We have nearly retrieved all the GPS tags from our tagged Manx Shearwater! Just two more to go! We are already getting some incredible results from the data collected so far, with the tracks showing birds foraging around the Channel Island and as far south as France! Sadly, we have had our first breeding failures of the year in the shearwater colony. One box was found with just a cold, abandoned egg, possibly due to one of the parents perishing not far from the burrow, and another with a very small chick perished inside its box. However, the hatched chicks in the other nests are all growing strong, some are even getting quite feisty already!
The Racing Pigeons have decided to take shelter in the Village. Birds are frequently found cowering inside the Black Shed and the Tavern!
The biggest count of Kittiwake for June was recorded on the 20th, with 450 in a feeding frenzy off the Battery, and 100 beyond the North Light. Two Black-headed Gull were seen on the 21st: one in Millcombe, the other following a grass mower outside the Church!
With the help of visiting ringer Nik Ward, the Conservation Team have begun ringing the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks in various colonies along the west coast of the Island, attaching colour rings as part of a new project for the Obs. Many of the chicks are still too small for ringing, and so this will pick up more over the next couple of weeks. However, we have had continued success catching Shag, so far ringing 62 birds, including four adults. An additional ringing highlight has been seven Razorbill (two adults and five chicks) and eight Guillemot (all chicks), the first of each species ringed on the Island since 2010!
Razorbill Chick, one of several ringed this past week. Nik Ward, June 22
During his visit, Nik spent some time observing the Channel Wagtail pair and successfully located a nest with four eggs! An exciting breeding an attempt that we will certainly be keeping an eye on.
The nest of our two returning Channel Wagtail. Nik Ward, June 19
A small amount of ringing in Millcombe was possible over the last few days during breaks in the gusty, drizzly, foggy weather. Interestingly, a handful of Willow Warbler were caught - perhaps the rain has brought a sprinkling of failed breeders on the move off the Welsh coast.
Dragonflies noted over the last few days include Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor Dragonfly. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen on the 23rd, and other notable butterfly sightings include 72 Red Admiral on the 20th.