15th to 21st August – Slow but steady migration

Mild with winds from the southwest. Many days were overcast or with periods of rain and low cloud.

Waders continue to be seen or heard around the island. Ringed Plover and Whimbrel were recorded on four dates this week. There was a max count of three Ringed Plover on the 16th, two flew over South West Field and another was seen over the Airstrip. A Black-tailed Godwit was seen flying over Halfway Wall with four Whimbrel on the 21st. A Curlew was present on the 16th and was calling around the Village for most of the morning before heading west. Single Dunlin were recorded on the 15th, 17th and 21st. Snipe on the 16th and 21st and two Common Sandpiper on the 18th. A Redshank was also heard calling over Ackland’s Moor on the 15th. 

Dunlin, Pondsbury © Stuart Cossey

A Black-headed Gull was seen sheltering by Rat Island on the 16th and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was feeding in Tillage Field with a large flock of gulls on the 17th. A single Cormorant flew past the Landing Bay on the 16th and three flew over the West Coast on the 19th. The Sparrowhawk first seen on the 12th was joined by a second on the 17th with a male and female were seen fighting in Millcombe Woods on the 19th. Occasional small flocks of Swallows are being seen moving south with 14 recorded on the 17th and 23 on the 19th. No Sand or House Martins were noted this week.

Willow Warblers continue to be seen, mostly within Millcombe Valley. A max count of 38 were seen on the 17th with only two and three seen on the 20th and 21st respectively. A Chiffchaff was seen on the 21st and the first Goldcrest of autumn was in Millcombe Pines on the 15th. Sedge Warblers were recorded on four days, though mostly being seen around Pondsbury. Whitethroat were more common with a max count of six on the 19th. Singles were seen on the 15th, 16th and 20th with two on the 17th. Blackcap were seen on the 17th and 21st.

Pied and Spotted Flycatchers were seen most days with five Spotted Flycatchers on the 19th. Three Pied Flycatchers were present on the 18th, two on the 15th and singles on the 17th, 19th and 21st. Numbers of Wheatear are dropping off with the first black day on the 16th – the first since April. There have been occasional days of Tree Pipit migration with two heard on the 15th, one on the 17th and 11 on the 18th. The numbers of Meadow Pipit have also picked up with 63 on the 21st, including two flocks of 20+.

Linnet and Goldfinch numbers fluctuate with 93 Linnets recorded on the 15th and 104 on the 16th. Only five Linnets were heard or seen on the 21st. Goldfinch numbers peaked at 25 on the 17th and 21 on the 15th. Towards the end of the week nine were regularly seen around Millcombe.

Linnets, Old Light Track © Stuart Cossey 

In non-avian news, seven Harbour Porpoise, including two calves, were seen from Benjamin’s Chair on the 18th. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen on the 21st and a Convolvulus Hawk-moth -on the 19th. 38 species of moth were trapped on the 16th including a new species for the island, Oblique Carpet. There were also a few migrant moths such as Bordered Straw and Rush Veneer. On the 19th a Canary-shouldered Thorn was trapped, the only confirmed record since 1907!

Canary-shouldered Thorn, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey

Bordered Straw, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey

Oblique Carpet, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey

Contributors: S Cossey, R Ellis, Z Wait, T and A Taylor, J Coomes, A McCarthy