Thursday 21 May 2015

21st May 2015

Weather: WNW force 4/5
A visit to the north end first thing found a Razorbill on the rocks near the entrance to the old lifeboat slipway. It is such an unusual event that it was thought initially that the bird must be sick, but a slow approach proved otherwise as it took off strongly over the west side.
Razorbill (CJ)





Within seconds the visit became a purple patch when 2 male and a female Eider were seen swimming off the whaleback and then another 5 drakes were noticed standing out on the rocks off the slipway.




Eiders, (CJ)


Land birds were very much at a premium as expected in the westerly with no warblers and just a single Wheatear which landed briefly on the obs lawn, and the now seemingly resident Skylark which still moves about the island. The odd Swallow went through and later in the morning 5 House Martins. A brief sea watch in the morning failed to even find any Gannets or terns, but a flock of 9 first summer Kittiwakes flew east passed the north end.
Things improved over the tide with a single Bonxie seen.
Brimstone moth in the obs garden (CJ)



























Garden Tiger caterpillar (Nett Furley)   




Ringed Plover (Nett Furley)
Dunlin and Ringed Plover (Nett Furley)
              (CJ, later MGT+1)

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