Abb's update!

Time for a quick St Abbs update...

 Birds: 

The cliffs are thinning and the carpet of Guillemots is looking very patchy now. Most of the jumplings have departed, probably encouraged by the calm seas and warm weather. They have timed it well, as over the last few days an increase in feeding activity has been clearly evident. Frenzies of thousands of Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Herring Gulls and Gannets have been feeding just off the head. Sand eels must be in plentiful supply. Despite the Guillemots departing, the cliffs are still busy with Kittiwakes, Shags, Razorbills, Herring Gulls and Fulmars all yet to fledge.

Little grebes have hatched a brood of 2 chicks on the Mire Loch… good to see after none bred on the Mire Loch last year.

CR Reed Bunt (ringed here)

Other birds of note include: A male RB Shirke on the 1/7. A single female Wheatear, the first for a while on the 10/7. A single Spotted Flycatcher by Northfield House 11/7. Small numbers of Black Headed gulls around Wellmouth, including a couple of this years fledgers. A single Bonxie flew over the Mire Loch on the 12/7. The female Mandarin is still present at Millar’s Moss. A single male Wigeon has been mingling with the Tufties on the Mire Loch. 

A seawatch on the 7/7 from 19:15 – 20:15 produced: Manxie 11N 3S, C Scoter 30N, Swift 4N, Curlew 4N, RT Diver 1N, B H Gull 7N and 3 Bottlenose Dolphin. Yesterdays (13/7) seawatch wasn’t so productive with just 5 manxie north between 18:50 and 19:30.

Cetaceans:

The first Whales of the year have been seen off the head. A Minke was seen on the 11/7 and 12/7. 3 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen on the 13/7 and Harbour Porpoise have been almost daily. 

Butterflies:

Common Blue

This week over 200 Butterflies were recorded on the transect, mostly Meadow Browns and Ringlets but also a good smattering of Common Blue, Small Copper, Wall Brown, Grayling, Northern Brown Argus and the recently emerged Dark Green Fritillaries. Day flying moths included, Yellow Shell, Silver-ground Carpet, July Belle and hundreds of Chimney Sweepers. 

The moth trap last night produced the largest and most varied catch of the year so far with the best being Brown-line Bright-eye, True Lover’s Knot, Flame Carpet and 5 Burnished Brass.

 

 

A few Gannets at the mighty bass

Getting arty at the lighthouse