17th July

Really pleasant conditions with barely a waft of a breeze saw Sand Martins get moving in some quantity during the morning when more than 200 passed through at the Bill; both Swifts and Swallows were represented in this southbound trickle although both in far lower numbers. Sadly, what was favourable for the diurnal movers had also no doubt been good for their nocturnal counterparts that saw no reason to pause their migration on our headland, with just a single new Sedge Warbler of note at the Bill; at least 3 Yellow Wagtails scattered about were presumed to be dispersing from the mainland rather than planning a cross-Channel movement; whilst further interest on the land concerned a/the Great Spotted Woodpecker at Wakeham (where it's evidently been ensconced since 15th), singles of Redshank and Common Sandpiper at the Bill and 3 Black-tailed Godwits and a Sanderling amongst the meagre wader selection at Ferrybridge. Given the balmy conditions not much was expected of the sea so the first 2 Balearic Shearwaters for a while, a passing presumably non-local Puffin and a single Yellow-legged Gull were a fair reward amongst more routine fare off the Bill.

The migrant moth situation perked up a little with an arrival (presumably an arrival rather than a hatch?) of Silver Ys evidenced by fair catches in all of the garden moth-traps around the island - the highest of these was 69 at the Obs; other routine migrants were represented in low single figure totals, with an Olive-tree Pearl at the Obs the night's only minor scarcity.

A few of the day's Sand Martins paused for a while allowing for a small take from the Crown Estate Field mist-nets but the majority were very active migrants that scorched straight through; all of those handled and all of those seen well overhead were sparklingly fresh youngsters like this one - hopefully the adults are well underway with their second brood now that these first-brood youngsters have been sent on their way © Martin Cade: