8th September 2011

Winds have dropped but Manx Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua were still to be seen from the north end. A late Willow Warbler was in the paddocks but today also had a touch of late autumn with records of Grey wagtail, Rock Pipit and the catching of a Song Thrush for ringing. (DCT,PT,NDW,CJW,et al ) [764-42]

7th September 2011

A juvenile Long-tailed Skua passed the island today, but only a single Arctic Skua was logged although there were records of a Storm Petrel and 40 Manx Shearwaters. Also on the sea watch were 12 Gannets, 27 Common Scoter and a Kittiwake. (DB,DCT,PT,NDW)

6th September 2011

In a south westerly force 4/5 the sea bird list included 7 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Arctic Skuas, 14 Gannets and a Kittiwake. (DB,DCT,PT+VT)

5th September 2011

The return of strong westerlies resulted in records first thing this morning of a Pomarine Skua and 5 Arctic Skuas. Also seen on the island was a Peregrine, a Goldcrest, 2 Wigeon and the first Little Egret for some time. (DB,DCT,PT+VT,et al) [763-42]

4th September 2011

A light south-easterly produced some optimism amongst members present but very little happened before 930am. After which a trickle of Chiffchaffs (including a couple caught) arrived and a fine male Greenland Wheatear was caught (left) along with a male Blackcap which had flown in off the sea from the west and landed in 'blackcap bowl' before finding its way into the Obs mist net. A Pied Wagtail caught in a potter trap added to the nice mix of species caught today.

Highlight of the day for one photographer was the Peregrine which knocked a Dunlin out of the air into to the sea before recovering it from the water and making off with its prey. Here is a short selection of a series of superb photos by Obs member Brian Tollitt.

As the tide flooded small waders were gathering and at least twelve Curlew Sandpipers (some of which below - 'iPhone scoped') were found in a loose flock with Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

Eight Teal were recorded and 12 Carrion Crows, incidentally the local breeding pair have been missing lately.

The highlight of the overnight moth trapping was this 'Old Lady' (right). However, the penultimate highlight of the day was a stunning full length dive catch by an Obs member in a 'non-competitive' cricket match in the Obs garden...certainly one for Wisden!

Finally a beautiful sunset (below) finished a fine day on the island.

(BT,DCT,PT+VT,NDW,SRW & family) [762-42]

3rd September 2011

Many of the large contingent of members present today spent most of the morning trying to keep themselves and their optics dry. Before the rain started a Sparrowhawk flew down the west side scattering the waders between the islands. A few Swallows took advantage of the brief interludes in the precipitation to move through and 2 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler were found in the paddocks but none of the larger warblers showed during the morning. A Wheatear arrived in off the sea at 11.00hrs and sat on the north end slipway for a while looking as though it was not sure where it was at the same time a Curlew Sandpiper was seen flying with a group of Knot up the east gutter but conditions were not good for re-finding it immediately. Two Wigeon flew across the south end giving a touch of late autumn to the day. The first Grey Plovers of the autumn were found south of Middle Eye early in the day, they were in stunning summer plumage (right). Bar-tailed Godwits were counted at 14, and 2 Redshanks were in the east gutter after being so scarce in the last few weeks. Ringed :-2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler.
(JE,CJ+VB,DCT,PT+VT,AS,CJW,NDW,PSW,SRW,AW) [754-42] photos SRW & PSW

2nd September 2011

A Wheatear perched on top of a furled mist net at dawn in the paddocks lifted spirits that this was to be a good passage day, but it proved to be a false dawn as this was the only Wheatear of the day and all that could be found was a single Chiffchaff. At 07.00hrs a Marsh Harrier (right) flew across the east hoyle tide line and off towards Red Rocks whilst being mobbed by the shorebirds, apologies for the distant photo in poor light. A Whitethroat dropped in at about 08.00hrs and another later on, somewhat compensating for the lack of migrants in the apparently ideal conditions. The difference in appearance between a first year bird and an adult male could clearly be seen (above). A party of 6 Teal arrived off the whaleback but immediately took off and disappeared to the north (below), another group of 3 were sighted just before noon. A single pale phase Arctic Skua flew in from the west and robbed a tern of its lunch, the sea was otherwise very quiet, only 3 Great Crested Grebes being of note. Wader counts from before the tide included 5,000 Oystercatchers, 450 Knot, 150 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, and an improved number of Bar-tailed Godwits at 24 birds. A Peregrine gave a fine display of wader chasing by the obs at noon and a Kestrel was present briefly this morning, Kestrels have been rather more scarce this year. Ringed :- 2 Whitethroats, 1 Robin (DB,JE,CJ,DCT,PT,NDW) [751-42] Photos CJ

1st September 2011

A beautiful warm sunny day with a light south easterly was a fine way to begin September and although there were no great numbers of migrants, some quality was the order of the day. First thing a male Blackcap (left) and 2 Goldcrests (right) were present together with a Chiffchaff which was the first of 3 ringed during the day, one Willow Warbler was seen but did not stay, neither did the only Wheatear of the morning. Swallow numbers were modest but in addition were 3 House Martins and 4 Sand Martins to add variety. Five Teal flying north east after dawn were the only ducks of the day. Leading up to high tide the small waders were examined around the north end and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (right, with Ringed Plover) was found with the Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Knot on the rocks. Oystercatchers were very agitated and noisy at the high tide roost on the north end of Middle as a visitor managed to get himself stranded on that island for the duration of the tide. Knot gathered in a flock of about 2,000 flying about which is more than usual so close to the islands. A single Whimbrel was all that could be found, although there were several Bar-tailed Godwits. Shortly after noon a Spotted Flycatcher (left) landed at the bottom of the garden briefly and then gave the members the run-around visiting just about every part of the island, but favouring the area of the top paddock fences and the west side, it was still present at 17.00hrs but remained unringed. Sea birds today were mostly distant as expected with a southerly element in the wind, the best being a dark phase Arctic Skua, 12 Guillemots, a Razorbill and 3 Great Crested Grebes. Ringed:- 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Linnet.
(DB,CJ,KMc,DCT,PT,NDW,et al), LOC members RK +2,VMcF, MNA member DB. [748-42] photos CJ et al