19th June 2018

Weather: WNW  3 increasing to 5 later with good visibility

Curlew which have failed to breed are starting to return and nineteen were around Little Eye following the morning tide, with 3 Heron looking like they had roosted on Middle. A Little Egret was wing flapping in the rock pools to startle fish into movement  and three more fished in the Gutter.

There were singles of Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Bar-tailed Godwit. Eleven Swallows were around the islands and 7 Swift flew over. As the wind increased following the afternoon tide, 10 Manx Shearwater were seen from the obs balcony, also on the sea were 13 Gannet and 7 Great Crested Grebe.

Although the mass of  floral colour has now gone from the island, there are still little gems like the Sheep’s -bit  to be found.

 Also found but not quite as photogenic, was a mass of  brown algae probably washed up by last Thursday’s storm (still attached to its rock anchor). This is thought to be of the genus Desmarestia, possibly Mermaid’s Hair.  

 photos AS