Tuesday 5 May 2015

5th May 2015

Weather: SE 3-4, backing SW 6-7 later, rain early on, clearing and then squalls later

A late start for observers following the rain back it 'felt' good with SE breeze, precipitation in the air and a moderate temperature.  This proved correct early on with quality rather than quantity being the order of the day with a couple of male Whitethroats, a Blackcap, Chiffchaff and a male Greenland Wheatear caught and ringed.


Half a dozen Greenland Wheatears passed through and a flava Wagtail called overhead and three White Wagtails were noted including this bird at the North End.


The first three Swifts of the year bombed through East over the island (with two more later) before the wind turned and picked up from the south west and the first Manx Shearwater of the year battered down the west side.

A Sedge Warbler revealed itself in the Old Obs garden and began singing late morning and a second Blackcap was found.

Sea-watching was better on the ebb with five more Manx Shearwaters noted along with Gannets, Kittiwakes and Sandwich Terns and 3 Little Terns and a single Fulmar and the first Arctic Skua of the year 'harassing' the terns.

The Dunlin flocks continue to impress and are now 'carrying' small numbers of Sanderling.
  

(RAE, SRW) [304-32]

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