Bird Sightings

The first day of June and it is fair to think that Spring migration is coming to an end which is very much true. But some migrants are still very slightly trickling through.

Juvenile Wheatear in Brick Field. ©ThomasWeston

Census demonstrated low numbers of our long-distance spring migrants with 2 Swallows and a House Martin North, a Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, single Spotted Flycatcher, and 4 Whitethroats in Millcombe, and a surprise Reed Warbler was singing in Stoney Paddock. Also seen on census this morning, 5 Mallards with three ducklings on Barton’s Field; a Woodpigeon singing in Millcombe in the woods on the North side; 3 Collared Doves feeding with the chickens in the Village; an Oystercatcher and 5 Shag were in the Landing Bay; the large ‘large’ gull flocks in the fields continued with 207 Herring Gulls, 7 Lesser-Black Backed and 2 Great-Black Backed Gulls in the flocks; large flocks of auks were off Benjamin’s Chair again with 132 Guillemots, 22 Razorbills, and 3 Puffins in the rafts; 2 Rock Pipit were singing from the Ugly and Benjamin’s Chair; our dodgy Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid remained with 9 Carrion Crows and 5 Ravens around the Watertanks; 6 Skylarks were seen/heard in the fields; 10 Wrens were along the route with the majority in Millcombe; the flock of post-breeding Starlings held 52 birds; 6 Blackbirds, 6 Dunnocks, 4 Robins, 4 Chaffinches, 6 Goldfinches, and the singing Song Thrush were in Millcombe; at Rocket Pole Pond 4 Wheatears, 2 Stonechats and 3 Pied Wagtails were seen feeding; 19 Meadow Pipits and 24 Linnets were in the fields; and 18 House Sparrows were in Village.

Reed Warbler caught and ringed in Millcoombe.©ThomasWeston

Not much to report today but the Carrion Crow x Hooded Crow Hybrid remained on the Airfield, a Cuckoo was in Millcombe being harassed by Meadow Pipits, a very late Greenland Wheatear was on the Main Track by Quarter Wall, and a short ringing session in Millcombe resulted in the first juvenile Stonechat of the year caught in the valley alongside a late Reed Warbler that was highly unexpected and a couple of Chiffchaff and Dunnock.

One of the breeding colour ringed Northern Wheatear currently in SW Field. Please report any sightings to the Conservation Team. ©ThomasWeston

Census was completed rather early today but resulted in a mix of species seen throughout. A flock of 3 Woodpigeons were in Millcombe Pines; 5 Oystercatchers were in the Landing Bay, Benjamin’s Chair and Old Light; 14 Great-Black Backed Gulls were in the fields with 158 Herring and 9 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls and breeding off Benjamin’s Chair; 308 Guillemots, 22 Razorbills, and 2 Puffins were loafing off Benjamin’s Chair whilst a Fulmar and 6 Shag flew over; the Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid was associated with a few of the 11 Carrion Crows spotted; 2 Ravens were in the Village; 6 Skylarks included singing birds in SouthWest Field, the Airfield and Castle Hill; 9 Swallows flew North; singing warblers in Millcombe included 2 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, single Willow Warbler and a single Chiffchaff; 14 Wrens were spread across all areas of the census route; 56 Starlings were seen near Quarter Wall with the majority being juveniles; 4 Blackbird were in Millcombe and the Airfield; the Song Thrush and Lesser Redpoll remained singing in Millcombe; a Wheatear, 9 Meadow Pipits, and 2 Stonechats were around Rocket Pole Pond; 3 Robins, 3 Dunnocks, 2 Chaffinches, and 8 Goldfinches were around St John’s Valley; 16 House Sparrows were in the Village; 3 Pied Wagtails were around Old Light and the Dung Heap in Tillage Field.    

Our seabird colonies at Jenny’s Cove were alive with thousands of birds flying back and forth to the cliffs. A Lapwing was the most unusual species seen on the island today with one on Rocket Pole Scrape or as the observer who found it, referred to this pool as ‘Funny Pool’.

Ringing

Juvenile Blackbird caught and ringed in the Heligoland. ©ThomasWeston

Our first juvenile Blackbird of the year was caught in the Heligoland Trap today.

Hooded x CarrionCrow Hybrid in Brick Field. ©ThomasWeston

Census was quite quiet but nice after a day of fog yesterday. Breezy conditions made it difficult to find too much, but a good selection was recorded. A flock of 3 Mallards were in Barton’s Field; a Feral Pigeon remained around the Lambing Shed; a Woodpigeon was in Millcombe; 2 Oystercatchers and 5 Shag were in the Landing Bay; 2 Great-Black Backed Gulls were on nests off Benjamin’s Chair; 255 Herring Gulls were in breeding colonies on the cliffs and in nonbreeding flocks on the Plateau; 28 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls were mixed in with the large gull flocks; 109 Guillemots, 51 Razorbills and 3 Puffins were off Benjamin’s Chair; a Peregrine was noted; 3 Carrion Crows and 12 Ravens were feeding on the Airfield; 9 Meadow Pipits, 13 Linnets and 6 Skylarks were in the Fields; a very slight passage of hirundines occurred with 2 Swallows and 7 House Martins flew North; a Garden Warbler was singing near the Gas Store; 2 Whitethroats and 2 Chiffchaffs were singing in Millcombe; a singing Sedge Warbler was on the Airfield again; 14 Wrens, 24 House Sparrows, and 64 Starlings were around; 3 Blackbirds, the lone singing Song Thrush, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Chaffinches (including fledged young), 4 Robins, 3 Dunnocks, 4 Goldfinches, and a singing Lesser Redpoll were in Millcombe; and a Pied Wagtail was gathering food near the dung heap.

A trip to the North End resulted in a productivity survey being undertaken for the nesting Fulmar and nice views of breeding auks near North Light including Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins. Both Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were carrying food on the return along the main track showing both species have successfully nested and were feeding large young either in the nest or close nearby. On the way back, our Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid was showing well (see photo at the top).

Ringing

Our Wheatear team remain on the island catching adults for the RAS (Retrapping Adult Survival) Study. House Sparrow monitoring continues with the first brood coming to the end and the second broods starting. Manx Shearwater artificial box checks resulted in another box occupied by adults. This means that out of 30 boxes, 17 have shown some sort of sign of occupation. This is the highest occupation rate since the box project began.