Another day of stunning weather and plenty of avian activity at one of the UK’s premier Bird Observatories. Two Pied Flycatchers were seen today, including one adult female trapped and ringed at Cristin (see below), whilst one Great Spotted Woodpecker was similarly caught in the Withies.

Passage at sea amounted to one Red-throated Diver, five Manx Shearwaters, five Wigeons, 19 Common Scoters, one Arctic Skua, one Mediterranean Gull, 70 Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, 24 Great Black-backed Gulls, 344 Kittiwakes, seven Guillemots, and 54 Razorbills.

An excellent selection of birds were to be found around the island; three Sparrowhawks, one Buzzard, one Kestrel, one Ringed Plover, three Snipes, eight Turnstones, 12  Skylarks, 48 Swallows, 106 Meadow Pipits, one ‘Flava’ Wagtail, six Grey Wagtails, 10 Pied Wagtails, one Whinchat, four Wheatears, three Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, 16 Goldcrests, five Coal Tits, four Great Tits, one Hooded Crow, 11 Ravens, one Starling, 32 Chaffinches, seven Siskins, 26 Goldfinches, two Lesser Redpolls, and one Reed Bunting.

 Sparrowhawks are still hunting the small migrants

 Reasonable numbers of Turnstones continue to pass through

 Swallow

 Most Swallows are on their way to Africa, though some still move south every day