11th August
The wet and windy continued, but with a bit more about I think we can safely say autumn is creeping into view and it was all kicked-off by an unexpected first for the year! A Turtle Dove was seen briefly between the school and the mill before flying off towards Holland gardens, attempts to re-locate the bird proved fruitless, but all the same a good record for the island.
Elsewhere a sea-watch provided respectable numbers, but usual fodder, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrels, 1 Blue phase Fulmar, 9 Sooty Shearwaters and a solitary Puffin being the highlights.
Waders provided good viewing again as numbers continue to rise, 767 Golden Plovers were present in flocks around the island, other numbers include 351 Turnstones, 111 Knot, 13 Purple Sandpipers, 44 Dunlin, 11 Ruff, 38 Snipe, 24 Bar-tailed Godwits and 27 Black-tailed Godwits.
Other notable non-passerines came in the shape of a Grey Heron seen between Brides and Hooking and a Sandwich Tern seen from the links.
Passerine wise there was a notable increase in Meadow Pipit, with the day total rising to a respectable 103. Sedge Warbler numbers were also on the rise with a final count of 9 birds, otherwise it was much the same the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were still present in Holland, there were 6 Twite up the top end of the island and 3 Redpoll including a juvenile, suggesting they've bred on the island for a second consecutive year. The weather looks to stay much the same over the coming days but winds appear to swing into the South-South East after the weekend, giving us hope of more to come.
Elsewhere a sea-watch provided respectable numbers, but usual fodder, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrels, 1 Blue phase Fulmar, 9 Sooty Shearwaters and a solitary Puffin being the highlights.
Waders provided good viewing again as numbers continue to rise, 767 Golden Plovers were present in flocks around the island, other numbers include 351 Turnstones, 111 Knot, 13 Purple Sandpipers, 44 Dunlin, 11 Ruff, 38 Snipe, 24 Bar-tailed Godwits and 27 Black-tailed Godwits.
Other notable non-passerines came in the shape of a Grey Heron seen between Brides and Hooking and a Sandwich Tern seen from the links.
Passerine wise there was a notable increase in Meadow Pipit, with the day total rising to a respectable 103. Sedge Warbler numbers were also on the rise with a final count of 9 birds, otherwise it was much the same the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were still present in Holland, there were 6 Twite up the top end of the island and 3 Redpoll including a juvenile, suggesting they've bred on the island for a second consecutive year. The weather looks to stay much the same over the coming days but winds appear to swing into the South-South East after the weekend, giving us hope of more to come.
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| Golden Plover - George Gay |
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| Sedge Warbler - George Gay |
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