26th-27th August

The 26th was a day of preparing for a island event so coverage was very limited and bird news few and far between.
The 27th however was a better day, a sea-watch gave good numbers of Sooty Shearwaters, providing 28 birds along with 4 Manx Shearwaters and more surprisingly 3 very distant but identifiable Orca.
On the shore lines waders much of the same as they have been in recent days, 5 Little Stint and a singles of Curlew and Common Sandpiper bringing it home in that category.
A clear influx of Meadow Pipits was clear for all to see with 310 being counted by all parties, no doubt some were missed too, Wheatear numbers also showed a noticeable increase, pushing their numbers just shy of the ton with 99 birds.
As for passerine numbers nothing had really changed, the clear out of previous days was apparent with only 8 Willow Warblers being recorded, a Garden Warbler was present in Holland also.
.Hirundine movement hasn't been a huge feature this autumn and it hasn't really picked up, 4 Swift and a House Martin being the noteables, but a far cry from last years huge movements! The only real bird to mentioned wasn't actually identified until early the following morning, a Locustella sp. was discovered in Ancum Willows in the late evening and despite the teams best efforts it evaded capture and we lost the light and had to pack up, But we hadn't given up and a plan was hatched to catch the bird early the next morning, but I'll let you know how we got on tomorrow...

Wheatear - George Gay

Willow Warbler - George Gay

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