After a misty, muggy night with the sky filled with fledging shearwaters and lightning, Saturday morning cleared quickly to reveal a fall of migrants. The bracken and valleys were alive with birds and excitement mounted! The Young Birders group staying for a residential event helped the staff and volunteers to cover the island during the day, even though it was a busy changeover day; the only boat for some time looking at the forecast!
Highlights included a WRYNECK at the farm, a late CUCKOO in north Valley and 5 WHINCHAT at the wick. 30 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER was impressive to witness with birds in every bush, 5 PIED FLYCATCHER, 16 WHEATEAR, 13 BLACKCAP and 35 WILLOW WARBLER felt like minimum counts. A handful of WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF and a GARDEN WARBLER. Single SONG THRUSH and GOLDCREST too. A SHORT-EARED OWL was in the willows in North valley with 4 MARSH HARRIERS during the day.
A flock of 11 GREY HERON made their way in V-formation from the mainland across the island, heading briefly out to sea towards Grassholm before thinking better of it and returning east. Interestingly the 104 Great black-backed gulls roosting on the slabs at the wick found the herons circling above completely terrifying, scattering in all directions!
Waders included 3 COMMON SANDPIPER, 8 CURLEW, 12 OYSTERCATCHER, WHIMBREL, 3 DUNLIN and several SNIPE overhead and on the ponds.
The fog returned late afternoon ending a great day.
Lisa and the Skomer Team