Bird Sightings

A busy day for the team with it being a boat day. However, census was undertaken in the morning and an evening survey was undertaken at one of our Storm Petrel colonies in the northern areas of the island. The survey went from sunset to around 3am the next morning and resulted in 100 birds being caught (both Manx Shearwater and Storm Petrels). This is a great effort towards our British Trust for Ornithology Retrapping Adult Survival (RAS) project that has been set up at this colony with the aim of monitoring the survival of our Stormies. Whilst we waiting for the birds to arrive, we were treated to the sounds of juvenile Guillemots, a migrating Common Sandpiper, a couple of flypast Fulmar, passing Gannets, and about 100 Herring Gulls arriving from the NE and heading SW.

A juvenile Puffling in the Landing Bay was unexpected too! 

Ringing

Starling caught and ringed in the Village. ©Thomas Weston

A stunning Starling caught in the Village garden was nothing compared to the busy night of 100 birds caught at one of our cliff top ringing sites including 79 European Storm Petrels and 21 Manx Shearwaters.

Sightings from across the island by all-comers involved 10 Mallards, 2 Feral Pigeon, 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Doves, 15 Swifts, 9 Oystercatchers, a single Common Sandpiper at the North End, 127 Puffins, 116 Razorbills, 645 Guillemots, 500 Auk spp., 164 Kittiwakes, 88 Herring Gulls, 18 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 35 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 15 Fulmar, 150 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Gannet, 41 Shags, 2 Kestrels, 2 Peregrines, 8 Carrion Crows, 6 Ravens, 8 Skylarks, 3 Sand Martins, 8 Swallows, single Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroats, 23 Wrens, 42 Starlings, single Song Thrush, 5 Blackbirds, 4 Robin, 5 Stonechats, 32 Wheatears, single Dunnock, 18 House Sparrows, single Flavissma x Flava Wagtail hybrid, 5 Pied Wagtails, 38 Meadow Pipits, 10 Rock Pipits, single Chaffinch, 85 Linnets, and 10 Goldfinches.

Millcombe Pines. ©ThomasWeston

Census counts from today with including 4 Mallards, 3 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Doves, 4 Oystercatchers, a Black-headed gull flying around the Landing Bay around 05:50am before heading off South, a single Great-Black Backed Gulls, 2 Lesser-Black Backed Gull, 18 Herring Gulls, 49 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, 8 Carrion Crows, 5 Ravens, 4 Skylarks, single calling Blackcap, single Chiffchaff, 12 Wrens, 19 Starlings, 7 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 2 Robins, 7 Wheatears, single Stonechat, 6 Dunnock, 12 House Sparrows, 3 Pied Wagtails, 27 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipit, single Chaffinch, 49 Linnets and 6 Goldfinches were seen.

A mid-morning Puffin productivity count resulted in decreasing numbers of auks with many now fledged and heading off to sea for the Autumn. The Puffins were actively feeding young and counts varied throughout the morning. However, when it came to the Seabird Station in the afternoon, the numbers of Puffin were up to 150+ birds on the colony.

Census was also undertaken today with counts including 3 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 8 Lesser-Black Backed Gull, 56 Herring Gulls, 6 Razorbills, single Puffin, 5 Carrion Crows, single Whitethroat, single Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Wrens, 45 Starlings, single Blackbird, 2 Wheatears, single Stonechat, 2 Dunnock, 12 House Sparrows, single Yellow Wagtail male, 3 Pied Wagtails, 11 Meadow Pipits, single Rock Pipit, single Chaffinch, 24 Linnets and 5 Goldfinches were seen.

Puffins at Jenny's Cove. ©ThomasWeston

1^st Grayling of the year and a new colour ringed Kittiwake in one of our colonies. Our Puffins are still doing well and showing well before they begin heading off for the Autumn.