Friday 6 May 2016

6th May 2016

Weather: SE 0/1 later variable SW and N, misty around the coast


The weather appeared almost ideal this morning but looks can be deceptive and there were very few new grounded migrants today although 3 Blackcaps and a Whitethroat remained from yesterday.

A single Willow Warbler was new in and there was some visible migration with 2 Flava Wagtails over, a Reed Bunting briefly and a single Tree Pipit flew over buzzing as it went.  Tree Pipits have been very scarce on the islands so far this Spring. A couple of flava Wagtails passed overhead calling.

Despite the lack of migrant passerines some observers worked hard today and 'clocked up' 50 species on or from the islands.

The sea was flat calm for much of the day and provided more of the day's highlights.  12 Red-throated Divers were counted, many in summer plumage, 15 Great Crested Grebes and small numbers of summer plumaged Guillemot (40) and Razorbill (12) were noted.

Three stunning White Wagtails dropped in between the Obs and the pond whilst observers were watching the best sighting of the day; namely at least 5 Harbour Porpoise seen on and off from the Obs garden and the North End as the swam off the west side.


Waders were very much in evidence with 2250 Dunlin estimated IMF with 14 Whimbrel, 40 Ringed Plover, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit and a single Sanderling.

A phonecall from Red Rocks alerted observers at the Obs to a Short-eared Owl meandering its way up and down the dunes there.

Terns were seen during the tide but were particularly evident as the tide ebbed and they congregated on the East Hoyle sandbank with 40 Sandwich, 25 Common and 14 Little Terns noted.


Ringed: 4 Linnets, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Willow Warbler          [ 230-23 ]

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