Tuesday, 29th May 2018

Offshore 

11 Common Scoters east, 8 Gannets east, 3 Guillemots east, 11 Sandwich Terns, 40 Arctic Terns east and 2 Kittiwakes east.

 

 Sandwich Terns

Arctic Terns

Visible Migration:

7 Swifts east, 24 Swallows east, 6 House Martins east and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Others 

19 Ringed Plovers, 100 Sanderlings and 30 Dunlins.

Monday, 28th May 2018

Offshore:

2 Common Scoters east, 2 Manx Shearwaters west, 7 Gannets east, 1 Guillemot east, 13 Sandwich Terns, 46 Arctic Terns east and 15 Kittiwakes east.

Visible Migration 

1 Hobby drifted east, 17 Swallows east and 2 Redpolls east.

 

 Hobby

Grounded Migrants 

1 Cuckoo, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 3 Whinchats.

 

 Whinchat

Others:

24 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstones, 90 Sanderlings, 35 Dunlins and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Sunday, 27th May 2018

Offshore:

3 Greylag Geese east, 21 Canada Geese east, 3 Common Scoters east, 4 Manx Shearwaters west, 18 Gannets east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Guillemots east, 3 Auk sp. east, 12 Sandwich Terns, 14 Arctic Terns east and 7 Kittiwakes east.

 

 Canada Geese

Visible Migration

6 Swifts east, 1 Sand Martin east, 119 Swallows east and 10 House Martins east.

Grounded Migrants

2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Whinchat and 1 Wheatear.

 

 Whinchat

Others

27 Ringed Plovers, 5 Turnstones, 100 Sanderlings and 32 Dunlins.

Saturday, 26th May 2018

An excellent migration day with a good sea passage and a large Swift/hirundine movement. The highlight was both Puffin and a spanking Black Guillemot off the Point.

Swift

Offshore

11 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Fulmar east, 9 Manx Shearwaters east, 104 Gannets east,  1 Shag east, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 1 Puffin east, 1 Black Guillemot west, 3 Razorbills east, 16 Guillemots east, 11 Auk sp. east, 23 Sandwich Terns,156 Arctic Terns east and 9 Kittiwakes east.

 

 Arctic Skuas

Gannets

Visible Migration

112 Swifts east, 3 Sand martins east, 276 Swallows east and 128 House Martins east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Goldcrest, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Others 

26 Ringed Plovers, 3 Whimbrels, 8 Turnstones, 125 Sanderlings, 35 Dunlins and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Friday, 25th May 2018

Offshore

5 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 8 Manx Shearwaters east, 23 Gannets east, 2 Guillemots east, 19 Sandwich Terns west, 1 Common Tern west, 35 Arctic Terns east and 2 Kittiwakes east.

Visible Migration

21 Swifts east, 57 Swallows east/north-east and 7 House Martins east/north-east.

Others

33 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstones, 130 Sanderlings and 45 Dunlins.

 

 Linnet

Thursday, 24th May 2018

Offshore

20 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 4 Manx Shearwaters west, 21 Gannets east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 6 Guillemots east, 11 Auk sp. east, 1 Black Tern east, 15 Sandwich Terns, 132 Arctic Terns east, 2 Kittiwakes east and 1 Little Gull east.

 

 Arctic Terns

Visible Migration

28 Swallows north.

Others 

37 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstones, 130 Sanderlings and 85 Dunlins.

Wednesday, 23rd May 2018

Offshore 

4 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 6 Manx Shearwaters east, 18 Gannets east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 5 Guillemots east, 9 Auk sp. east, 10 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern east, 31 Arctic Terns east and 8 Kittiwakes east.

Visible Migration

31 Swallows north.

Others 

40 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstones, 150 Sanderlings and 90 Dunlins.

 

 Dunlin

Tuesday, 22nd May 2018

Offshore

11 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Fulmar east, 10 Manx Shearwaters east, 34 Gannets east, 3 Arctic Skuas east, 13 Guillemots east, 2 Auk sp. east, 16 Sandwich Terns, 21 Arctic Terns east and 10 Kittiwakes east.

 

 Arctic Skuas

Visible Migration 

14 Swifts east, 2 Sand Martins east/north-east, 286 Swallows east/north-east and 47 House Martins east/north-east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Wheatear.

Others:

45 Ringed Plovers, 4 Turnstones, 300 Sanderlings and 180 Dunlins.

 

 Little Ringed Plover

Monday, 21st May 2018

Offshore 

27 Common Scoters east, 1 Manx Shearwater east, 8 Gannets east, 2 Guillemots east, 3 Auk sp. east and 15 Sandwich Terns west.

Visible Migration

21 Swallows north and 2 House Martins north.

Others 

1 Little Egret, 52 Ringed Plovers, 250 Sanderlings and 200 Dunlins.

 

 Little Grebes

Sunday, 20th May 2018

Offshore

21 Common Scoters east, 4 Manx Shearwaters west, 10 Gannets west, 1 Razorbill east, 7 Guillemots east, 2 Auk sp. east, 48 Sandwich Terns west, 1 Common Tern west and 3 Kittiwakes west.

Visible Migration:

2 Sand Martins north, 103 Swallows north, 23 House Martins north, 1 Tree Pipit north and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Others 

88 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Turnstones, 250 Sanderlings, 450 Dunlins and 1 Grey Wagtail.

 

 Grasshopper Warbler

Saturday, 19th May 2018

Offshore:

15 Common Scoters east, 3 Manx Shearwaters west, 8 Gannets east, 1 Guillemot east, 7 Auk sp. east, 30 Sandwich Terns and 1 Common Tern.

Visible Migration

4 Whimbrels east and 24 Swallows north.

Grounded Migrants

1 Wheatear.

Others

90 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, 12 Turnstones, 275 Sanderlings and 450 Dunlins.

 

 Barn Owl

Friday, 18th May 2018

Offshore:

19 Common Scoters east, 13 Manx Shearwaters west, 18 Gannets east, 5 Guillemots east & 1 on the sea, 8 Auk sp. east, 13 Sandwich Terns, 14 Arctic Terns east and 7 Kittiwakes east.

Visible Migration:

21 Swallows north, 2 House Martins north, 1 Tree Pipit east and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Wheatear.

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Others

120 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 9 Turnstones, 280 Sanderlings and 500 Dunlins.

Thursday, 17th May 2018

A pair of Garganey flew east past the point this morning, the first record of the year.

Offshore

2 Garganey east, 15 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 12 Manx Shearwaters west, 4 Gannets west, 1 Arctic skua east, 1 Great Skua west, 3 Guillemots east, 10 Auk sp. west, 22 Sandwich Terns, 53 Arctic Terns east, 30 Kittiwakes east and 1 Little Gull east.

 

 Arctic Terns

Kittiwakes

Visible Migration:

81 Swallows north, 4 House Martins north, 1 Tree Sparrow east and 1 Tree Pipit north.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Willow Warbler and 2 Spotted Flycatchers.

Others

108 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Turnstones, 280 Sanderlings and 500 Dunlins.

Wednesday, 16th May 2018

Offshore 

2 Teal east, 19 Common Scoters east, 1 Velvet Scoter west, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 37 Manx Shearwaters west, 24 Gannets east, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 13 Guillemots east, 27 Auk sp. east and 17 Sandwich Terns west.

Visible Migration:

22 Swallows north.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Wheatear.

Others 

1 Little Egret, 105 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, 11 Turnstones, 350 Sanderlings and 700 Dunlins.

 

 Turnstone

Tuesday, 15th May 2018

Offshore 
250 Common Scoters, 1 2CY male Goosander on the sea, 6 Red-throated Diver east, 180 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Gannets east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 1 Guillemot east & 2 on the sea, 3 Auk sp. east, 25 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns and 16 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration 

19 Swallows north.

Others 

130 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 7 Turnstones, 300 Sanderlings and 500 Dunlins.

 

 Holly Blue

 

 Whitethroat

Monday, 14th May 2018

Offshore 
27 Common Scoters east, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 5 Red-throated Divers east, 200 Manx Shearwaters, 11 Gannets west, 1 Guillemot west, 4 Auk sp. west, 28 Sandwich Terns west and 27 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration

23 Pink-footed Geese north, 37 Swallows north, 1 Tree Pipit north and 3 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Wheatear.

Others

2 Little Egrets, 125 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 8 Turnstones, 320 Sanderlings and 500 Dunlins.

 

 Dunlin

Sunday, 13th May 2018

The sea was the main attraction again today with another good Manxie count, two Pomarine Skuas flew high into the bay and a 2CY Great Northern Diver flew west.

Manx Shearwaters

Offshore 

21 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-throated Divers east & 1 on the sea, 1 2CY Great Northern Diver west, 543 Manx Shearwaters west, 66 Gannets east, 2 Pomarine Skuas east, 5 Arctic Skuas east, 11 Guillemots east, 34 Auk sp. east, 103 Sandwich Terns west, 5 Common Terns east, 132 Arctic Terns east & 85 feeding flock and 3 Kittiwakes east.

 

 Sandwich Terns

Visible Migration

6 Whimbrels east, 1 Sand Martin north, 142 Swallows north, 1 Yellow Wagtail east and 1 Tree Pipit north.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Wheatear and 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Spotted Flycatcher

 

Others 

118 Ringed Plovers, 12 Whimbrels, 11 Turnstones, 325 Sanderlings and 550 Dunlins.

Saturday, 12th May 2018

More 'Manxie Madness' this morning, with the Obs record count broken. A total of 1,303 flew west first thing and there was a raft of 300 on the sea throughout the morning. The raft occassionally came up off the sea when the marauding Great Skua was around.

Manx Shearwaters

Offshore

87 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted merganser, 7 Red-throated Divers east & 1 west, 1303 Manx Shearwaters west & a raft of 300 on the sea, 62 Gannets west, 2 Great Crested Grebes west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 1 Great Skua lingering offshore, 2 Razorbills west, 19 Guillemots west, 39 Auk sp. west, 511

Sandwich Terns west, 8 Common Terns west, 69 Arctic Terns east & 38 west, 8 Kittiwakes east and 1 Little Gull east.

 

 Arctic Skua

Visible Migration 

1 `cream crown` Marsh Harrier picked up coming in off the sea out over the mouth of the bay & continued south, 6 Whimbrels east, 3 Swifts east, 1 Sand Martin north, 174 Swallows north, 13 House Martins north and 5 Tree Pipits north.

Grounded Migrants

2 Willow Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Wheatears and 1 Whinchat.

Others 

115 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, 11 Turnstones, 230 Sanderlings, 600 Dunlins, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Sand Martins and 14 House Martins.

Friday, 11th May 2018

There was a large Manx Shearwater movement this morning with 717 counted moving west in just 50 minutes from first light.

Manx Shearwaters

Offshore:

32 Common Scoters east, 5 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Fulmar west, 717 Manx Shearwaters west, 17 Gannets west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Razorbills west, 19 Guillemots west, 11 Auk sp. west, 159 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Common Tern west. Also 3 Harbour Porpoises & 2 Atlantic Grey Seals.

Visible Migration 

2 Swifts east, 20 Swallows north, 1 House Martin north, 1 Tree Pipit north, 1 Redpoll east and 9 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Whinchat and 7 Wheatears.

 

Wheatear

Others

105 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 19 Turnstones, 140 Sanderlings, 700 Dunlins and 4 Swifts.

Thursday, 10th May 2018

Decent seawatching this morning on the incoming tide, and the singing male Firecrest was still present in the Mount.

Offshore 

29 Common Scoters west, 1 male Goosander east, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Fulmars west, 273 Manx Shearwaters west, 171 Gannets west, 5 Arctic Skuas east, 2 Razorbills west, 3 Guillemots west, 28 Auk sp. west, 113 Sandwich Terns west, 3 Common Terns west and 2 Kittiwakes west.

 

 Arctic Skua

 

 Gannets

Visible Migration 

3 Whimbrels east, 2 Sand martins north, 49 Swallows north and 8 House Martins north.

Grounded Migrants

2 Wheatears.

Others

108 Ringed Plovers, 4 Whimbrels, 19 Turnstones, 120 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 2 Swifts, 7 House Martins and the singing male Firecrest still present.

 

 Firecrest

Wednesday, 9th May 2018

A good day for local scarcities! After a morning seawatching IG nipped home for a 'refuelling' stop, on leaving the house an alarm calling Swallow made IG look up and a Hobby flew over heading east. 

 

A dash in the car to the Mount to hopefully intercept the Hobby produced a cracking singing male Firecrest! The bird was favouring the pines and showed well throughout the day and it was frequently giving bursts of song. This is only the Obs second record of a singing individual, the first was found in Robins Wood by a youthful IG on the 7th May 1986.

 

 Firecrest

 

A band of rain arrived in the late afternoon and a check of the pools produced a Wood Sandpiper.

Offshore

75 Common Scoters east, 4 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Fulmar west, 47 Manx Shearwaters east, 38 Gannets east, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Guillemot west, 14 Auk sp. east, 1 Little Tern east, 116 Sandwich Terns west, 9 Arctic Terns east and 1 Kittiwake east.

Visible Migration 

3 Whimbrels east, 1 Hobby east, 1 Sand Martin north, 37 Swallows north, 3 House Martins north and 15 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Singing male Firecrest, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Wheatears.

 

 Firecrest

Others

90 Ringed Plovers, 7 Whimbrels, 22 Turnstones, 105 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 4 Swifts, 1 Sand Martin and 12 House Martins.

Tuesday, 8th May 2018

Offshore
76 Common Scoters east, 5 Red-breasted mergansers east, 9 Red-throated Divers east, 35 Manx Shearwaters west, 10 Gannets west, 3 Arctic Skuas east, 16 Razorbills east, 10 Guillemots east, 38 Auk sp. east, 61 Sandwich Terns west, 2 Common Terns east and 1 Kittiwake east.

 Sandwich Terns

Visible Migration 

2 Sand Martins north, 22 Swallows north and 3 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Wheatear.

Others

75 Ringed Plovers, 4 Whimbrels, 36 Turnstones, 85 Sanderlings, 400 Dunlins, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Swifts and 18 House Martins.

 

 Fox

Monday, 7th May 2018

Offshore
131 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver, 250 Manx Shearwaters - several large rafts on the sea, 2 Gannets west, 5 Razorbills, 1 Guillemot, 15 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns and 21 Arctic Terns east. Also 7 Harbour Porpoises.

Visible Migration

1 Little Ringed Plover west, 1 Whimbrel east, 2 Wood Pigeons east, 4 Collared Doves east, 2 Sand Martins north, 21 Swallows north, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 3 Tree Pipits north, 9 Redpolls east and 6 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants

2 Whinchats and 5 Wheatears. 

 

 Whinchat and Wheatear

 

Others

72 Ringed Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, 37 Turnstones, 50 Sanderlings, 300 Dunlins and 1 Common Sandpiper.

 

 Common Sandpiper

Sunday, 6th May 2018

Offshore 
19 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Gannets east, 1 Pomarine Skua east, 2 Arctic Skuas - 1 DM east & 1 LM over the beach chasing Terns, 2 Razorbills east, 2 Guillemots, 63 Sandwich Terns and 56 Arctic Terns east.

 Sandwich Terns

Visible Migration 

62 Pink-footed Geese north, 2 Whimbrels east, 5 Wood Pigeons east, 6 Collared Doves east, 42 Sand Martins north, 107 Swallows north, 7 House Martins north, 2 Tree Sparrows east, 1 Grey Wagtail east, 2 Tree Pipits north, 9 Linnets east, 16 Redpolls east and 19 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap and 2 Wheatears.

 

 Willow Warbler

Wheatear

 

Others

50 Ringed Plovers, 19 Whimbrels, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 56 Turnstones, 60 Sanderlings, 400 Dunlins and 1 Common Sandpiper.