It was a damp start to the day today, with mist enveloping the island, and occasional drizzle wetting the ground. The conditions made for slightly more challenging birding to begin with, but later in the morning as the sun began to break through the clouds and glistened the island with its rays more birds began to appear presumably grounded by the early rain.

Out to sea some quality was noted with both a Sooty and Balearic Shearwater past the North End. Other birds noted passing by were 11 Common Scoters, a Pomarine Skua and a Sandwich Tern. A few raptors had also come in during the night two Sparrowhawks, a Buzzard and a Kestrel were all noted around the Mountain.

A small but diverse selection of waders were on the Narrows again two Ringed Plovers, five Sanderlings, eight Dunlins, eight Whimbrels, 22 Curlews, one Redshank, two Common Sandpipers and five Turnstones were logged. Overhead passage totalled two Sand Martins, 46 Swallows and six House Martins, not quite the number we’d been having previously, but more expected when considering the conditions. Inland a White Wagtail was new in whilst warblers culminated to one Grasshopper Warbler, three Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroats, 14 Chiffchaffs and 80 Willow Warblers! Also noted today were three Spotted Flycatchers and 90 Linnets.

A mixture of both daytime and nighttime Manxy ringing has been greatly enjoyed by the young birders this week, but has begun to take its toll on energy

The Ty Pellaf reedbed moth trap has been catching some fantastic moths recently, including Haworth's Minor (top) and Orthotelia sparganella (below).