Friday 19 August 2016

An unpleasant morning of strong winds and showers made early census difficult but it soon subsided and the afternoon was warm with sunny spells, although still windy!

During the early blustery and wet conditions most small birds took shelter deep within vegetation and if any did choose to move fleeting glances of them darting back to cover were the only views. However when the winds subsided slightly and the sun began to shine birds began to feed and move about more freely and a small number were noted. A pair of Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler and a Blackcap provided a nice trio of Sylvia Warblers around the Plantation, where 12 of the 16 Willow Warblers seen, two Goldcrests and two Spotted Flycatchers were noted. Stonechats and Wheatears showed in fewer numbers today, six and seven respectively and scattered around the coasts and fields were 22 Meadow Pipits, 24 Rock Pipits, 11 Pied Wagtails, two White Wagtails and 34 Linnets. The Long-eared Owl was spotted close to where it was originally first seen, two Little Owls were present, a Common Buzzard took refuge underneath the Plantation and a Sparrowhawk darted from cover to cover. A couple of Swifts, 41 Swallows and seven House Martins battled against the winds, a Teal was present just off shore, 21 Mallards and two Grey Herons were counted, 22 Choughs and three Ravens soared overhead.

A Sanderling was new in on Solfach and was accompanied by two Ringed Plovers, five Dunlins and most of the 70 Turnstones of the day. Bar-tailed Godwits were again seen moving off the west coast with five seen today, 34 Oystercatchers, four Whimbrels, 16 Curlews, 13 Redshanks, a Greenshank and one Common Sandpiper were also logged.

Fewer Gulls were present but still clocked in in reasonable amounts. A small number of Black-headed Gulls were seen off the coast and 54 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 522 Herring Gulls, 31 Greater Black-backed Gulls and 184 Kittiwakes were scattered about.

Throughout the day Manx Shearwaters rode the huge swells the strong winds, with 1,595 eventually the total sum. Fulmars and Gannets were also noted in reasonable numbers, with 23 and 94 seen respectively.


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