It was very quiet again on the island for migrants although a late Greenland Wheatear was seen (possibly the bird from yesterday?). However, breeding birds were much in evidence particular the Linnets (including the above male singing away on the Obs fence), the male Skylark was noted again, the pair of Rock Pipits were watched in their now usual haunt, the Swallows were quite active and a Meadow Pipit egg fragment was found on the west side in the evening. However, Shelduck numbers remain particularly low and evidence of another Fox may provide some clue as to why.
Once again interest turned to the passage waders and 1,800 Dunlin were counted along the gutters edge on the east side as the tide flooded. Larger numbers of Sanderling than recently were also present with 250 noted along with 85 Ringed Plover and a single late Whimbrel announced its presence with its seven whistles late afternoon as it flew over the island. A Peregrine was present early morning and returned to once again hunt the Dunlin flocks later afternoon.
The Razorbill sat out on the North End rocks again during the middle of the day but was probably disturbed by day-trippers although they were few and far between despite the lovely weather.
As afternoon turned to evening and the tide ebbed a few Sandwich Terns moved from the rocks on the west side of Middle to the East Hoyle sandbank opposite the Obs and the 50 or so then called and some pairs displayed and passed fish and gradually numbers swelled to 153 including a yellow colour-ringed bird; although sadly it was too distant to read the lettering/numbering.
The day ended in glorious fashion and despite no forecast of any longed for south easterlies for some time we still wonder what tomorrow might bring ...
(SRW et al (from over), JE, AEH, KMc, AW + TK and TE)
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