Sunday, 20 September 2009

Despite a night that had begun with dark and cloudy conditions, a clear sky by the early hours saw a mass departure of small birds from the island that left just small numbers of common migrants. Only 24 Chiffchaffs remained, with a single Willow Warbler, two Whitethroats, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, nine Wheatears, four Goldcrests and two Spotted Flycatchers also seen, and nine Grey Wagtails and 18 White Wagtails counted. The high-tide wader roost contained a Black-tailed Godwit, two Bar-tailed Godwits, two Knots and six Dunlins, while seven Snipes were flushed from the lowlands and a Common Sandpiper was at the north end. At sea 51 Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, a Common Gull, three Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern passed by the coast. The three Teals were still in Solfach and the Merlin was still harassing pipits on the South End.

Chiffchaff
(c) Steve Stansfield

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