8th July 2018

Weather:WNW force 1

Early tide with a dawn start, the spectacular sunrise making it worth getting out of bed.

The sound of Terns filled the sky and 200 Sandwich Tern arose from the East Hoyle as the tide pushed in. Several parties of Redshank dropped in from the North and 74 Curlew and 2 Whimbrel roosted around the islands.

A Whitethroat was a surprise -the start of autumn migration not to far away.

The cliff nesting Swallows are close to fledging and 4 were counted being fed.

The long staying Eider was still present and 8 Great Crested Grebe fed around the main island.

Out to sea several Gannet fed but not much else.
Ringed: 2 Meadow Pipits          [ 414-29 ]

photos AEH

7th July 2018

Weather: NNW  0-1 vis 8 mls with haze

Although the sea was flat calm 3 Manx Shearwater were spotted off the North End after tide, also on the sea were 9 Gannet, 6 Great-crested Grebe and a Guillemot. A dark phase Arctic Skua harassed the Terns off  the North End briefly and 10 Shelduck flew west close in.

The Eider is still present.

Eight Redshank were in the lagoon after tide and ‘called in’ a further 20 birds, Curlew were again in good numbers with 231 counted along with 2 Whimbrel and a single Turnstone.

Nine Pied Wagtail were noted, with 4 juvs being present as well as the 2 adults and 3 young in nest.

photos AS

 

6th July 2018

Weather: NW  1 clear skies but heat haze restricting visibility.

 Over 200 Curlew were around the islands today, together with 4 Whimbrel  11 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone and 6 Redshank. Noted on the sea was a single Manx Sheartwater, 31 Gannet and the immature male Eider, also 228 Sandwich Tern and 29 Common.

 The Pied Wagtails have a second brood with at least 3 Chicks.

There were 19 Swallows about with 4 juvs ‘parking’ themselves on the obs balcony and ignoring the adult birds alarm call as observers came and went.

A Kestrel was about the island briefly.

A Emperor Dragonfly was again in the SK paddock with quite a few Small White and Green- veined White Butterflies but not in such large numbers as a few days ago, 12 Six-spot Burnet Moth were also noted.

 photos AS 

3rd July 2018

Weather: East 2-3 with heat haze reducing visibility to 8 mls.

It was a butterfly day with over 200 Whites coming in with the tide, the influx stopped as the ebb began, most were Small White but there were also Large and Green-veined. Also passing over the islands were at least 30 Red Admiral, 12 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Comma.

Two male Emperor Dragonflies added to the insect theme of the day.

Bird wise there were 150 Sandwich Tern and 40 Common, 4 Gannet and the Eider is still present. A single Little Egret, 2 Heron and 34 Curlew were around the islands.

A Chiffchaff was in the SK paddock but was seen to be un ringed, it’s interesting to get two birds in as many days at this time of year. A Pied Wagtail was seen with a beak full of flies, so they seem to have a second brood. 

A Kestrel upset the Swallows as it stayed around the island for some time, 3 of the Swallow broods have fledged and the fourth nest has healthy looking chicks in – so a good year for them.  

 photos AS

2nd July 2018

Weather:  N 1-2, 0/8 cloud, hot!
A Chiffchaff on the island was a pleasant surprise, otherwise a hot day brought many Lepidoptera on the wing. Large Whites predominated with 14, also 6 Small Whites and 5 Green-veined Whites. Two Red Admirals, a Small Tortoiseshell and 6 Silver Y moths were also recorded. Good numbers of Herring Gulls (395) and Black-headed Gulls (52) were logged with 97 Sandwich and 13 Common Terns. A count of the Grey Seals recorded 463  in the haul out.

Ringed: 1 Chiffchaff                [ 412-29 ]

1st July 2018

Weather: E force 1,

An early morning trip was made to maintain the obs garden before the temperature got too hot.

Many butterflies were on the wing with Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and good numbers of Large Whites. This Small Tortoiseshell landed on a members arm.

The cliff nesting Swallows are doing well with at least 3 young being fed.

Sandwich Terns numbered 12 roosting to the East of the observatory before being flushed by dogs.
photos AEH