Saturday 30th August 2014

A scattering of migrants were about again today with a Wryneck at the north end, a Corn Bunting at the southern end, elsewhere there were 6 Whinchat, 5 Willow Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Pied Flycatcher. Overhead good numbers of hirundines were passing through again with 1520 Swallow, 69 House Martin and 66 Sand Martin south along with 7 Yellow Wagtail, 37 Swift, 1 Skylark & a Hobby.

7 Birds ringed; 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Greenfinch & 1 Blackcap.

Friday 29th August 2014

A nice selection of migrants about this morning with 12 Willow Warbler, 8 Whitethroat, 5 Whinchat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Yellow Wagtail (plus 1 south), 2 Wheatear, 2 Pied Flycatcher and 1 Reed Warbler. Viz mig included a large passage of 1441 Swallows, 77 House Martin, 32 Sand Martin and 46 Swift. Offshore 2 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 2 Teal and 1 Spotted Redshank flew south.

53 Birds ringed; 39 Starling, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Pied Flycatcher.

Thursday 28th August 2014

With south-easterlies with light drizzle until late morning hopes were high, however only a few migrants were about today with 3 Whinchat and 7 Wheatear on the reserve, a Pied Flycatcher on Icky Ridge and 7 Willow Warblers, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler in the bushes. Overhead 58 Swallow, 9 Swift, 4 Sand Martin & 2 House Martin flew south. Offshore a nice selection of waders headed south including, 9 Oystercatcher, 9 Turnstone, 8 Dunlin, 7 Whimbrel, 5 Grey Plover, 5 Ruff, 4 Greenshank, 2 Curlew and 2 Curlew Sandpiper.

A couple of nice migrant moths were in the moth traps this morning, a Golden Twin-spot (above) that has only been recorded here in seven previous years and a female Gem that is only recorded on site occasionally.

11 Birds ringed; 6 Greenfinch, 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Blue Tit.

Wednesday 27th August 2014

After a couple of dodgy days weather wise, it was nice to get back to some decent weather again. It was also nice to have the wind blowing in from the north-east/east to go with it, purely from a selfish birders point of view. As we know these conditions tend to bring with them lots of good birds, and we were not to be disappointed. Firstly,a Barred Warbler was seen on the common right in front of the observatory building, later seen again in the compound by one of the nets, but didn't go in. There was a good mix of other migrants on site including a Tree Pipit, Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Garden Warblers, up to 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatear, Reed Warbler, as well as several of the more typical warblers usually seen at this time of year. Offshore a Manx Shearwater flew north, and the first Wigeon of the year, a group of 6 flew south along with 100+ Teal & 45 Common Scoter,whilst in the harbour a Little Gull was seen briefly. Insect wise there were 2 Hummingbird hawk moths seen & at least 4 Painted Lady Butterflies & 2+ Clouded Yellows.

16 birds were ringed today. 3 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet 2 Robin & 1 each of Pied Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat & Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Blackbird & Blue Tit.

Tuesday 26th August 2014

Strong north-westerlies with showers & drizzle most of the morning. Seawatching was the order of the day today with a steady southerly passage of Teal, totalling 350, other species of note heading south were 40 Golden Plover, 5 Arctic Skuas, 3 Arctic Terns and a group of 6 Long-tailed Skuas, whilst a Black Tern and a Gannet headed north. Late pm update - Icterine Warbler at south end of observatory compound in the evening.

Ringing; 1 Greenfinch.

Monday 25th August 2014

A calm start to the day, but the wind gradually increasing from the East and with the rain starting about 5am. A scattering of migrants were about including 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 1 Blackcap & a Common Sandpiper, whilst overhead 3 Yellow Wagtail, 18 Goldfinch and 2 Swift flew south. Off shore southerly passage including 72 Teal, 33 Oystercatcher, 14 Common Scoter, 11 Shelduck, 10 Curlew, 6 Grey Plover and 2 Fulmar.

5 Birds ringed; 2 Robin, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Greenfinch.

Sunday 24th August 2014

A chillier night than of late brought a number of unusual insects to the site, including this Small Red-eyed Damselfly, found in one of the moth traps. Other noteable dragonfly species for the site were Western Willow Emerald, Blue-tailed Damselfly and a first site record of Brown Hawker. Other noteable insects today were 6 Clouded Yellow butterflies and 1 Painted Lady.
On the bird front, 4 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and a Green Woodpecker were seen amongst the more usual migrant passerines for this time of year.

Only 5 birds were ringed today, these being 2 Starling 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Green Woodpecker.