1st to 2nd August

As each day passes come more signs of autumn, with returning waders mainly featuring on the first two days of August. Ruff numbers built from 5 on 1st (although 9 may have been present) to 8 the next day while there was also single Green and Common Sandpipers on the former date and counts of 801 Golden Plovers, 20 Whimbrels (including a flock of 16),  156 Curlews and 125 Redshanks were made on the latter. A Kestrel was new on 2nd, meanwhile Wildfowl are becoming more evident with 31 Teals on 1st, 10 Shovelers on 2nd and the Whooper Swan is still here. Big flocks of Arctic Terns also remain with 3137 on the 2nd but were also seeing some late breeding success with half a dozen newly fledged birds and a handful of large chicks ringed at the Nouster colony. Were expecting more passerine interest as easterly winds and rain arrive in the next few days but there was clearly a movement of Hirundines ahead of this weather on the 2nd, when there was an island record count of 19 Sand Martins, plus 112 Swallows and a House Martin. The first dispersing juvenile Sedge Warbler was caught and ringed at the observatory that evening and there was a small influx of 36 Wheatears while a couple of Common Redpolls lingered.