A bright day and fairly warm with the temperature maxing out at 17.8 degrees and a force three north-westerly wind. Like most Saturdays, it was a day of arrivals and departures with Bethany and Tom leaving the island after a week of excellent work volunteering and Greg returning back to the island after his fortnight away on the mainland.
As usual on a Saturday, changeover was the priority so coverage was lessened but there was a good selection of autumn fare around the island with nine Sandwich Terns including some speckled juveniles feeding off the West Coast and landing on the rocks off Solfach, nine Black-headed Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls and a Common Gull.
Wader sightings consisted of 18 Curlews and two Whimbrels on the Narrows and three Redshanks on Solfach being joined by a single Turnstone.
On the passerine-front, the highlight was yet another group of Crossbills with three heading south over the Observatory, mirroring the continued passage being seen across the UK. In the Observatory Garden, two Chiffchaffs and four Willow Warblers were feeding up in the bushes whilst the Song Thrushes ticked from deep in the undergrowth.
The female juvenile Peregrine on the South End and a Kestrel were the only records of raptor activity.
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The Manx Shearwater chicks are sporting some very interesting looks at the moment (C) Lauren Evans |
Insects were highlighted by an Emperor Dragonfly over the garden, a Painted Lady on the South End and 12 Red Admirals.
In the afternoon, a big pod of 15 Risso's Dolphins passed by the West Coast consisting of 13 adults, one sub-adult and one juvenile. The group were even seen interacting with fishing equipment offshore!
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Risso's Dolphins (C) Phoebe Moss |
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