9th August 2019

Weather:  SE force 5,         rain
A day of showers brought no migrants to the ground, and the best movements were  of a total of 14 Swifts over the island. Six Whimbrel were recorded, also 200 Dunlin and 46 Turnstone.

8th August 2019

Weather: W force 3, NNW midday, then E 4 later
A day dedicated to finishing off the roof repairs and thankfully it was warm and dry.

Wildlife interest was mostly of the insects, appearing in good numbers because of the improved weather. Two Emperor dragonfly were the most spectacular.

The long list of others included butterflies such as 83 Painted Ladies, 14 Common Blues, 13 Small Whites, 7 Peacocks, 3 Small Coppers and a Gatekeeper, also 10 Large Yellow Underwing and 2 Magpie moths. A Common Whitethroat appeared in the trapping area, but no other warblers showed up.

A Magpie arrived in from the north at 18.00 hrs, while also later in the day 2 Kestrels were present.
Waders and terns were in good numbers; 350 Sandwich and 70 Common Terns, 6 Whimbrel, 224 Curlew, 800 Dunlin and 46 Turnstone. Thirty five Swallows were feeding over the island today.

Ringed: 1 Whitethroat.   [ 603-30 ]
photos CJ,CJW

7th August 2019

Weather: WSW force 3    showers
The part of the obs roof that has been badly leaking lately was completely rebuilt today, a difficult task with the wind picking up to force 5 and intermittent heavy showers present.

 

 

 However a touch of south in the wind brought 5 Willow Warblers on their return passage, also a single Wheatear. This remarkable Painted Lady year continued with 12 present today. An Emperor dragonfly was around as well as a couple of Magpie moths.

Six Little Terns made for variety amongst the many terns. Ten Whimbrel were logged with 73 Ringed Plover and 350 Dunlin. A dark-phase Arctic Skua was about the shore in the evening.

Ringed: 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Wren.                               [ 602-30 ]
photos PSW

6th August 2019

Weather: SW force 3, then WSW 4
Highlight of the day was an Arctic Skua chasing the terns off the north shore.

A single Willow Warbler made it to the island. Waders estimated at high tide were 2,500 Oystercatchers, 600 Dunlin, 280 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel and good numbers of gulls: 350 Black-headed and 620 Herring and 17 Little Terns.

A large number of Linnets (38) and a single Blackbird were noticed on the island. An Emerald damselfly and several Painted Ladies added to the interest.

Ringed: 2 Linnets    [ 597-30 ]
photos AEH

5th August 2019

Weather: WSW force 3

A late evening visit briefly found 55 Ringed Plover, 160 Dunlin and 20 Sandwich Terns.

4th August 2019

Weather: ESE force 1/2
A trickle through of single warblers landed this morning made up of Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and  Blackcap, also 3 dozen migrant Swallows feeding over the island and two Swifts heading over mid-morning. A lot fewer Sandwich Terns around today, just over a hundred, while best waders were a couple of Whimbrels and 6 moulting Curlews that arrived in a group to join 1 or 2 others already here. A large flock of 35 Linnets flew around the island.

Still many Painted Lady butterflies about and an Emerald damselfly was in the main pond.

 A Kestrel hunted the voles and 2 Little Egrets were in the gutter.

Ringed: 4 Linnets, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 1 Meadow Pipit.           [ 595-30 ] photos AEH

3rd August 2019

Weather: SSE  2-3  vis 5 mls with haze

Two Grey Heron were seen to come in off the sea and continue up the estuary, a Little Egret was present in the Gutter.

Seven Little Tern were in in the Gutter on the ebb and Sandwich Tern numbered about 230. Single Great Crested Grebe and Common Scoter were off the North End.

Two Willow Warbler were present early, but there was a noticeable fall of at least 6 at about 1730, just after a small shower. Eight Wren were noted including 2 juvs and 3 singing males.

As yesterday, people were ‘stranded’ over tide on Middle so although there were c. 600 Oystercatcher on Little Eye, the 200 on Middle spent most of the tide flying around the island.

The Painted Lady Butterfly numbers had reduced to just 28, with 5 Peacock and again a male Emperor Dragonfly.

Birding  took second place to gardening today to prepare for next weekend’s barbeque! 

photos AS

2nd August 2019

Weather: Flat calm with early haze giving poor visibility, clearing later.

The Kestrel was on the mound as the first observer arrived.

Four Black-tailed Godwit were on the North End briefly, 40 Knot flew over the island, small numbers of Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Redshank, Whimbrel and Curlew were about along with a flock of 110 Dunlin.

A Garden Warbler in the lower paddock was a nice surprise, 6 Willow Warbler were also present with half of those arriving late afternoon. Four Pied Wagtail were at the North End, 2 of them juvenile birds.

As on the mainland, there was an influx of Painted Lady Butterfly, with 40 on Middle and 80 on the main island, with large numbers of those on the Privet and Mint.

 Other invertebrates noted included 19 Peacock Butterfly and a Magpie Moth.

 A male Emperor Dragonfly  and at least 10 Emerald Damselfly were also seen 

Ringed: 4 Willow Warbler.        [ 586-30 ] 

photos AS