Bird Sightings

Logbook sightings to be added.

Mallard in Barton's Field. ©ThomasWeston

Census was undertaken this morning within ex-hurricane Ernesto. Census counts included 16 Mallard, single Woodpigeon, 7 Great Black-backed Gulls, 18 Herring Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, single Manx Shearwater, 8 Shag, single Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crows, 5 Ravens, 2 Wrens, 12 Starlings, 2 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 2 Wheatears¸ single Dunnock, 14 House Sparrows, 3 Pied Wagtails, 11 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 21 Linnets, and 3 Goldfinches. Most unusually, a Whimbrel came in off the sea at Benjamin’s Chair and flew high North.

Pied Wagtail in Barton's Field. ©ThomasWeston

We have mentioned our hybrid wagtails for a while now, but if you are keen to spot them, you have to be aware of the juvenile Pied Wagtails in the same field. These birds are more grey and black, rather than the olive cast of the hybrid Channel Wagtials.

A lovely breezy morning with a bit of cloud cover and slight drizzle to begin. Census was completed and included 16 Mallard spread between Barton’s Field and Government House; 4 Woodpigeons in Millcombe Pines; 4 Great Black-backed Gulls off Benjamin’s Chair; 2 Herring Gulls in Barton’s Field; 2 Manx Shearwater passed Old Light; 21 Shag in the Landing Bay; single Kestrel and Peregrine in South West Field; 5 Wheatears, 22 Starlings, 5 Pied Wagtails, 78 Linnets, 9 Meadow Pipits, 15 Carrion Crows and 3 Ravens in the fields; single Swallow and 41 House Sparrows in the Village; 9 Wrens across the route; in the fields; and 2 Blackbird, 6 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Stonechats, 2 Chaffinches, 9 Goldfinches in Millcombe.

Manx Shearwater box checks were successful, and all chicks were growing well. One in fact was looking like it was going to fledge within the next couple of days.

Channel Wagtail in Barton's Field. ©Thomas Weston

An afternoon checking the fields and Landing Bay resulted in a new brood of Stonechats with two adults feeding three chicks on the Beach Road. There was some bird life in Millcombe, but overall quite quiet. In Barton's Field, one of our 'Channel Wagtails' (Flava x Flavissma Yellow Wagtail hybrid) was present and showing really well with the Horses and Sheep around the pond.

Census was undertaken this morning and was relatively quiet. Sightings to be added soon.

Rock Pipit on the main beach in the Landing Bay. ©ThomasWeston

A walk down to the Landing Bay this afternoon resulted in flocks of feeding Shags, a slight passage of Gannets, a fully fledged family of Rock Pipits and a couple of Wheatears. Please be warned that our Grey Seals have been pupping around the island in the last week. The Main Beach may be closed when you arrive if there are pups present on the beach or in the vacinity. If the beach is closed, please do not enter as it will result in unecessary disturbance to the hauled out individuals.

Ringing

Manx Shearwater from the Productivity Site. ©Thomas Weston

A nocturnal visit to our Manx Shearwater productivity colony resulted in the first few ‘semi-fledged’ chicks making their way out of their burrows. The chicks are still quite, to very downy at this stage, and will begin building up flight muscles through flapping, and orientating their way through star-gazing. The bright moon was impressive and lite to the first few chicks – there will hopefully be a lot more to come!