Thursday 1 September 2011

1st September 2011

A beautiful warm sunny day with a light south easterly was a fine way to begin September and although there were no great numbers of migrants, some quality was the order of the day. First thing a male Blackcap (left) and 2 Goldcrests (right) were present together with a Chiffchaff which was the first of 3 ringed during the day, one Willow Warbler was seen but did not stay, neither did the only Wheatear of the morning. Swallow numbers were modest but in addition were 3 House Martins and 4 Sand Martins to add variety. Five Teal flying north east after dawn were the only ducks of the day. Leading up to high tide the small waders were examined around the north end and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (right, with Ringed Plover) was found with the Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Knot on the rocks. Oystercatchers were very agitated and noisy at the high tide roost on the north end of Middle as a visitor managed to get himself stranded on that island for the duration of the tide. Knot gathered in a flock of about 2,000 flying about which is more than usual so close to the islands. A single Whimbrel was all that could be found, although there were several Bar-tailed Godwits. Shortly after noon a Spotted Flycatcher (left) landed at the bottom of the garden briefly and then gave the members the run-around visiting just about every part of the island, but favouring the area of the top paddock fences and the west side, it was still present at 17.00hrs but remained unringed. Sea birds today were mostly distant as expected with a southerly element in the wind, the best being a dark phase Arctic Skua, 12 Guillemots, a Razorbill and 3 Great Crested Grebes. Ringed:- 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Linnet.
(DB,CJ,KMc,DCT,PT,NDW,et al), LOC members RK +2,VMcF, MNA member DB. [748-42] photos CJ et al

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