A bit of raptor movement has been the highlight of the past three days, on top of an ever growing hirundine passage.
One Sparrowhawk was seen on both the 24th and 25th, both sightings around Millcombe and the Landing Bay. These were the first seen since the 26th of March! A maximum of 4 different Kestrel were seen across the Island throughout the past three days, one Merlin was spotted chasing past the Earthquake on the 26th, and on each day 5 Peregrine Falcon were seen.
The unwavering efforts of visiting birder Paul Holt, with his clicker and thumb combo, produced some stupendous hirundine counts. The largest counts for both Sand Martin (153 birds) and House Martin (172 birds) were gained on the 26th, Paul counting 139 of the former and 145 of the latter, both from 1015-1215hrs. On both the 24th an 26th c.950 Barn Swallow passed over the Island, and on the 25th we had the best count for the year, again Paul putting in an incredible survey with 1,260 at the North End from 1230-1600hrs. Thank you Paul!
Common Swift are finally passing through in more reasonable numbers, with 8 on 25th and 7 on 26th. It is so good to see their characteristic flight amongst other migrants once again.
Wader movements are still a feature of each day, and night too! A single Snipe (first since the 19th), Dunlin and Ringed Plover (first since the 12th) were heard in flight over Ackland's Moor during a nocturnal survey on the night of the 24th. A Ringed Plover was also seen during the day on the 26th on the main track near Pondsbury. Another Dunlin was heard on census on the 26th too. Passing Whimbrel continue to grace the Island, with 4 on the 25th and 6 on the 26th! One visitor caught a beautiful photo of three Common Sandpiper flying over Pondsbury on the 25th.
Common Sandpiper flying over Pondsbury, April 25. C MacDonald.
The total count of Guillemot around the Island on 24th was a tremendous 2747, with 2700 being seen at Jenny's Cove, this being the biggest count at Jenny's Cove for the year! The 24th also produced some great Razorbill and Puffin counts, 494 and 225. On the night of the 25th, the Bird Observatory team worked hard into the early hours of the next morning and successfully caught 123 Manx Shearwater. This consisted of 63 retraps, including one bird that was ringed in 2007 and could therefore very possibly be around 20 years old!
A Cormorant flew north over the Village on the 24th, and on the 25th good coverage of both the East and West Sidelands found the biggest count of Shag for the year with 59 birds.
Carrion Crow number have crept up recently and we saw 22 on the 25th followed by 26 on the 26th. Sadly no sightings of the recent Hooded Crow confirm our suspicions that the bird has indeed departed the Island.
Stonechat pairs are frequently being seen with nesting material. Another interesting observation that continues to baffle the team is a male Stonechat in lower Millcombe who appears to have incorporated the call of Common Sandpiper into his song. Very confusing, especially when he sings from on top of The Ugly! A Starling continues the train, heard mimicking Stonechat calls at Old Light on the 24th!
On the warbler front, the first confirmed Wood Warbler of the year, a lovely bright individual, was seen in Millcombe on 24th. A Reed Warbler was also in Millcombe, this on the 25th and heard by a visiting ringer. Other highlights from the ringing sessions include a Lesser Whitethroat and a control Sedge Warbler bearing a French ring! More lovely findings from Millcombe include a female Common Redstart and a Siskin heard in flight, the first record since the 9th.
A French control Sedge Warbler caught in Millcombe, April 25. F Turner.
The moth trap was run in Millcombe again on the night of the 23rd and produced 7 moths of 5 species when opened on the morning of the 24th: 3 Marbled Coronet, 1 Brimstone, 1 Bright-line Brown-eye, 1 Early Thorn and 1 Twin-spot Carpet sp.