26th August

Bags of birds about in absolutely glorious conditions but, maybe oddly, it didn't feel that exciting with precious little evidence that there were actually all that many new arrivals today. Yellow Wagtails in particular were everywhere, with more than 200 settled at the Bill alone (75 of these remaining to roost in the Crown Estate Field) and hirundines were again plentiful throughout the island, but there was only a thin spread of the likes of Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers, whilst among the less regulars there was precious little more than a handful of White Wagtails at the Bill. The White Stork appeared overhead again several times either side of midday when it was presumed to have dropped in somewhere without being spotted.

Immigrant moth interest didn't really get beyond the ticking over level, with 15 Rush Veneer, 10 Silver Y, 9 Rusty-dot Pearl, 6 Dark Sword Grass, 2 each of Pearly Underwing and Delicate, and a single Marbled Yellow Pearl making up the overnight tally at the Obs.

The mass of wagtails made for great viewing and we wouldn't be surprised if there weren't as many as 500 Yellow Wagtails about the island as a whole © Roger Hewitt:


Several White Wagtails were amongst them at the Bill © Keith Pritchard:


Autumn Ladies Tresses are well out and quite plentiful at the Bill right now © Roger Hewitt:


Wall Lizards are encountered quite widely these days - this one was at the Bill today © Roger Hewitt: