Saturday 27th August 2011

Weather consisted of a fresh west south-westerly wind, there was complete cloud cover. Migrants on the move were 1 Cormorant, 22 Oystercatcher, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 9 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 6 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone, 1 Common Tern, 1 Swift, 14 Sand Martin, 69 Swallow and 4 Yellow Wagtail. On the reserve a Black Redstart and Whinchat were found. There was a Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and 6 Common Whitethroat also seen. At the point a Purple Sandpiper was the first record of the autumn. A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly was recorded aswell as a Grey Seal.

Friday 26th August 2011

Weather consisted of a moderate to fresh east south-easterly wind, there was complete cloud cover. Migrants observed passing through were 5 Wigeon, 44 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 5 Oystercatcher, 12 Grey Plover, 1 Sandwich Tern, 10 Common Tern and 5 Swallow. The highlight today was a Great Skua seen moving north at 08:20 hours. Warblers found were 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 6 Common Whitethroat. A Mediterranean Gull was recorded. 7 birds ringed today; 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Robin, 3 Starling and 1 Collared Dove. Butterflies seen included Small Copper, Common Blue and Comma. A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly was seen.

Thursday 25th August 2011

Weather consisted of a southerly wind. There was complete cloud cover. Highlights today were 1 Razorbill, 8 Ruff, 3 Arctic Skua, 1 Fulmar and 3 Little Gull, all seen on the move. Other birds observed passing through were 7 Wigeon, 19 Teal, 6 Gannet, 12 Oystercatcher, 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 14 Dunlin, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone, 11 Sandwich Tern, 15 Common Tern, 3 Swift and 7 Swallow. Warblers present were 1 Willow Warbler and 5 Common Whitethroat. A Black Redstart was found aswell as 1 Northern Wheatear.

Wednesday 24th August 2011

14 Black Terns feeding offshore before they drifted south is a good count for us. Not a huge amount moving offshore but a Ruff flying inland is worth a mention as are an Arctic Tern & Little Gull south. On site a selection of migrants including 12 Willows, 6 Wheatears, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Redstarts, 2 Spot Flys, Lesser 'throat, Blackcap, Garden & Reed Warbler. Overhead a trickle of hirundines & 3 Yellow Wagtails south plus a Crossbill north. In the moth department a Toadflax Pug was our first since 1998 & a Purple Bar paid us a rare visitation.

Tuesday 23rd August 2011

Weather consisted of an east north-easterly wind with complete cloud cover. There was at times heavy rain throughout the morning; by late afternoon the wind had changed to a northerly direction. Migrants on the move were 7 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 142 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar, 1 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 15 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Arctic Skua, 6 Sandwich Tern, 364 Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern, 5 Black Tern, 1 Swift and 5 Swallow. Highlights today included a juvenile Dotterel that was seen on the reserve at 19:40 hours; there was also a Roseate Tern adult seen heading south at 19:10hours. 3 Common Redstart were found and 1 Black Redstart. There were also 2 Whinchat recorded and 2 Pied Flycatcher. Warblers seen were 8 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Common Whitethroat. 7 birds ringed today; 2 Common Redstart, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Collared Dove.

Monday 22nd August 2011

Weather consisted of a north-westerly wind. Migrants on the move were 12 Oystercatcher, 231 Swallow and 1 Yellow Wagtail. A Pied Flycatcher was found and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. A Black Redstart was also recorded. 3 Northern Whetear were seen out on the reserve. Offshore were 3 Sandwich Tern and 5 Common Tern. Warblers recorded were 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and 5 Common Whitethroat. 5 Migrant Hawker Dragonflies were found. A Grey Seal was observed offshore.

Sunday 21st August 2011

Hard work - situation normal. Amongst the mass of finchs, sparrows & starlings trying to avoid the 2 Sparrowhawks marauding around the site were 2 Tree Sparrows. Also on the reserve 3 Wheatears & a Yellow Wag. 277 Swallows & 5 Sand Martins went south with a Golden Plover calling continuously as it headed inland. In the moth traps 2 examples of Aethes smeathmanniana were the first of their kind to appear since 2007.