By Thomas Weston
Post Birders Week led to my natural body clock waking up at 5am again! Doh. However, I was not complaining too much as it led me to Millcombe where I was joined by Greg. A two-hour session resulted in 25 new Willow Warblers, though there could have been double if we had stayed for longer. There was a few nice species seen, all new, including Chaffinch, Wren, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, and a juvenile Blackbird. There was no sign today of the Melodious Warbler, though with the wind changing direction again – in fact no wind at all this morning – it was likely it had fattened up and headed off back south.
House Martin at Old light by ThomasWeston
Eleanor and I undertook census and it was really productive. The lack of wind led to some nice migrants heading on by. There were an additional 59 Willow Warblers, 20 Wrens, 30 Swallows, 28 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 14 Herring Gulls, 2 Robins, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Blackbirds, single Whitethroat, 2 Great Black-Backed Gulls, 9 Goldfinches, 4 Dunnocks, single Woodpigeon, 14 Shags, 226 Linnets, single Chiffchaff, 3 Stonechats, 2 Gannets, 13 Carrion Crows, 3 Ravens, single Spotted Flycatcher, 23 Sand Martins, 24 Meadow Pipits, 31 Wheatears including a colour ringed bird and two metal only ringed birds, 4 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Skylarks, 33 Starlings, single juvenile Kestrel, 76 House Martins all whirling around Old Light, 2 Cormorants – island scarcities and definite migrants, 16 Swifts, 2 Rock Pipits, single Pied Wagtail, 9 House Sparrows, and a Peregrine too.
Hot and sticky indeed and showers definitely needed before the Tavern shift. A post-work garden party this evening celebrating a staff member's birthday resulted in listening to Manx Shearwaters coming back to the island in the night. Other reports from today included yet another Grey Heron on the island.