Friday 18 August 2017

On the final day of NGB Trip both the NGB and Staff had eyes fixed on the coast with a grand total of 7394 Manx Shearwaters hugging the islands coast; the most exceptional count of the day, though, was 83 Fulmars, the first large movement of this species all year. 1412 Kittiwakes and 246  Gannets provided the other numbers, with a good selection of other species including one Great Skua off the North End, three Black-headed Gulls, six Razorbill, six Guillemot, four Sandwich Terns, one Common Tern, two Arctic Terns and one 'Commic' Tern.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) - Elliot's Birding Diaries
Meanwhile waders were in good numbers the day consisted of 74 Oystercatchers, seven Ringed Plovers, 13 Dunlins, four Purple Sandpipers, one Snipe, 17 Whimbrels, 17 Redshanks, 65 Turnstones and 47 Curlews. Nine Sanderlings were also logged moving south while seawatching.

Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritime) - Elliot's Birding Diaries
Other migrants dotted about the island today included two Sparrowhawks, one Buzzard, three Sand Martins, one Reed Warbler, ten Willow Warblers, three Goldcrest, two Chiffchaff, one Chaffinch and 146 Linnet.

With our Next Generation Birders leaving tomorrow, we'd like to say a massive thank you to the BTO for providing this years young ornithologists with the money to be to pay for the trip via the YBOF Grants.

Both NGBs and Staff enjoying Chilly Night at the observatory



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