Thursday 3 September 2009

Cross over

Thursday 3rd September comments:
Driving rain with a hint of easterly wind was an ideal way to start the day – honest! As a birder, it’s the ideal conditions at this time of year as migrant birds will descend onto the islands, blown off course or seeking shelter whilst migrating to southern climes. The birds will use the islands as a ‘service station’ and the warden team will be happy as they discover and identify the brief avian visitors to the islands.

Sadly the weather resulted in no visitor boats sailing (no surprise!) but it’s been a great summer for visitors, so one day of closure won’t go a miss! The day brought good passage of Teal with a light scattering of migrants, which is little we could say about the weather, as the wind increased to gale force by mid-day with plenty of rain galore!

Highlights: Sooty Shearwater 3N, Manx Shearwater 40N, Teal 894N, Wigeon 17N, Common Scoter 26N, Tufted Duck 1N, Goosander male, Snipe 28 west, Greenshank, Golden Plover 5, Ruff 5, Dunlin 8, Whimbrel 1, Arctic Skua 4N 3S, Great Skua 3, Arctic Tern 17N, Sandwich Tern – steady passage south, Swallow 248N, Sand Martin 2N, Redstart male, Wheatear 7, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler 2, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat 4, Willow Warbler 9, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher.


Wednesday 2nd September comments:

Highlights: Peregrine, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel 2, Sandwich Tern 43S, Wheatear 34, Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat 5, Blackcap male, Willow Warbler 14, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Crossbill 5 flew west at 18:00 – only our second sighting of the year.

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