Sunday 21 July 2019

The start of some stormy weather this week was felt this evening when the wind really started to pick up from the south-west, for the most part however the day was dry and warm with a breeze throughout.

The main news from today came from a trip around the east side to evaluate how the breeding birds are doing, namely the Kittiwakes. 91 juvenile Kittiwakes were counted from various nest sites, most of which were almost fully grown and three juveniles were even seen fledged from the nest! Some estimate counts of other juvenile birds were also made, at least 35 juvenile Shags were seen, some sporting some fresh darvic rings out on this year, 110 juvenile Herring Gulls and 63 juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also rough counts.

Elsewhere the first juvenile Willow Warblers were at nant looking very smart with there fresh plumage, a bright lemon yellow colour. Also, an adult Willow Warbler was seen feeding three juvenile proving the breeding of this species on the island this year, a very good record indeed! a Linnet flock is starting to build on the narrows now, a flock of 40 birds were seen there today feeding on the seeds that get knocked off by people walking through the grass. Some wader counts at high tide included 97 Oystercatchers, a single Dunlin, 12 Whimbrels, 42 Curlews, 11 Redshanks, three Common Sandpipers and 13 Turnstones.

A fledged Juvenile Kittiwake                       Lewis Hooper

Kittiwake nest with that is around average size for juveniles at the moment                       Lewis Hooper
 

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