Saturday 11th June 2011

The wind direction was westerly, there was complete cloud cover. There was rain and drizzle early morning. Migrants found were 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff outside the Bird Observatory compound. 2 Sandwich Tern were observed passing through along with 1 Curlew. 4 birds ringed today, 3 of which were young Magpies.

Friday 10th June 2011

The weather consisted of a light to gentle south-westerly wind with much cloud cover; there was the occasional spots of drizzle mid to late morning. Migrants observed passing through were mainly waders with 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Curlew Also seen on the move were 6 Sandwich Tern and 3 Cormorant. The Wheatear was still present out on the reserve. 10 birds ringed today; 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Linnet, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Chaffinch. Meadow Brown butterflies were again recorded.

Thursday 9th June 2011

The wind direction was west south-westerly. There was very little cloud cover early morning. Very few migrants found with a single Sandwich Tern heading north being the only bird recorded! The Northern Wheatear was present out on the reserve and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull was also found. 6 Birds ringed today; 2 Linnet, 1 Blackbird, 2 Greenfinch and 1 Woodpigeon. Butterflies found were Small Heath and Meadow Brown.

Wednesday 8th June 2011

The wind direction was south-westerly.  There were a couple of spots of rain mid morning. Migrants moving through were 3 Barnacle Geese, 1 Cormorant, 21 Swift, 2 House Martin, 5 Curlew, 4 Swallow and 3 Tufted Duck. 1 Wheatear was present out on the reserve. A Willow Warbler and Garden Warbler were found within the Bird Observatory compound. Birds ringed were 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit and 1 Chaffinch. Butterflies found were 1 Painted Lady and 1 Small Tort.

Tuesday 7th June 2011

The day began with a very gentle southerly wind then turning south south-westerly. Migration was extemely poor with 2 Canada Geese heading north being the only birds recorded seen passing through. Offshore 25 Little Tern were seen blogging, as were 4 Common Tern. 18 birds ringed in total all of which were young birds; 3 Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Blackbird, 2 Linnet, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit and 1 Wren. The first Gatekeeper butterfly of the year was found. In the moth traps were male and female Rannock Looper. That's four in three days following on from the first site record last year.

Monday 6th June 2011

The day began with a very light north north-easterly wind before turning to north-westerly. It was very wet all morning, which isn't really a bad thing as the vegetation here needs it desperately! Migrants moving through were 3 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 1 Turnstone, 3 Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Tern. 2 Little Tern were seen close offshore. 2 Common Whitethroat were recorded and a male Blackcap was heard singing. No birds were ringed today as due to the weather none of the mist nets could be opened. In the moth traps of note was another Rannock Looper this morning.

Sunday June 5th 2011

An increasing NNE wind as the morning went on. 2 adult pale phase Arctic Skuas were a fine sight as they came in from the north close inshore and spent some time circling over the point before drifting of southwards. Apart from this a couple of Fulmars & a Gannet went north. 2 Greylags flew up river, otherwise its baby bird time - although even the stuff that lives here was difficult to connect with in the wind.