With rain on and off all day, but mostly on, birding was fairly restricted in terms of getting around to see what could be found. Despite the promising north easterly overnight and a Skylark down on Middle, only 2 Willow Warblers were about the trapping areas and single Wheatears on both Middle and the main island. A Black-tailed Godwit was on the east side in the morning, and the recent Greenshank was seen both before and after the tide. A group of 5 Little Egrets roosted the high tide at the north end of Middle (above).
The conditions meant more time was spent sea-watching than usual, but the large gatherings of Manx Shearwaters of the last few days were not observed and only 6 could be found. Others seen from the north end were 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Shag, 3 Guillemot, 70 Gannet, and 15 Great Crested Grebes. After the tide an adult winter Mediterranean Gull was on the shore by the marine lake.
Highlight of the sea-watch however, was a Peregrine that hunted around the sea hide for a while, often swooping within a few feet of the observers who looked on in astonishment from the open hide window, it was far too close for photographs !
Ringed :- 1 Willow Warbler
(CJ,CS+1,KMc) [396] photo CJ
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