Thursday, 28th August 2014

Light south-easterly winds and a bit of overnight rain dropped a nice selection of migrants around the Obs today. It seemed quiet at first with just a few Wheatears and Whitethroats first thing, but a search of a patch of coastal Sycamores mid morning produced Spotted & Pied Flycatchers, and several feeding Warblers. Another brief rain band came in around midday and after this cleared more Wheatears & 2 Whinchats appeared.Other sightings included a south bound Marsh Harrier mid morning and a Little Stint amongst the Wader roost.

 Wheatear

Offshore 

26 Shelducks east, 18 Common Scoters west, 1 Gannet west, 175 Sandwich Terns and 7 Common Terns.

Visible Migration 

1 Marsh Harrier south mid morning, 34 Swallows south, 1 Grey Wagtail south, 1 Alba Wagtail south, 2 Tree Pipits south and 4 Meadow Pipits south.

 Marsh Harrier

Grounded Migrants

1 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 8 Robins, 2 Whinchats, 21 Wheatears and 1 Pied Flycatcher.

 Whinchat

 Willow Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher

Others

4 Wigeons, 1 Gadwall, 2 Little Egrets, 152 Ringed Plovers, 122 Sanderlings, 1 Little Stint, 175 Dunlins, 1 Ruff, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 800 Redshanks, 1 Med. Gull and 1 Kingfisher.

 Ringed Plovers

Ringing 

3 Blue Tits, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Robin.

 Whitethroat

 Lesser Whitethroat