Saturday 31 August 2024

31st August 2024

 Weather: ESE force 3, slight mist,  E 4 in the afternoon

A calm day with east in the wind brought us some autumn migrants this morning. In addition to 4 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff there was an elusive Whitethroat. 

 Twenty Wheatears also graced the islands today.

 

A Colloared Dove paid us a visit, while 3 Grey and 2 Pied Wagtails were noted, 2 House Martins and a Sand Martin came through and extra Swallows on the island were obviously ready to move on.

 Wildfowl today included 36 Shelduck, the 8 Eiders and 2 Wigeon.

 ....... and the sea and shore bird sightings were 30 Sandwich Tern, 10 Gannets, 29 Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, a Guillemot, and an exceptional 6 Shags. Little Egrets were also in good numbers with 12 today including one of the colour rings birds seen here recently.

 

 

The usual waders were around at the high tide, there were 45 Sanderling, 70 Turnstone, 50 Knot, 180 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, 60 Redshank, 42 Curlew with 2 Whimbrel. Kestrel and Peregrine were both listed today. Last nights moth trap was very sucessful with the calm conditions:  

 

 A major influx of Red Admirals arrived during the day with 232 arriving to the island. 

 A Migrant Hawker dragonfly was in old obs garden. Small White butterflies also showed.

Ringed: 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Linnets, 1 Wren.

Photos CJW, SRW 

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