30th September 2026

 Weather: SE force 3  rain early,  then clear and sunny in the afternoon  S 5

It was very quiet on arrival (as expected with overnight rain) but a Blackcap flew down the east side and landed in willow in the 'gazebo' garden at 10am and was later caught in the mist net in the obs garden.

 

Visible migration started to pick up with a few Wagtails, 2 alba and a white, dropping in on a sun-drenched north end. 

 Meadow Pipits were moving through now, 95 today,

 Rock Pipits (12) however, will be mostly residents, 

  

Six Wigeon, 45 Brent and 28 Shelduck and 450 Common Scoter completed the wildfowl today and a Red-throated Diver was on the sea. 

The juvenile/first-winter Black Guillemot from the last couple of days reappeared before high tide opposite the Obs. 

  Mid-afternoon a Grasshopper Warbler flew from tea bushes into the old Obs garden before quickly dissolving into the undergrowth. Curlews numbered 240 at the high tide and there were 8 Bar-tailed Godwits. A few butterflies came in off at the north end and a Clouded Yellow appeared along the west side south of the old mast base.

In addition to the Clouded Yellow there were  a Large White, a Small White there were 3 Painted Ladies and a Red Admiral. The juvenile male Peregrine seen at Little Eye on way off was in addition to the juvenile female spooking the Oystercatchers on middle at high tide. The Kestrel was also here.

 

 

 Ringed: 1 Wren, 1 Blackcap, 1 Robin.

Photos SRW 

29th September 2026

 Weather: E force 3   with drizzle,    ESE 5/6 in the afternoon

 A Short-eared Owl was the highlight of the day, in off the sea, it landed near the north end at 08.00hrs, and spent a good time around the island.

 

 

 

 

 

 Other autumn fare was here this morning, with 5 Wigeon, a Common Snipe and a Greylag Goose. One of numerous Herring Gulls was tackling a Starfish. 

 

Pick of the waders were 2 Black-tailed Godwits, while the Brent numbered 65 and there were 3 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons. Down on the island were a Pied and a Grey Wagtail, a Goldfinch, 2 Chiffchaffs and again a good passage of Meadow Pipits passing through. A Peregrine proved its ability in the air.....

 

 

and the results of its efforts were displayed outside the lookout.

 

 

 A single Red Admiral represented the butterflies.

Photos; SRW 

28th September 2026

Weather: SSE  force 2/3       later ESE  2     with haze

A beautiful day with very light winds. 

 

The star bird was a Black Guillemot in juvenile/ first winter plumage that drifted up the gutter near Middle and then proceeded around the island until going passed the north end and off to the west. It was also seen yesterday. There has recently been more records of this species but they are still prized as visitors to the island. The picture below shows how relatively close it came to the north end going west (bird is in the middle distance).  

 

 

 

 Before we finish with the sea, water birds included 3 Red-throated Divers, 250 Common Scoters, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Guillemots and a Shag which sat on the whaleback.

 The sea was so calm that a Kayak was a nice way to say hello to a seal.

 The Brent geese count came to 62 today. The brilliant weather brought quite a few migrants our way including a Stonechat, 

 

.. and a hundred or so Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied and a Grey Wagtail, 9 Goldfinches, 8 Robins and 4 Swallows. Also present were 14 Linnets and a Blackbird. Little Egrets excelled themselves with 25 birds today.

Waders were numerous on the high tide. There were 4,500 Oystercatchers, 240 Curlew, 600 Dunlin, 162 Redshank, 105 Ringed Plover, 120 Sanderling, 124 Turnstone and 65 Bar-tailed Godwits. In addition to a Peregrine seen, the local Kestrel was present.

  As many as 9 Rock Pipits could be found around the island.

 The only butterflies this morning were 2 each of Red Admirals and Painted Ladies.

 

 

 Photos : SRW 

27th September 2026

 Weather: ESE force 4

 

A Great White Egret was spotted flying west across Middle Eye this morning, still a very scarce bird at this end of the estuary.

Two splendid male Stonechats appeared opposite the obs and worked their way north down the fence line.

 

 

 A Robin and a male Blackcap were caught for ringing.

 Not many other migrants, just a few Meadow Pipits were moving and a Reed Bunting called over the obs as members were leaving. At the same time a flock of Wigeon flew up the gutter (11) and two more flew up from south of middle.

 Other numbers from the log were 52 Brent, 150 Common Scoter, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 60 Bar-tailed Godwit, 45 Turnstone, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Swallow, 2 Blackbirds, 7 Robins. Unusual sighting of the day was shortly after dawn when a Fox was seen scavenging the shore for anything that was going. The bright photo is deceptive, it was in the half light.

 In reality it looked more like this to those present.

  

 Later a visiting birder (Pierre Monteith) discovered a Black Guillemot off to the east side drifting towards Middle. 

Photos AEH, SRW 

26th September 2026

 Weather: SSW force 4,     N 1  with drizzle by noon

A Stonechat was on the island again this morning 

 

  

 

 As many as 18 Meadow Pipits dropped in and 14 Rock Pipits were also around.

Three Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, a Swallow together with the Stonechat and a small number of Robins completed the small migrants.

 Roosting the tide were a few of the 5,500 Oystercatchers,

 

  and 130 Curlew,

 Other waders were 35 Ringed Plover, 42 Turnstone, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit and 49 Redshank.

Looking to the sea, just 3 Sandwich Terns, 250 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Guillemots and a Red-throated Diver. Some of the island regulars here were 10 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons,

 .... and the female Kestrel.

 

 A Sparrowhawk was also identified and also the recently designated regulars, 2 Ravens.

 Butterflies today included 6 Red Admirals, 2 Painted Ladies and another Clouded Yellow.

Photos; CJW