Apologies for the lack of blog post in recent days, not a vast amount of censusing has taken place and very little has been seen. Today however started off with glorious sunshine and barley a cloud in sight, although strong winds still battered the island.

High tide around the narrows had pushed 51 Curlews and 108 Oystercatchers onto the grassy fields where they fed and rested together in a huge flock. Down on the rocks and seaweed that hadn't been covered by the tide were 75 Grey Seals hauled out, 17 Turnstones and five Redshanks. A Pied Wagtail, 18 Rock Pipits, 13 Herring Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, two Greater Black-backed Gulls and a Cormorant were also noted, strangely no wildfowl today which were perhaps elsewhere. All seemed settled until a male Sparrowhawk whipped over heading north and sending all the birds into a frenzy of panic and loud calls.

A young Grey Seal hauled out in one of the small bays

On the south end a Wren and Meadow Pipit hid amongst the gorse and a Common Snipe was flushed from a boggy pool near the lighthouse compound which appears during periods of heavy rain. From the south hide 208 Guillemots, four Razorbills, four Fulmars, four Gannets, and four Kittiwakes passed over the impressive swell. A further five Oystercatchers, five Grey Seals, five Rock Pipits and a Shag peppered the south coast, an additional 11 Herring Gulls and a Greater Black-backed Gulls were also present.

View from the south hide, impressive waves and spray...although not the biggest captured here!

Elsewhere on the island a Peregrine mobbed a pair of Ravens with speedy dives and talons outstretched. A total of 17 Choughs on the mountainside, a couple of Goldcrests and the odd Wren, Robin and Moorhen were seen.

In "moth news" success with the trap!.....well one moth, but thats one more than recent efforts. A nice male Mottled Grey.