5th- 8th August
Wader numbers are continuing to build on the island as more return from their breeding grounds and begin to head south, Golden Plover numbers hit their highest on the 5th with 532 being recorded around the island.
Knot and Black-tailed Godwit numbers continued to rise as well, with 124 Knots on the 7th and 33 Black-tailed Godwits on the 8th.
Wader highlights were a Curlew Sandpiper present on Bewan and 20 Ruff in various locations on the 5th and a Greenshank at the sea-watch hide on the 7th.
The 7th also provided good sea-watching conditions and a two hour stint at the top end provided good viewing for all those concerned, 12 Sooty Shearwaters, 43 Manx Shearwaters, 28 Storm Petrels and a single Harbour Porpoise was a nice surprise, meanwhile a single Leach's Petrel was seen lingering around the bay in Nouster.
Another surprise from the sea was a single female Red-breasted Merganser seen from the links on the 6th.
The land provided a few migrants but nothing major, that'll come later (we hope!) singles of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Redpoll were recorded on the 5th, a Peregrine was partnered by a lonesome Woodpigeon on the 6th and a further 2 Redpoll on the 7th.
The 8th wasn't such a good day for birds, but weather wise, high winds and rough seas provided slight entertainment, unfortunately for them the Eiders in the picture below may disagree slightly!
Knot and Black-tailed Godwit numbers continued to rise as well, with 124 Knots on the 7th and 33 Black-tailed Godwits on the 8th.
Wader highlights were a Curlew Sandpiper present on Bewan and 20 Ruff in various locations on the 5th and a Greenshank at the sea-watch hide on the 7th.
The 7th also provided good sea-watching conditions and a two hour stint at the top end provided good viewing for all those concerned, 12 Sooty Shearwaters, 43 Manx Shearwaters, 28 Storm Petrels and a single Harbour Porpoise was a nice surprise, meanwhile a single Leach's Petrel was seen lingering around the bay in Nouster.
Another surprise from the sea was a single female Red-breasted Merganser seen from the links on the 6th.
The land provided a few migrants but nothing major, that'll come later (we hope!) singles of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Redpoll were recorded on the 5th, a Peregrine was partnered by a lonesome Woodpigeon on the 6th and a further 2 Redpoll on the 7th.
The 8th wasn't such a good day for birds, but weather wise, high winds and rough seas provided slight entertainment, unfortunately for them the Eiders in the picture below may disagree slightly!
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| Eider with Chicks - George Gay |
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| Greenshank - George Gay |
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| Peregrine - George Gay |
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