There was an impressive migration of pipits, hirundines etc over Skomer today. A stream of swallows flew east throughout the day from 08.30 until about 19.00 and counting all birds was impossible, so three timed counts were averaged and extrapolated for the entire period. Smaller numbers (but still impressive) of House Martins and Meadow Pipits also flew east over the island. Visible migration totals inc.: 20,000 Swallow (as a minimum), 1,500 House Martins, 1,000+ Meadow Pipits, only 7 Sand Martins were spotted but probably many more flew over unnoticed during the day, 10+ Linnet, 20 alba wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail and 4 Goldfinch. Migration was on a broad front over the island from the west and bottling necking around North Haven where birds either carried on over The Neck or flew out again over the sea.
Other birds seen today inc.: 21 Oystercatchers, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 10 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 1 Wryneck, 17 Robins, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Whinchats, 4 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, another couple of horrific!!! unstreaked Acrocephalus warblers!, one of which was a Reed, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 27 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, 11 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Blue Tits.
