8th July

Autumn appears to be slowly rearing its head as numbers of breeding birds begin to swell in the fields, Swallow and Swift flocks have become noticeably more vocal and sizable and the Ferrybridge waders have begun to move. Yesterday's Hawfinch continued to entertain at the obs feeding regularly on the bird table throughout the day. Continuing on the migrant front, a juvenile Cuckoo was seen exiting its roost site in Southwell and heading off to sea, another young Yellow-legged Gull was seen departing towards France and a pair of Balearic Shearwaters continued to associate with the dwindling gull flock.

Ferrybridge had noticeably more variety with a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshank, six Dunlin and singles of Sanderling and Curlew.

In non-avian news the pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins were back playing in the waters in front of the obs and at least two Dark Green Fritillaries were sighted at the higher light as well as the seemingly lingering Large Tortoiseshell at Tout Quarry.

The Little Ringed Plovers at Ferrybridge were looking pretty shabby as they made their stop-over © Debby Saunders:

This is the second sighting of a juvenile Cuckoo in the vicinity of the obs in the last week, although these are probably migrating birds there are plenty of breeding host species on the island...© Pete Saunders:

And a bit of the Hawfinch action from yesterday - it was showing just as well again today © Martin Cade: