• Thu. Oct 10th, 2024

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SKOMER – Saturday 7 September

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