Friday 7 July 2017

An overdue addition to the island yearlist was the highlight of today, with a Great Spotted Woodpecker found in Cristin Withy. Otherwise it was interesting to see a bit of finch movement, with three Siskins and two Lesser Redpolls on the island. Starlings were up to 20, with two Collared Doves, while overhead all that was moving through were two Sand Martins

80 Common Scoters in a single flock was our highest count of the year, passing south off the West Coast in the morning. Also out to sea we were surprised to log a bit of Great Black-backed Gull movement in the late afternoon, with 13 passing south at least a mile out to sea, in a slow but steady stream over a short seawatch. Two Sandwich Terns off the South End in the morning were the only other sighting of note from the sea, but the regulars were seen in decent numbers, including 52 Puffins mostly heading north. 

Black-headed Gulls increased slightly to five in Solfach, but it was a disappointing day for waders; all that could be found was 32 Curlews, three Whimbrels and three Common Sandpipers

In the first few hours of the morning, Storm Petrel ringing was very successful, with 19 caught. 15 of these were ringed, while four were recaptures. 

One of the 19 European Storm Petrels caught last night

Little of note was seen amongst a small selection of insects, on a more overcast day than the previous two. Green-veined Whites were down to 55, Red Admirals down to four and Small Tortoiseshells up to four. A potential Striped Wainscot that we're still waiting to confirm was the highlight from an otherwise fairly modest moth trap, although good numbers of the commoner species like Lackey, Dark ArchesScarce Footman and Garden Tiger continue to be caught.



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