Wader sightings started early in the week with 2 Sanderling and 3 Dunlin spotted passing the Battery on the 15th. Wader passage continued with up to 6 Snipe recorded on the 16th, 18th 20th and 21st, a Whimbrel on the 17th-19th, up to 5 Golden Plover flyovers a day between 18th and 21st,as many as 5 Ringed Plover on each of the 18th, 20th and 21st and a Common Sandpiper on the 20th. The highlight of the week however, came on the 18th when a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found at the North End on the 18th. This bird quickly moved down the island where it provided nice views in Brick Field during the afternoon. It was subsequently seen on multiple occasions on the 19th and 21st around the Southern end of the island, although it seemed to favour the Stoneycroft Paddock field.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper A. Croudace
Seabird sightings continued this week with a single Sandwich Tern and 3 “comic” Terns spotted out beyond South Light on the 18th. Single sightings of Great Skua were also recorded on the 15th at North Light and the 18th off the South Light. A single Balearic Shearwater was observed from the Oldenburg near the Terrace on the 16th. High passage of Auk was also noted between the 15th and 20th with a high count of 631 Auk sp. Passing on the 19th.
A Swan sp. was first observed flying south along the west coast before briefly dropping into the Landing Bay. Unfortunately it flew off before a species-level identification could be reached. Other waterfowl observed included a single Teal on the 16th, 18th and 19th.
Strong passerine sightings continued throughout this week with the Western Bonelli’s Warbler recorded in Millcombe every day between the 16th and 20th. Blackcap numbers were on the rise this week with numbers peaking at 52 on the 21st. A single Garden Warbler was observed on the 20th, followed by 2 on the 21st. Up to 3 Whitethroat were seen this week. Firecrest were sighted every day with the maximum count of 3 on the Island. A weekly high count of 5 Whinchat was recorded on the 21st.
Daytime bird passage was good this week with 3 Grey Wagtail on the 16th and 21st, 1 White Wagtail on the 16th and 20th, and 5 on the 21st, a Tree Pipit on the 20th and 21st and moving numbers of Swallow rising to 1160 on the 21st. 3 Cormorant were also observed passing on the 16th and 21st.
Other notable species this week included a Wryneck in Millcombe from the 19th-20th, and at Tibbets on the 21st, presumed to be the same bird, up to 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker between Millcombe and the Terrace from 16th-29th, 1 Turtle Dove at North End on the 18th, a Chough at North End on the 19th and a Merlin at Old Light at the 18th. An Ortolan Bunting calling on the terrace briefly before migrating south on morning of 19th was confidently ID'd from sound recordings after a very unsatisfactory encounter!