Sunday, 31st May 2015

Torrential rain and appalling visibility halted any meaningful observation early this morning and a decision was made to return at high tide to at least count the roosting waders.

Others
223 Sanderlings, 7 Dunlins, 36 Ringed Plovers and 7 Turnstones.

Friday, 29th May 2015

A sea watch was attempted this morning in atrocious conditions but had to be aborted after just an hour because of the weather.

Offshore
58 Common Scoters east and nine Gannets east.

Others
4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 10 Sanderlings and 1 Dunlin.  

Thursday, 28th May 2015

Offshore
1 Auk sp. west, 5 Gannets west, 2 Fulmars east and 1 Sandwich Tern east.

Visible Migration
2 Swallows west. 

Others
146 Sanderlings, 27 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone and 6 Dunlins.

 Sanderlings

Ringing
1 Ringed Plover.

      Ringed Plover

Wednesday, 27th May 2015

There will be fewer posts on the blog for a while as the main observer IG is out of the country and SE is busy with breeding bird surveys.

Offshore 

1 Shelduck east, 93 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-throated Divers east, 9 Manx Shearwaters west, 27 Gannets east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 3 Kittiwakes east, 7 Sandwich Terns east, 3 Arctic Terns east, 6 Guillemots east and 8 Auk sp. east.

 

 Gannets

Visible Migration

76 Swallows north-east and 5 House Martins north-east.

Others

18 Ringed Plovers, 120 Sanderlings, 35 Dunlins and 6 Turnstones.

Tuesday, 26th May 2015

Offshore 

37 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 9 Manx Shearwaters west, 34 Gannets east, 28 Kittiwakes east, 11 Sandwich Terns east, 2 Common Terns east, 9 Guillemots east and 18 Auk sp. east.

 

 Gannets

 

 Kittiwakes

Visible Migration

1 Whimbrel east, 30 Swallows north-east and 3 House Martins north-east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Wheatear.

Others 

65 Ringed Plovers, 120 Sanderlings, 85 Dunlins and 7 Turnstones.

 

 Willow Warbler

Ringed Plovers

Monday, 25th May 2015

Offshore

66 Common Scoters east, 1 2CY Great Northern Diver west, 1 Fulmar east, 42 Manx Shearwaters west, 16 Gannets east, 5 Kittiwakes east, 5 Sandwich Terns east, 33 Guillemots east, 1 Razorbill east and 67 Auk sp. east.

Further observation in the evening produced 8 Common Scoters east, 120+ Manx Shearwaters - feeding flock, 30+ Gannets - feeding flock, 1 Arctic Skua east, 3 Kittiwakes east, 6 Sandwich Terns east, 1 Guillemot west and 4 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

42 Swallows north-east and 1 House Martin north-east.

Others 

1 Shoveler, 115 Ringed Plovers, 180 Sanderlings, 250 Dunlins, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Turnstones and 30 Swifts.

 

 Little Grebe

Shoveler

Sunday, 24th May 2015

Offshore 

39 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 21 Manx Shearwaters west, 15 Gannets west, 1 Great Skua east, 5 Kittiwakes east, 2 Little Terns east, 3 Sandwich Terns east, 7 Guillemots west and 32 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

2 Whimbrels east and 5 Swallows north-east.

 

 Swallow

Grounded Migrants 

1 Spotted Flycatcher and 7 Wheatears.

Others:

73 Ringed Plovers, 200 Sanderlings, 180 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel, 17 Turnstones, 25 Swifts and 40 House Martins.

 

 Painted Lady

Swifts

Saturday, 23rd May 2015

The main feature today was a decent movement of Manx Shearwaters first thing this morning. The birds were coming into the bay quite far offshore, then doing a loop in the bay and coming back out off the point giving some great views.

Manx Shearwaters

Offshore 

21 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 207 Manx Shearwaters east then came back out west, 8 Gannets east, 1 Great Skua east, 8 Kittiwakes east, 2 Sandwich Terns east, 13 Arctic Terns east, 7 Guillemots east and 13 Auk sp. east.

 

 Manx Shearwaters

Visible Migration 

2 Swifts east, 133 Swallows north-east and 18 House Martins north-east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Wheatears.

Others 

130 Ringed Plovers, 24 Knot, 250 Sanderlings, 375 Dunlins, 3 Whimbrels, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Turnstones and 2 Sand Martins.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Common Blue

Friday, 22nd May 2015

The highlight today was the first ever multiple sighting of Hobby. In the late afternoon watching Swifts and Hirundines feeding over the pools in overcast conditions the House Martins shot up into the air alarm calling, and high above were two Hobbies drifting north-east.

Hobby

Offshore

16 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Manx Shearwaters east, 9 Gannets east, 1 Pomarine Skua east, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 1 Kittiwake, 5 Sandwich Terns east, 6 Guillemots east and 5 Auk sp. east.

 

 Kittiwake

Visible Migration

1 Whimbrel east, 27 Swallows north-east, 3 House Martins north-east and 1 Grey Wagtail east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Wheatear.

Others:

2 Hobbies drifted north-east over the pools late afternoon, 120 Ringed Plovers, 3 Grey Plovers, 50 Knot, 300 Sanderlings, 350 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Turnstones, 50 Swifts and 35 House Martins.

 

 Swift

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Thursday, 21st May 2015

Offshore 

8 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 7 Gannets west, 4 Sandwich Terns west, 1 Common Tern west, 1 Guillemot and 3 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

23 Swallows north-east and 2 House Martins north-east.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Wheatears.

Others

155 Ringed Plovers, 400 Sanderlings, 350 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels and 34 Turnstones.

 

 Turnstone

 

 Ringed Plovers

Wednesday, 20th May 2015

Offshore

12 Common Scoters west, 2 Manx Shearwaters west, 6 Gannets west, 5 Sandwich Terns west, 1 Guillemot and 3 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration:

5 Swallows east.

Grounded Migrants

5 Wheatears.

Others 

190 Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Plovers, 24 Knot, 450 Sanderlings, 400 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel and 31 Turnstones.

 

 Dunlin and Sanderling

Tuesday, 19th May 2015

Offshore

9 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 8 Manx Shearwaters west, 11 Gannets west, 3 Sandwich Terns east, 1 Common Tern west, 1 Guillemot and 6 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

2 Swallows east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Whinchat and 2 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Whinchat

Others 

160 Ringed Plovers, 300 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 3 Whimbrels and 33 Turnstones.

 

 Sanderlings

 

 Ringed Plover

Monday, 18th May 2015

Offshore

14 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 6 Manx Shearwaters west, 10 Gannets west, 3 Sandwich Terns west, 1 Guillemot west and 7 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

3 Swallows east.

Grounded Migrants 

15 Swifts, 1 Sand Martin, 100 Swallows, 50 House Martins, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Wheatear.

 

 Swallow

Others

180 Ringed Plovers, 300 Sanderlings, 600 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels and 62 Turnstones.

Sunday, 17th May 2015

Offshore

28 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Fulmar west, 13 Manx Shearwaters west, 130 Gannets west, 3 Arctic Skuas east, 18 Kittiwakes west, 1 Little Tern west, 8 Sandwich Terns west, 2 Common Terns west, 8 Guillemots west, 2 Razorbills west and 25 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

1 Marsh Harrier east offshore and 11 Swallows west.

Grounded Migrants

2 Wheatears.

Others 

248 Ringed Plovers, 1000 Knots, 475 Sanderlings, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 900 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels, 47 Turnstones and 40 Swifts.

 

 Ringed Plovers

Turnstone

Sanderling

Saturday, 16th May 2015

Offshore

2 Gadwalls east, 33 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser west, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 7 Manx Shearwaters west, 25 Gannets west, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 1 Great Skua east, 7 Kittiwakes west, 13 Sandwich Terns east, 9 Arctic Terns east, 15 Guillemots west, 4 Razorbills west and 30 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

26 Swallows north-east and 1 House Martin north-east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Wheatear.

Others

2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 225 Ringed Plovers, 325 Knots, 400 Sanderlings, 1,000 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels and 36 Turnstones.

 

 Sanderling

 

 Dunlin

 

 Ringed Plover

Knot

Friday, 15th May 2015

Offshore

18 Common Scoters east, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 8 Manx Shearwaters east, 18 Gannets east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 1 Great Skua east, 11 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Terns east, 28 Arctic Terns east and 4 Auk sp. east. Also 2 Atlantic Grey Seals and 2 Harbour Porpoise.

Visible Migration

28 Swallows north-east, 3 House Martins north-east and 1 Tree Pipit east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Willow Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Wheatears.

Others 

67 Ringed Plovers, 140 Sanderlings, 325 Dunlins, 4 Whimbrels, 1 Common Sandpiper and 38 Turnstones.

 

 Small White

Thursday, 14th May 2015

A cracking summer plumaged Black Guillemot flew west offshore this morning, the first to be seen this year.

Offshore 

4 Shelducks east, 7 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 6 Gannets east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 8 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern west, 40 Arctic Terns east, 1 Black Guillemot west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

1 Whimbrel east, 125 Swallows north/north-east, 7 House Martins north/north-east, 1 Tree Pipit north-east, 5 Goldfinch east and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Willow Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 4 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Others

175 Ringed Plovers, 230 Sanderlings, 450 Dunlins, 33 Whimbrels, 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 42 Turnstones.

 

Turnstone

 

 Whimbrel

Wednesday, 13th May 2015

The biggest ever single flock of Whimbrel was recorded at the Obs today - 63 on a sand bar with 71 Black-tailed Godwits. There was also a big push of Swallows north with 1,079 counted and a single Hobby flew east.

 

 Whimbrel

Offshore

26 Common Scoters east, 7 Red-throated Divers east, 13 Gannets west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 5 Kittiwakes west, 7 Sandwich Terns, 6 Arctic Terns east and 3 Auk sp. west.

Further observation in the evening produced 6 Common Scoters east, 6 Gannets west, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 23 Sandwich Terns east and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

1 Hobby east, 1 kestrel north-east out over the bay, 2 Whimbrels east, 27 Sand Martins north/north-east, 1,079 Swallows north/north-east, 95 House Martins north/north-east and 1 Yellow Wagtail east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Chiffchaff, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Whinchats, 22 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

Others

175 Ringed Plovers, 220 Sanderlings, 750 Dunlins, 63 Whimbrels, 71 Black-tailed Godwits and 53 Turnstones.

 

 Male Orange Tip

Whimbrel

Tuesday, 12th May 2015

Offshore

46 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 7 Fulmars west, 15 Manx Shearwaters west, 165 Gannets west, 3 Pomarine Skuas east, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 9 Kittiwakes east, 10 Sandwich Terns, 9 Arctic Terns east, 11 Guillemots west, 2 Razorbills west and 16 Auk sp. west.

Further observation in the evening produced 36 Manx Shearwaters west, 28 Gannets west, 10 Kittiwakes west, 13 Sandwich Terns east, 2 Common Terns east and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

6 Swifts west and 98 Swallows west.

Grounded Migrants

1 Whinchat, 26 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

 

 Wheatear

Others

1 Little Egret, 78 Ringed Plovers, 4 Grey Plovers, 180 Sanderlings, 550 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels and 37 Black-tailed Godwits.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Monday, 11th May 2015

Offshore

10 Common Scoters west, 3 Manx Shearwaters west, 5 Gannets west,1 Little Gull west, 1 Little Tern west, 8 Sandwich Terns, 2 Arctic Terns east and 2 Guillemots west.

Visible Migration 

1 Whimbrel east, 148 Swallows north-east, 7 House Martins north-east and 2 Goldfinch east.

 

 Swallow

Grounded Migrants

1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Whinchat and 25 Wheatears.

Others

1 Little Ringed Plover, 155 Ringed Plovers, 200 Sanderlings, 750 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels, 6 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Common Sandpiper.

 

 Knot

Sunday, 10th May 2015

Seawatching this morning produced a single Great Northern Diver and a party of three Pomarine Skuas heading into the bay.

Offshore 

19 Common Scoters east, 4 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Great Northern Diver east, 8 Gannets east, 3 Pomarine Skuas - single group came in high & east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Kittiwakes east, 17 Sandwich Terns and 5 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration 

3 Sand Martins north-east, 186 Swallows north/north-east, 3 House Martins north-east, 2 Yellow Wagtails east, 2 Alba Wagtails north-east, 4 Tree Pipits north-east, 1 Meadow Pipit north-east and 3 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants

35 Sand Martins, 100 Swallows, 60 House Martins, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Wheatears, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Tree Pipit.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Sand Martins

Others 

1 Little Egret, 215 Ringed Plovers, 17 Grey Plovers, 125 Knots, 200 Sanderlings, 800 Dunlins, 4 Whimbrels, 58 Black-tailed Godwits and 62 Turnstones.

 

 Grasshopper Warbler

Skylark