Friday 22 August 2014

A stiff north-westerly wind persisted throughout the 21st and 22nd, although the breeze decreased significantly towards the end of the latter day. The strong winds have meant that a lot of attention has been placed seawards, although this has yielded virtually nothing, aside a few hundred Manx Shearwaters, and a small number of Gannets and Fulmars. A total of 13 Willow Warblers were recorded on the 21st, along with four Spotted Flycatchers and two Goldcrests, whilst seven Whitethroats on the 22nd was the highest total of this species since the 7th of August. Waders were seen in higher numbers on the 22nd, with a total of one Purple Sandpipers, two Snipe, four Whimbrels, 30 Curlews, three Redshanks and 27 Turnstones recorded.

 There seems to have been a large clear out of Wheatears, with just 10 or so seen every day at the moment. There are some quite smart birds around, now that juveniles have completed their post-juvenile moult, and that some adults have finished their post-breeding moult
Spotted Flycatchers have been hiding away in a few sheltered corners of the island, where the wind is calm enough to allow a good number of flying insects to provide sufficient food resources 
Linnets are perhaps one of the commonest species on the island at the moment (except, of course, Bardsey's 16,000-odd pairs of Manx Shearwaters), with an estimated 300 birds recorded. Flocks of over 120 birds are making use of the seeds in the oats fields, whilst a large number have been making regular visits to the ponds


Moths: its autumn, which can only mean one thing...the time of the rustics! Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustics, Common Rustics and Square-spot Rustics are amongst the most numerous species turning up in the moth traps at the moment, whilst Heath Rustics will no doubt be recorded in the next week or so. Aside the above, there are many other species to keep up interest...
Antler Moth 
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 
Pempelia palumbella

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