyle as they usually do. Other sea sightings were a summer plumage Red-throated Diver and 4 Common Scoter. Six Shelduck inhabited the shore around the island.

The same 2 Brent that have remained over the last week or so were at the north end. An early Whimbrel was calling around the island while several flocks of Knot (numbering over 3,000 total) and a flock of 11 Bar-tailed Godwit flew north. A hundred Sanderling and 25 Ringed Plover made the list for today. A Raven arrived chased by a Crow later in the morning.

 Photos AEH

15th April 2025

 Weather: SE force 3 with drizzle,  N 2 by mid-morning

The wind changing direction by 8.30 am killed any hopes of many migrants and indeed apart from a Willow Warbler and 5 Swallows there were none. There was a little action on the sea with 25 Gannets, 24 Sandwich and 2 Common Terns, also 3 Guillemots. The 2 Brent are still here. Potential breeders included 6 Blackbirds, 10 Meadow Pipits, 30 Linnets, 2 Rock Pipits and 4 Wrens.

 

No Purple Sandpipers were spotted this morning and the highlight of the few waders about were 26 Bar-tailed Godwits flying north.

 

 One of the things we keep a close eye on is the numbers of Grey Seals, and we make regular counts at different stages of the tide. There were 175 seen today hauled out prior to the tide. 

 

 Photos CJW

14th April 2025

 Weather: SE force 5

 Despite the south easterly today we recorded our first Manx Shearwater of the season, along with 12 Guillemot and 34 Gannet.

 Also on the sea and around the islands were 7 Great Crested Grebe and 300 Sandwich Tern,

 and 24 Common Scoter. 

Three of our Eiders were here again, also 8 Shelduck but only 2 Brent. Fifteen Ringed Plover were on the reef south of Middle and a single Purple Sandpiper was in Niffy Bay along with 15 Redshank.

A Sand Martin, 2 Starlings and a White Wagtail arrived and the single Wheatear looked attractive amongst the islamd flora.

One of the 6 Goldfinch present was ringed today.

The Blackthorn looked splendid with the flowers out despite the constant battle to control it on the island.

  Photos AS, CJW

13th April 2025

 Weather: WNW force 4

There were lots of Gannets out to sea this morning, some approaching closer to the island.

 

 

Twenty Common Terns showed in addition to the 300 Sandwich Terns, 30 Common Scoter and 2 Guillemot. There were a group of 4 Goosander but again only 2 Brent remaining.                         

A few small migrants were present despite the westerly; 3 Sand Martins and 5 Swallows,

also a House Martin, a male Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, a White Wagtail and a female Wheatear.

The breeding Linnets are a popular attraction in the paddocks and gardens.

Two of the moths in the trap this morning : -

Twenty-plume moth

Common Pug

Photos AEH,CJW