Monday, 30th July 2012

Offshore
3 Manx Shearwater west, 12 Gannet west, 35 Common Scoter west, 1 Guillemot east and 12 Sandwich Terns.
 
Grounded Migrants
1 Wheatear.
 
Others
36 Lapwing, 16 Ringed Plover, 118 Sanderling, 43 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 300 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 176 Turnstone and 1 Marsh Harrier (juvenile again hunting the eastern side of the peninsular early evening).
 
Ringing
51 Swallow (including a controlled bird), 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Reed Bunting.
 
Below are a couple of shots of Goldfinch whose numbers are starting to build around the obs. 
 
 

 
  

Sunday, 29th July 2012

Offshore
2 Manx Shearwater west, 2 Gannet west, 36 Common Scoter west, 1 Arctic Skua west, 18 Sandwich Tern and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit west. Also 2 Atlantic Grey Seals.
 
A further seawatch in the evening produced 83 Manx Shearwater west, 11 Gannet west, 3 Tufted Duck west, 6 Common Scoter west, 1 Kittiwake east and 6 Sandwich Terns east.
 
Others
27 Ringed Plover, 96 Sanderling, 58 Dunlin, 375 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Snipe, 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 125 Turnstone, 1 adult Med. Gull and 40 Goldfinch.
 
 Black-tailed Godwits
 
Ringing
1 Wren and 25 Swallows. 
 
 Wren
   

Saturday, 28th July 2012

Offshore
2 Fulmar east, 37 Manx Shearwater east, 18 Gannet east, 23 Common Scoter west, 2 Arctic Skua lingering offshore harassing Terns, 65 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern and 1 Great Crested Grebe west.
 
Others
Marsh Harrier 1 - juvenile hunting along the eastern side of the peninsular mid afternoon, 26 Ringed Plover, 47 Sanderling, 37 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 1 Whimbrel, 315 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 200 Redshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 43 Turnstones.
 
Ringing
In the morning we spent some time clearing a ride in the wet reedbed in preparation for some sessions ringing roosting Swallows; see picture below of cleared ride.
 
  
A session ringing in the evening produced 41 Swallows (including a controlled bird D006605) and a Reed Warbler.

Friday, 27th July 2012

Offshore
16 Gannet, 120 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Tern, 69 Common Scoters, 45 Cormorants, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Shelduck and 3 Little Terns. Also, 1 Atlantic Grey Seal.
A further sea watch in the evening produced 6 Manx Shearwater west, 23 Gannet west, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua east, 42 Sandwich Tern east and 3 Common Terns west.

Visible Migration
13 Swallows south.

Grounded Migrants
4 Whitethroats.

Others
42 Ringed Plover, 161 Sanderling, 77 Dunlin, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 231 Curlew, 3 Knot, 350 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 77 Turnstone and 1 adult Med. Gull.
 
Ringing
3 Reed Warbler, 3 Wren and 1 Greenfinch.
 
We recently received the details of an Icelandic ringed Turnstone that we controlled at the obs on 5th February 2012. This bird had been ringed at Eyrarbakki, Arnes, Iceland on 11th August 2009 and had journeyed 1,511 km southeast to Fleetwood. See Google Earth image below.


    

Thursday, 26th July 2012

Offshore
7 Gannet, 23 Common Scoter west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 2 Arctic Skua east, 63 Sandwich Tern east and 7 Common Tern east.
 
Visible Migration
11 Swallow south and 2 Sand Martin south.

Grounded Migrants
1 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat and 1 Willow Warbler.
 
Others
53 Ringed Plover, 86 Sanderling, 44 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 95 Turnstone, 3 (2 adults and 1 2nd year) Med. Gull, 60 Swift and 1,000 Swallow roost.
 
Ringing
1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat and 2 Swallows. 
 
 Turnstone
  

Wednesday, 25th July 2012

Offshore
5 Gannet, 3 Common Scoter, 21 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern and 16 Knot west.

Visible Migration
4 Swallow south.

 Swallow
Others 
23 Ringed Plover, 73 Sanderling, 11 Dunlin, 6 Knot, 170 Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpiper, 95 Turnstone, 1 adult Med. Gull and 2 Sand Martin.

Ringing
3 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Wren, 2 Willow Warblers and 1 Goldfinch. 

 Sedge Warbler

Tuesday, 24th July 2012

Offshore
3 Gannet, 9 Common Scoter and 6 Sandwich Terns.

Grounded Migrants
3 Willow Warbler, 1 Wheatear and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Others
1 Gadwall, 29 Ringed Plover, 80 Sanderling, 9 Dunlin  and 108 Turnstone.

Ringing
2 Blackcap, 5 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren, 3 Greenfinch and  2 Reed Buntings.

Willow Warbler

A non avian visitor to the obs
 

Monday, 23rd July 2012

Offshore
2 Manx Shearwater west, 9 Gannet west, 24 Common Scoter west, 1 dark morph Arctic Skua west and 15 Sandwich Tern west.
 
 Arctic Skua
 
Visible Migration
3 Swifts east.
 
Others
2 Whimbrel, 28 Ringed Plover, 76 Sanderling, 17 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 135 Redshank, 97 Turnstone, 1 Knot, 1 adult Med. Gull and 1 Gadwall.
 
 Turnstones
 
Ringing
1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler and 2 Wrens.
   

Sunday, 22nd July 2012

Highlight of the day being the long overdue 1st record of Red Kite for the Obs!

Offshore
16 Manx Shearwater east, 11 Gannet, 25 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua east, 16 Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Tern.
 
 Arctic Skua
 
Visible Migration
1 Red Kite drifted east over the peninsular at 10:05.
 
  Record shot of the obs first Red Kite
 
Others 
23 Ringed Plover, 42 Sanderling, 23 Dunlin, 56 Turnstone and 1 adult Med. Gull.
 
Ringing
6 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and 2 Greenfinch. 
 

Saturday, 21st July 2012

Offshore
10 Gannet, 8 Common Scoter, 11 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern and 1 Guillemot. Also 3 Atlantic Grey Seals.
 
Visible Migration
11 Swift NE, 1 Siskin E, 1 Grey Wagtail south and 2 Crossbill E.
 
Others
1 Little Egret, 56 Sanderling, 19 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover, 175 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 140 Curlew, 63 Turnstone, 1 adult Med. Gull, 200 Swallow, 42 Swift and 1 Hobby chasing Swallows at 21:00 before flying off east.
 
Ringed Plovers and Sanderling
 
Ringing
Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Robin and 2 Wrens. 

Lesser Whitethroat
  

Friday, 20th July 2012

Offshore
5 Gannet, 12 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Terns.
 
Others
26 Sanderling, 12 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 140 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper and 31 Turnstones.
 

Thursday, 19th July 2012

Offshore
3 Manx Shearwater east, 13 Gannet east, 32 Common Scoter west and 18 Sandwich Terns east.
 
Grounded Migrants
1 Wheatear and 1 Willow Warbler.
 
Visible Migration
2 Swallow SW and 1 Sand Martin SW.
 
Others
21 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper and 33 Turnstones.  
 

Wednesday, 18th July 2012

Offshore
3 Fulmar west, 32 Manx Shearwater west, 130 Gannet west, 43 Common Scoter west, 2 Arctic Skua west, 3 Kittiwake west, 7 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 1 Razorbill and 15 Knot west.
 
Others
1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 18 Sanderling,7 Dunlin  and 46 Turnstones.
 
Ringing
1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin and 1 Wren.
 
 Sanderling

Tuesday, 17th July 2012

Offshore
9 Manx Shearwater west, 50 Gannet, 37 Common Scoter west, 4 Arctic Skua west, 29 Sandwich Tern east,  4 Common Tern east and 1 Guillemot west.
 
Others
12 Sanderling, 7 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 120 Redshank and 25 Turnstone.
 
Ringing
3 Ringed Plover pulli.
 
  Ringed Plovers 

Monday, 16th July 2012

Offshore
6 Gannet, 1 Common Scoter and 3 Sandwich Tern. Also 3 Harbour Porpoise.

Grounded Migrants
1 Wheatear and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Others
5 Pochard, 21 Tufted Duck, 26 Lapwing, 2 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin, 150 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 19 Turnstone and 1 Redpoll.
 
Ringing
1 Reed Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock and 1 Great Tit.  



 

Sunday, 15th July 2012

Offshore
36 Manx Shearwater west, 24 Gannet, 4 Shelduck east, 51 Common Scoter west, 3 Great Crested Grebe east, 6 Arctic Skua west, 25 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 1 Little Tern east and 1 Auk sp.
 
A further seawatch in the evening produced 62 Manx Shearwater west,75 Gannet west, 18 Common Scoter, 2 Arctic Skua east, 7 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Tern, 1 Kittiwake and 3 Auk sp.
 
Grounded Migrants
1 Wheatear and 1 Willow Warbler.
 
Others
4 Sanderling, 12 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 13 Turnstone, 9 Stock Dove and 1 juv. Stonechat.
 
Ringing
1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Great Tit and 1 Blue Tit.
 
 Chiffchaff

 
  

Saturday, 14th July 2012

Offshore
12 Manx Shearwater west, 1 Fulmar west, 60 Gannet, 8 Common Scoter, 2 Great Skua east, 1 Arctic Skua west, 18 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern and 5 Knot west.

Visible Migration
1 Siskin east.
 
Grounded Migrants
1 Wheatear and 1 Garden Warbler.
 
Others
7 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 225 Curlew, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 45 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 25 Turnstone and 1 adult Med. Gull.

Ringing
2 Goldfinch, 4 Reed Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, Chaffinch, 9 Reed Buntings, Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, Garden warbler, Dunnock, Greenfinch, 2 Willow Warblers, Wren, Blackbird and Great Tit.

Reed Bunting
 

Friday, 13th July 2012

Offshore
2 Manx Shearwater west, 15 Gannet, 17 Common Scoter west, 23 Sandwich Tern and 7 Common Terns.
 
Visible Migration
33 Swift east.
 
Others
7 Sanderling, 14 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 29 Turnstone and 1 Sand Martin.
 
Ringing
1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Greenfinch.
 
Blackcap
 

Thursday, 12th July 2012

Offshore
31 Gannet west, 87 Common Scoter west, 1 Auk sp and 6 Sandwich Terns.

Others
4 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 28 Turnstone and 1 Little Ringed Plover.

Ringing
6 Whitethroat.

                                        A few Painted Lady butterflies were around the obs this week
 

Wednesday, 11th July 2012

Offshore
103 Manx Shearwater west, 42 Gannet west, 63 Common Scoter west, 4 Sandwich Tern, 3 Curlew west and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit west.
 
A further sea watch in the evening produced 80 Gannet (single feeding flock), 4 Manx Shearwater west, 9 Common Scoter and 8 Sandwich Terns.
 
 Gannet
 
Others
32 Lapwing,170 Curlew, 2 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin,  45 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 27 Turnstones.
 
Ringing
1 Blackbird. 
 

Tuesday, 10th July 2012

Offshore
3 Manx Shearwater east, 15 Gannet, 6 Common Scoter, 1 Guillemot, 13 Sandwich Tern and 8 Common Tern east.
 
Others
7 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 130 Curlew, 33 Turnstone, 3 Pochard and 17 Tufted Ducks.
 
Ringing
1 Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler. 
 

Monday, 9th July 2012

Offshore
4 Manx Shearwater west,16 Gannet west, 56 Common Scoter west, 2 Great Crested Grebe west, 2 Arctic Skua east, 16 Sandwich Tern east, 1 Common Tern east , 3 Curlew west and 1 Whimbrel west.
 
Others
9 Ringed Plover, 16 Sanderling, 7 Dunlin, 19 Turnstone and 1 Sand Martin.
 
Ringing
3 Reed Warbler and 1 Greenfinch. 
 

Sunday 8th July 2012

A Spanish ringed Blackcap and 3 unseasonal Scaup were today`s highlight`s .

Offshore
2 Manx Shearwater west , 11 Gannet west , 1 Great Crested Grebe east , 
16 Common Scoter , 8 Sandwich Tern and 3 male Scaup east .  

Others
2 Pochard , 14 Tufted Duck , 33 Lapwing , 4 Sanderling , 200 Curlew , 
38 Redshank , 1 Common Sandpiper , 27 Turnstone and 1 Juv Stonechat .

Ringing
3 Whitethroat , 1 Lesser Whitethroat , 1 Sedge Warbler , 2 Reed Warbler , 
1 Willow Warbler , 2 Blackbird , 1 Great Tit , 1 Blue Tit and 1 Spanish 
ringed Blackcap . Ring no 3N07096 .    


                                                             Juv Stonechat


                                                The Spanish Ringed Blackcap           

Saturday 7th July 2012

Offshore
5 Gannet , 11 Common Scoter and 5 Sandwich Tern .

Others
16 Lapwing , 2 Sanderling , 1 Whimbrel , 2 Common Sandpiper , 25 Turnstone , 
2 Sand Martin and 1 Grey Wagtail .

Ringing
4 Reed Warbler , 1 Sedge Warbler , 1 Lesser Whitethroat , 2 Wren and 1 Greenfinch .


                                                        Lesser Whitethroat

Friday 6th July 2012

Offshore
7 Gannet , 32 Common Scoter west , 1 Great Crested Grebe west , 2 Sandwich Tern 
and 3 Black-tailed Godwit west .

Others
4 Common Sandpiper , 1 Sanderling , 130 Curlew , 7 Redshank , 1 Greenshank , 
30 Turnstone , 1 3rd summer Yellow-legged Gull and 1 Juv Peregrine .

Ringing
1 Reed Warbler , 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Blue Tit .

                                                  Redshank and Greenshank
  


 

Thursday 5th July 2012

Offshore
9 Gannet , 11 Common Scoter , 6 Sandwich Tern , 3 Common Tern ,
8 Curlew west and 1 Whimbrel west .

Others
7 Ringed Plover , 3 Sanderling , 17 Turnstone and 50 Swift .

Ringing
2 Reed Warbler .

                                                                   Swift

Wednesday, 4th July 2012

Offshore
5 Gannet, 37 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 7 Curlew west and 12 Bar-tailed Godwit west. Also 4 Atlantic Grey Seals.
 
Others
10 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, 165 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper and 33 Turnstone.
 
 Ringed Plover
 
Ringing
1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren and 2 Long-tailed Tits.
 
 Long-tailed Tit
 

Tuesday, 3rd July 2012

Offshore
2 Gannet, 9 Common Scoter, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 Curlew west and 2 Shelduck west.
 
Others
5 Sanderling, 55 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper and 28 Turnstones.
 
 Sanderling
 
Ringing
1 Robin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Warbler and 1 Great Tit. 

Monday, 2nd July 2012

Offshore
3 Manx Shearwater west, 3 Gannet, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 8 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich Tern and 1 Guillemot.
 
Others
2 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, 11 Ringed Plover, 6 Sanderling, 28 Turnstone and 4 Stock Doves.
 
Ringing
1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Wren and 4 Great Tits.


Great Tit
 

Sunday, 1st July 2012

Offshore
10 Gannet, 52 Manx Shearwater west, 17 Common Scoter west, 1 Auk sp., 3 Arctic Tern west, 4 Common Tern west and 5 Sandwich Tern. Also 3 Atlantic Grey Seals.
A further seawatch in the evening produced 6 Gannet west, 11 Manx Shearwater west, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Sandwich Tern and 6 Common Terns.
 
Others
2 Sanderling and 19 Turnstones.
 
Ringing
3 Willow Warbler and 1 Dunnock.

 Willow Warbler

Saturday, 30th June 2012

Offshore
1 Fulmar west, 9 Gannet west, 1 Manx Shearwater west, 174 Common Scoter west, 2 Shelduck west, 17 Sandwich Tern, 7 Common Tern west and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit west.

Others
3 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, 18 Turnstone and 1 3rd summer Yellow-legged Gull.
 
Ringing
1 Sparrowhawk pulli.
 
 Sparrowhawk pulli
 

Friday, 29th June 2012

Offshore
9 Gannet west, 5 Manx Shearwater west, 158 Common Scoter west, 3 Great Crested Grebe east, 1 Great Skua east, 5 Sandwich Tern, 1 Arctic Tern west, 3 Guillemot and 2 Curlews west.

A further seawatch in the evening produced 3 Manx Shearwater east, 11 Gannet west, 1 dark morph Arctic Skua east and 13 Sandwich Terns.

Others
10 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 24 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 3rd Summer Yellow-legged Gull.

Ringing
3 Blackbird pulli.

  Manx Shearwater