11th September 2022

 Weather: SE force 4/5   heavy mist at times early morning

It was fairly quiet first thing in a breezy south easterly with mist around the coasts. On the second round of the traps a Sparrowhawk was seen to be patrolling around the Newton trap and was itself caught to be ringed.

  It was an immature male and after release continued to fly around the island for 10 minutes or so. A feature of today, as of other days recently was the number of Linnets flocking about the islands. Today an estimate concluded 220 birds, by far the most numerous land birds here. There were also quite large numbers of Robins (12) on the ground. It wasn't long before a Willow Warbler was seen to arrive at the north end, and later as many as 8 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest were in the paddocks. Four Wheatears were also logged in the morning.

A Peregrine flew west passed the north end and later over the obs. Another was seen later.

As the morning progressed Swallows started to go south down the island, about 3 dozen with 6 House Martins. It was a very high tide today and there were about 7,000 Oystercatchers, although a lifeboat rescue on Middle island disrupted the main wader roost. A Common Snipe was on the shore and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were here, also 420 Dunlin, 28 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling and 28 Turnstone.

Five of the now regular Rock Pipits were seen.

The best of the high tide period however was the appearance of a Great Northern Diver. and also on the sea were 4 Common Scoter, 10 Gannets, 2 Great Crested Grebes, a Razorbill and a Guillemot. While watching the sea a flight of 20 Wigeon flew west to east.

In line with recent numbers, 11 Little Egrets were noted.

Ringed :2 Robins, 1 Linnets, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Blackbird

Photos  CJ, AEH, BT