Thursday 15 September 2016

Intermittent mist made for interesting birding today on the island. Very little was recorded out to sea the best of which were a dark morph Pomarine Skua, two Teals and a single Common Scoter which cruised past the West Coast. However, the indecisive weather did ground a good deal of migrants. Three Wrynecks were recorded across the island, two of which appeared to be new arrivals and one remained at Nant along with the Icterine Warbler, which gave brief but sometimes rewarding views.

Another day, another Wryneck...

The Melodious Warbler was still to be seen in the observatory garden, and has made it into its third week! Also in the garden were three Song Thrushes. Solfach seems to have drawn in a good selection of common waders, feeding on the invertebrates found in the seaweed and sand before moving on. Ringed Plover numbers have risen to nine, accompanied by eight Dunlins. Also of note was a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper which was new in.

A single Ringed Plover from the crowd congregating on Solfach


Bar-tailed Godwit

Nant held a large proportion of the passerine migrants of the day, including the Pied 
Flycatcher and six Blackcaps. Additionally, there were plenty of other signs of migration on and over the island, a small selection of hirundines were seen including 12 Swallows and three House Martins, whilst a total of six Grey Wagtails were heard flying over. Also a Water Rail, one Skylark, nine White Wagtails, a Whinchat, 12 Wheatear, a Whitethroat, 18 Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warbler were scattered across the island.

 Common Buzzard
Wheatear - this bird came in off the sea and sat for a while on the very northern tip of the island


Continuing on from the migrant lepidoptera that we've had recently an impressive three White-specks were found in the trap in the morning, the previos records to this year were one in the 1960s, several in 2000 and now four this year! There were also two Black Rustics and a Silver-y in the trap as well as over 70 Square Spot Rustics!.

Black Rustic

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