Friday, 16th May 2014

There was an arrival of migrants around the Obs today with a scattering of Garden Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and Whinchats. The two best birds were seen on vis; the second Hobby of the spring flew through and a single Corn Bunting went east. Corn Buntings are just about annual here. In addition to the Hobby and Corn Bunting some other unusual species for the time of year were seen on vis including Wood Pigeons, Jackdaws and a Tree Sparrow; where are these species going in mid May?

Offshore

2 Tufted Ducks east, 39 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 1 Gannet west, 1 Kittiwake west, 11 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Terns east and 13 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration 

1 Pink-footed Goose north, 1 Hobby east, 1 Whimbrel east, 23 Wood Pigeons east, 7 Collared Doves east, 8 Jackdaws east, 3 Sand Martins north, 154 Swallows north, 3 House Martins north, 4 Yellow Wagtails east, 1 Alba Wagtail north, 3 Tree Pipits north, 1 Tree Sparrow east, 5 Goldfinch east, 3 Redpolls east and 1 Corn Bunting east.

 

 Swallow

 

 Jackdaws

 

 Woodpigeons

Grounded Migrants 

2 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, 5 Whinchats and 4 Wheatears.

 

 Whitethroat

 

 Whinchat

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Others 

65 Ringed Plovers, 250 Sanderlings, 200 Dunlins and 12 Turnstones.

Ringing 

1 Lesser Whitethroat.

 

 Lesser Whitethroat