Bird Sightings
April 13th Sightings - Night Herons
Night Heron in Millcombe. ©Thomas Weston An exciting day started with the surprise appearance of two Night Herons at the bottom of Millcombe. One of which was almost certainly sat on the ringing chair, with the other only a metre away on the grass near the Gas Store. The birds were flighty and unsettled, moving between potential roost spots throughout the day. Luckily, for the first boat of the year, visitors had good views as one made a flyby over the Landing bay on their arrival. The birds were aged as an adult and a 1st summer bird. They represent the 5th island record and the 1st multiple record of this species. The last record was in 2007.
Thinking the arrival of the herons was very good, visiting birder Tony Taylor found a very stunning adult male Golden Oriole on the first tree in Millcombe. The bird quickly went to the Blackthorn where it was seen feeding on and off all day. The bird remained until the afternoon but because rather mobile and elusive as the day went on.
'Greenland' Wheatear Benjamin's Chair. ©Thomas Weston
Census counts this morning were completed before the rain/thick fog set in for the rest of the day. Totals included 6 Woodpigeons, single Oystercatchers, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 150 Herring Gulls, 4 Razorbills, single Great Northern Diver, single Fulmar, single Gannets, 17 Shag, single Peregrine, 24 Carrion Crow, 5 Ravens, 6 Skylarks, 20 Swallows, 2 Blackcap, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 13 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, 11 Wrens, 24 Starlings, 5 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 4 Robins, 4 Wheatears (1 Greenland Wheatear), single Stonechat, 3 Dunnocks, 18 House Sparrows, 2 Pied Wagtails, 13 Meadow Pipits, single Chaffinches, 87 Linnets and 12 Goldfinches.
Good coverage of the island today resulted in some nice seabird counts, a single White Wagtail and Sandwich Tern.
Millcombe
A ringing session before the fog and breeze picked up resulted in a small catch.
April 12th Sightings - An April Fall
A busy census and Terrace check this morning!
White Wagtail near the Watertanks Pool. ©Thomas Weston
Highlights so far have included the first 3 Grasshopper Warblers of they year with 2 in Millcombe and a single at the Terrace; the first female Redstart of the year with a female going back and forth around the Heligoland Trap; a male Pied Flycatcher in the willows in Quarry Pond; a fall of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcap with a high proportion along the East coast; a passage of Linnets and Goldfinches with the highest count of the year for the former species; a pair of White Wagtails in Watertank Pool; an arrival of new Wheatears; 4 late Redwing; and a steady passage of hirundines.
Census counts this morning were completed before the rain/thick fog set in for the rest of the day. Totals included 2 Mallards, 4 Woodpigeons, 3 Oystercatchers, 75 Herring Gulls, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 7 Guillemots, 52 Razorbills, single Great Northern Diver, single Fulmar, 2 Gannets, 6 Shag, 2 Kestrels, 24 Carrion Crow, 5 Ravens, 8 Skylarks, 4 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 2 Blackcap, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 12 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaff, 14 Wrens, 31 Starlings, 9 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 3 Robins, 5 Wheatears, single Stonechat, 5 Dunnocks, 26 House Sparrows, 8 Pied Wagtails, 3 ‘alba’ Wagtails, 10 Meadow Pipits, single Chaffinches, 78 Linnets and 5 Goldfinches.
Ringing
The Heligoland Trap was run once and a single Blackcap was caught today.
April 11th Sightings - Foggy Jackdaw
A second day of fog means no active migration was recorded today although the second Jackdaw of the year was found just outside the Tavern.
A foggy Jackdaw outside the Tavern. ©Thomas Weston
Census counts this morning were completed before the rain/thick fog set in for the rest of the day. Totals included 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Oystercatchers, 14 Herring Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Shag, 4 Carrion Crow, 3 Ravens, 3 Skylarks, single Willow Warblers, single Goldcrest. 9 Wrens, 29 Starlings, 3 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 6 Robins, 2 Wheatears, 4 Dunnocks, 23 House Sparrows, single Pied Wagtails, 3 ‘alba’ Wagtails, 8 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinches, 4 Linnets and 4 Goldfinches.
Afternoon counts involved a Sandwich Tern, Great Northern Diver, Gannet and passing Manx Shearwater from the Landing Bay and a Peregrine hunting Starlings over the Village. A check of our artificial Manx Shearwater boxes revealed three returning adults, 2 unringed Wheatears and a few Meadow Pipits on the slopes.
Ringing
Three Manx Shearwaters were found in the boxes today. This included a 2023 pair who bred last year and returned for another year, lets hope they are successful again! A single individual was originally ringed in the boxes in 2020 and has bred every year since. We hope to see their partner again soon.
April 10th Sightings - Fogged Out
Census counts this morning were completed before the rain/thick fog set in for the rest of the day. Totals included 3 Mallard, 2 Woodpigeons, single Great Black-backed Gull, 210 Herring Gulls, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, single Guillemot, 53 Razorbills, single Great Northern Diver, single Fulmar, 2 Gannets, 6 Shag, 24 Carrion Crow, 2 Ravens, 3 Skylarks, 2 Blackcaps, 7 Willow Warblers, single Chiffchaff, single Goldcrest. 5 Wrens, 28 Starlings, single Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 4 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 15 House Sparrows, 5 Pied Wagtails, 10 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinches, 15 Linnets and 6 Goldfinches.
No counts were made this afternoon due to the weather.
Ringing
Another Manx Shearwater session resulted in 8 new, 13 re-trap Manx Shearwater in an hour session. The highlights included the 2009 chick, reacaught for the second time this year and adults ringed from 2011 , 2012 and 2014 onwards.