Following the lack of birds from the last few days, today saw a small number of migrants pass through the island, inspiring some hope. Out to sea Manx Shearwaters numbered 271, while 16 Gannets, one Sandwich Tern and 100 Kittiwakes were also logged, followed by an Arctic Skua in the evening.

The first migrant raptor in a while was seen on the mountainside, in the form of a Kestrel. Some waders were on the Narrows as well, including three Sanderlings, two Whimbrels, one Curlew and nine Turnstones.

Whimbrel on the rocks at the North End

Overhead passage was made up of three Swifts, two Sand Martins, 48 Swallows, 13 House Martins, one Tree Pipit and a ‘Flava’ Wagtail which stopped on the Narrows briefly. Stonechats and Wheatears numbered 13 and 21 respectively. Warblers were a mixture of migrants and breeding birds, Sedge Warblers as expected the most numerous with six recorded, also logged were a Reed Warbler singing on the South End, three Whitethroats, two Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest. Four Spotted Flycatchers were the only other migrants of note.