5th August 2009

Twenty Willow Warblers (left) were on the island this morning, and the 11 that were ringed exceeded the total for the whole of last autumns disastrous warbler passage. Two Sedge Warblers (below) were the first this autumn and were not so obliging and contented themselves with feeding between the heligoland traps. A female or immature Reed Bunting was also present for a short while and was very early for a bird of the autumn passage.

Twenty seven Swallows flew west across the main island during the morning and 3 Wheatears (below left) arrived, 2 of which were on middle and included one juvenile.

The usual Sandwich Tern roost also attracted 28 Common Terns, and at last Little Terns seem to have left Gronant and 8 were to be seen feeding to the east and north of Hilbre (right).

Most of the Whimbrel seem to have moved through as only one was heard today.

A visiting birder during a sea-watch saw two pods of 6 and 8 Dolphins, also 30 Gannets, a very distant Arctic Skua (they have been particularly scarce this early autumn), and a brief sighting of the Common Sandpiper flashing past the north end.

Lots of Small White butterflies with some Gatekeepers, Small Tortoiseshells and 7 Painted Ladies, 2 Small Coppers (above), a Grayling (below), and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly (right).

Ringed:-

11 Willow Warblers

1 Linnet

(CJ) [450] photos CJ