20th August

Heavy rain hampered the mornings census, while intermittent fog in the afternoon also made things tricky. Nevertheless, you try keeping us inside at the moment with so many birds about and the team's efforts produced another good tally of birds with many newcomers noted, especially in the afternoon. Most of yesterdays Wrynecks had moved on, with just a single trapped at Holland House, although they were replaced by a fantastic 4 Icterine Warblers (Holland, Stennabreck, Vincoin and Phisligar). There were also 2 Barred Warblers (Holland and Nether Linnay), the American Golden Plover was still near the Lighthouse while the juvenile Marsh Harrier continued to tour the island. Day totals for more notable passerines came to 60 Willow Warblers, a Wood Warbler, 12 Garden Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, a Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, 18 Whinchats, a Tree Pipit, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 7 Pied Flycatchers plus a Tree Sparrow. There was also another surge in waders with an island record count of 5 Wood Sandpipers (all in one flock at Cauldhame flash), and other highs of 188 Knot, 107 Ruff (equalling the record count), 116 Dunlin, 1402 Golden Plovers, 3 Greenshanks, 5 Green Sandpipers and 5 Common Sandpipers. Breath-taking stuff!!!



Wood Sandpiper (photo Mark Warren)