Sea watching was productive this week with sightings of a Leach’s Storm Petrel off from the Castle on the 14th, 2 dark morph Arctic Skua seen from the Ugly on the 9th and 2 Common Tern spotted from North Light on the 11th. An interesting selection of shorebirds were also observed this week with 34 Dunlin seen passing the Battery in two groups on the 14th, a Ruff on Pondsbury on the 13th and 14th, and a single Common Sandpiper sighting. The Grey Heron was present for most of the week and the first Teal of autumn was seen in Quarry Pond on the 14th.
The Millcombe Western Bonelli’s Warbler is still foraging around Millcombe, although proving quite elusive with sightings on the 12th and 14th. Other Warblers on the island currently include a Reed Warbler spotted on the 10th and Whitethroat on the 14th. Both Spotted and Pied Flycatchers can still be seen with up to 4 and 9 respectively seen on the island each day. A Great-spotted Woodpecker was observed on the 14th sitting on a fence post in Brick field before flying down the sidelands to Quarter Wall Copse. Other notable species included a Whinchat on the 14th, as well as passage of a Swift on the 9th, 2 Yellow Wagtail on the 14th and a White Wagtail on the 8th, 11th and 13th.