by Greg Lee
An interesting and long day on the island with my main duty being the seabird station at the Battery. Today was a great day with the Puffins, with many birds perched on the grassy slopes with great views to be had from the Battery for day-trippers and staying visitors alike. Every so often, the Puffins would choose to take off the cliff and swirl around in a Puffin cyclone, a spectacular sight. it seems hard to believe that they will be mostly gone within the month! Excitedly, the Shag Ringing Team currently on the island also sighted a Puffling, with hopefully many more to appear soon.The Razorbills were also on display with many birds rafting on the water, with others still looking after their large chicks in the various crags and gullies on the cliffs. Every so often a Great Black-backed Gull would pass over, much to the Puffins annoyance. Distantly offshore, a Manx Shearwater was riding the waves along with some Gannets, though I couldn’t sight any cetaceans or other marine-based predators on this occasion, despite a feeding party of Kittiwakes being spotted. On the way back, some Wild Thyme in flower caught my eye, with clumps of these attractive purple flowers to be found across the island currently.
Puffins at the Battery by G.Lee
Thyme in flower by G.Lee
For some members of the Conservation Team, it was a late night with another session undertaken with the Storm Petrels. Despite the bright Strawberry Moon, we managed to process 50 birds, many of which were new, though some sported BTO rings, potentially from elsewhere, whilst one had a ring from Jersey! Likely from Alderney. A collection of 18 Oystercatchers nearby was also an interesting sight and possibly a post-breeding flock taking a break after a busy spring.
Strawberry Moon rising by G.Lee