Bird Sightings

Even though we are stuck in NW winds, a female Blue-headed wagtail was found in Barton’s Field today. Meanwhile, House Sparrows and Starlings are currently undertaking their second broods, with both species currently being impacted by the cold, sometimes wet weather we are experiencing. We caught a good number of Manx Shearwater last night with a range of new and retrap birds from previous years recorded.

The second of a two-day seabird census in Jenny’s Cove was undertaken today with the help from RSPB staff. The census considers every cliff face and aims to count as many of the seabirds in the Jenny’s Cove area. To confirm our findings, results will be posted in a subsequent update on our Latest news tab. However, for you keen readers, totals just for Jenny’s look really positive so far, so let’s hope tomorrow will be similar.

Cuckoo with Meadow Pipit at QuarterWall. ©ThomasWeston

In other news, census highlights included a Cuckoo being mobbed by Meadow Pipits at Halfway Way/Old Quarry Cottages, a Swift flew over North, 4 Collared Doves, 97 Guillemots, 22 Razorbills, 31 Puffins, 2 Gannets, Grey Heron, a slight passage of Hirundines.

Our Seabird surveys are in full swing so we are graced by thousands of seabirds whilst we monitor the productivity plots across the island.

Something a little different today resulted in great views of Storm Petrels dancing over their rocky breeding grounds and skies full of Manx Shearwaters returning to their burrows. The largest counts were after midnight due to the beautiful starry skies we were graced with. However, based on the observations from yesterday evening, we believe there were about ~1000 birds offshore and a large number of them were overhead whilst we were out and about.
Red Kite from North Light. ©ThomasWeston

A migration watch from North End resulted in a good varitety of species despite it being June. There was a steady trickle of Swallows heading North in small flocks. Some of these were coming from the West quite low, gaining height and then heading over North Light with purpose. There were small flocks of House Martins heading North with these being particularly chatty as they flew North out to sea. Surprisingly, a few Sand Martins also headed North out to sea. These in particular should be breeding elsewhere. Presumably the Pondsbury Grey Heron tried to head North out over North Light but got a few hundred metres before being harassed by gulls and turning back. After two attempts it headed back south and was back on Pondsbury this afternoon looking grumpy. More surprising was a Red Kite that came as far as the stairs, but similar to the heron, was harrassed by gulls and turned around. About 15 minutes later, a second attempt was made, and the bird gained good height before heading a few hundred metres out. Presumably, because it could not clearly see Wales, and a slight headwind was coming inoff the sea, it turned around and came back. After settling again, it made a third attempt an hour later and was lost to view. The only reason it was lost to view was because it must have gone west and flew in off the sea at Gannet's Rock. The Fulmar, Herring Gulls and Great-Black Backed Gulls were seriously unhappy about the bird's presence and were quite nervous as the bird flew overhead. The kite was only the second of the year.

Other bits and bobs seen today included lots of signs of breeding birds. This ranged from birds singing, nesting material being carried, new chicks cheeping away, food being collected and fledged young. Most notable species were the range of seabirds we hae on the island but also the Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Wheatears who seem to be having a good breeding season in parts of the island.

The first of a two-day seabird census in Jenny’s Cove was undertaken today with the help from RSPB staff. The census considers every cliff face and aims to count as many of the seabirds in the Jenny’s Cove area. To confirm our findings, results will be posted in a subsequent update on our Latest news tab. However, for you keen readers, totals just for Jenny’s look really positive so far, so let’s hope tomorrow will be similar.

A breezy westerly wind today across the island.

On census, 4 Mallard were in Barton’s Field and a single Feral Pigeon remained in the vicinity of the Lambing Shed. Walking through Millcombe, this was by far the busiest place on the route with a single Woodpigeon, 6 Collared Doves, single Chiffchaff, 7 Wrens, 3 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, 3 Robins, 4 Dunnocks, 7 Chaffinches, 8 Linnets and 4 Goldfinches. It was great to hear four species of warbler singing at the same time with a single Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, single Sedge Warbler, and a single Willow Warbler all heard this morning. Let’s hope they have/find partners. From the Ugly, the Landing Bay held 6 Oystercatchers, single Manx Shearwater, 14 Shag, and 3 Great-Black Backed Gulls whilst at Benjamin’s Chair there were 76 Guillemots, 63 Razorbills, 2 Puffins, 12+ Auk spp, single Swallow, single House Martin and 2 Rock Pipits. The fields held 196 Herring Gulls, 10 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, a single Kestrel, single Peregrine, 6 Carrion Crows, 11 Ravens, 14 Skylarks, 53 Starlings, and 4 Meadow Pipits. A small flock of 11 House Sparrows were in the Village.

Razorbills along the West Coast  (viewedwhilst undertaking our seabird surveys). ©ThomasWeston

Seabird productivity surveys were rudely interrupted by this showy Razorbill today. This bird landed unaware of our presence whilst counting Guillemots!