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.

Saturday 23rd August 2014

A nice selection of migrants on site this morning including 15 Willow Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whinchat, single Reed Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, Wheatear & Chiffchaff, also a Purple Sandpiper was located at the point, this is our earliest autumn record of this species by about a week. Overhead 179 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, 3 Swift and 3 additional Yellow Wagtail flew south.

9 Birds ringed; 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler.

Friday 22nd August 2014

Another quiet day with the only migrants being 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail whilst overhead 23 Swallow, 15 House Martin and 6 Sand Martin flew south. Offshore southerly passage included 3 Dunlin, 2 Teal, 2 Redshank, 4 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and single Shelduck, Sanderling, Turnstone, Little Egret, Fulmar, Curlew & Whimbrel.

Ringing; 2 Willow Warbler & 1 Blackbird.

Thursday 21st August 2014

Following clear skies overnight there were few migrants about this morning with only 10 Willow Warblers, 4 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & a Wheatear noted. Overhead 90 Swallows, 9 Sand Martin & 5 Yellow Wagtails flew north.

11 Birds ringed; 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Robin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Whitethroat.