Monday 7 August 2017

Todays highlight on the island was not that of a bird, but instead came from sea with 2 Risso's Dolphin showing well off the north end and even breaching the surface on several occasions.

The lucky observers catching a glimpse of the two Risso's from the Obs garden (Image - Steve Stansfield)

Waders today came in at 52 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Redshank, 10 Turnstone, 9 Common Sandpiper, 6 Whimbrel & 45 Curlew. Meanwhile out on the sea 3 Common Scoter headed south off the west coast with the south end holding host to 310 Kittiwake and a additional 125 off the west coast. A small number of Sandwich Terns, five, and party of 6 Mallards were also spotted off Solfach.

Furthermore there was also a fairly decent selection of raptors scattered around the island today with a Peregrine seen attempting to take a juvenile Chough over the mountain, whilst a juvenile Sparrowhawk was at Solfach and a Kestrel at the south end.
Juvenile female Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Image - Elliot's Birding Diaries

Juvenile female Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), with the Nant sparrowhawks failing to produce any young this year any juvenile to the island would have to be a migrant  (Image - Elliot's Birding Diaries)

Other notes from today included that of 10 Willow Warblers, 23 House Martin, 77 Meadow Pipit, 56 Swallow and the highest count of Linnet for the autumn with 133.

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