29th August 2023

 Weather: SW force 3/4, W 3 by noon

The sightings of Arctic Skuas continue, there were 6 today which is good news the frequent reports from the last few years of their poor breeding success.

Again Gannets did not let us down, 45 were feeding out in Liverpool Bay with 15 Guillemots, 70 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe adding to the variety. Wader highlights were 35 Ringed Plover, 32 Bar-tailed Godwit, 350 Curlew and 2 Whimbrel. Gulls deserve a mention for a change, counted were 800 Herring, 220 Black-headed, 44 Great Black-backs, 36 Lesser Black-backs, 56 Common and a Mediterranean Gull seen distantly on the east hoyle mid-afternoon.

 

 An amazing 21 Little Egrets were feeding around the islands, also 3 Grey Herons. The male Eider was joined by 2 female types and there was also an unexpected 2 Pintail flying west. Best of the small birds were 2 passage Chiffchaffs (including a very yellow bird) and 3 Wheatears which were juveniles. The Wheatears are often wary of accepting the mealworms, but on this occasion they eventually succumbed. 

There were 3 Robins today, juveniles and probably from the mainland.

The young Blackbird that was ringed however may have been from a 3rd brood on the island.

Photos JE, SRW