Seawatching resulted in a good count of 1973 Manx Shearwaters along with nine Fulmars and three Sandwich Terns. However, it was inland were the action was happening. A Marsh Harrier was the clear highlight of the day, drifting North through island in the afternoon, surprisingly the first record of the year and the first since the 25th September 2017. The only other raptor noted today was a Sparrowhawk.
Again the bulk of activity on the island was on the Narrows which has recently been playing host to the first waves of Waders passing through from their breeding grounds. In total one Dunlin, three Whimbrels, 16 Curlews, 11 Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers and 15 Turnstones were logged. The Cuckoo was once again present, showing well to some. Overhead passage consisted of just four Swifts, 57 Swallows and 32 House Martins. The bushes and coppices seemed a lot quieter today, just five Willow Warblers were seen, however Linnets continued to increase in number with 86 recorded today.
More evidence of migration today involved lepidoptera six Painted Ladys were scattered among the usual Red Admirals, Peacocks and Meadow Browns, also noted were two Hummingbird Hawkmoths and 18 Silver Ys.
Meadow Pipit feeding a juvenile Cuckoo, an endless red caterpillar devouring chasm © Ben Porter
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