Saturday 18 September 2021

18th September 2021

 Weather:  SW force 1

A good day with a greater variety of species on show, the ducks coming to the fore as the autumn moves on. As mentioned previously this autumn has been particularly good for Wheatear arrivals, today there were 17 (mostly Greenland race) with 6 being ringed. 

 

 It was fortunate the potter traps had been deployed in the best places.

The duck records consisted of 21 Wigeon, 12 Pintail and 2 Teal, while 120 Shelduck and 3 Common Snipe added to the autumnal feel.

Wigeon
 
Pintail

Singles of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat reminded us that a few warblers are still about from the summer

 ... and 50 or so Swallows and a Sand Martin came through and there were also a few extra Robins in the paddocks. Light breezes does not necessarily mean that sea birds will not come within sight, today 12 Gannets, 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 250 Common Scoter were logged. Big numbers of Oystercatcher (5,000), Dunlin (1,500) and Curlew (330) overshadowed the smaller groups of Sanderling (30), Ringed Plover (60), Turnstone (25), Knot (6), Bar-tailed Godwit (2) and a single Grey Plover. Curlew Sandpipers have featured on the island and around the Wirral coast over the last week and 7 were seen today in the Hilbre recording area by the marine lake. For a change 2 each today of Peregrine and Kestrel, 10 voles were seen so there will be good numbers on the island.

 

Nine Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons fed around the shore. Gulls inclued 500 Black-headed, 12 Great Black backs and 400 Herring, one of which attracted attention when its colour ring was able to be read due to the fine detail in the photograph. It was ringed at the calf of Man on 27th June. 

  Light winds overnight brought many moths to the trap

Vapourer
 

Feathered Ranunculus
 
Lunar Underwing


Black Rustic
 Photos BT, CJW, SRW

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