1st September 2015

Moderate north-north-westerly winds featured throughout, with sunny intervals prevailing after an overcast start. Seawatching produced five Red-throated Divers flying north, one Blue Fulmar and 377 Fulmars also flying north, along with five Sooty Shearwaters, 51 Manx Shearwaters and two Balearic Shearwaters. A ‘spooned’ Pomarine Skua went south, as did 41 Arctic Skuas, whilst 72 Little Gulls were offshore and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew north. Thornwick Pools hosted a Kingfisher, a Dunlin and a juvenile Greenshank, whilst another eight Dunlin visited North Marsh.

The day’s highlight was undoubtedly a male Subalpine Warbler showing characteristics of the Eastern form. Found late afternoon, it was still showing mid-evening from the cliff top path in its favoured hedge east of Old Fall. The juvenile Red-backed Shrike continued to give good views south of the Lighthouse. Other migrants included a Wood Warbler at Old Fall, 26 Willow Warblers, seven Wheatear, three Whinchat, five Redstarts, four Pied Flycatchers and two Spotted Flycatchers.

Kingfisher, Thornwick Pools, by Alan Walkington
Kingfisher, Thornwick Pools, by Alan Walkington
Wood Warbler, Old Fall, by Craig Thomas
Wood Warbler, Old Fall, by Craig Thomas
Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Outer Head, by Martin Garner
Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Outer Head, by Martin Garner
Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Outer Head, by Tony Dixon
Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Outer Head, by Tony Dixon
Pied Flycatcher, Old Fall, by Craig Thomas
Pied Flycatcher, Old Fall, by Craig Thomas
Brimstone Butterfly, Old Fall, by Andy Hood
Brimstone Butterfly, Old Fall, by Andy Hood