Bird Sightings

A foggy start to the morning with a keen North-east wind bracing the island. It was a slow start to begin with few birds moving. However, as the morning continued, a large pulse of Willow Warblers arrived and a large majority of the birds in Millcombe were ringed. This, alongside the resident’s juveniles led to a high number of birds caught today. As the nets were being closed, the cloud began to break and the toasty hot weather appeared. Census was followed and it was great to see both Cormorant and Grey Heron migrating out to sea heading in a leisurely South-East direction. Other birds seen on census included 8 Swifts, 6 Herring Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, single Gannets, 2 Shags, 3 Kestrel, 2 Peregrines, 7 Carrion Crows, 8 Ravens, 9 Swallows, 29 Willow Warblers, 12 Wrens, 34 Starlings, 5 Blackbirds, 4 Robins, 15 Wheatears, 4 Stonechats, 2 Dunnock, 26 House Sparrows, 3 Pied Wagtails, 6 Meadow Pipits, single Chaffinch, 106 Linnets, and 9 Goldfinches.

Ringing

Spotted Flycatcher caught and ringing in Millcombe. ©ThomasWeston

A busy morning with good variety and a few retraps.

A first year Herring Gull flying aroun Castles eating Flying ants. ©Thomas Weston

A very foggy and dretch day again on the island that lingered throughout the day. However, the evening was nicer and resulted in the emergence of flying ants and so did the large gulls that were feasting on them. This involved predominately Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls with flocks of Meadow Pipits present too.

Census was undertaken today, and a small arrival of Willow Warblers were noted in Millcombe this morning. No ringing was undertaken however, it was in evidence there had been a small arrival overnight. However, other sightings to be added very soon.

A trip to the Kittiwake productivity site resulted in a increase in the number of adults at the colony and a big decrease in the number of chicks around the colony with only 5 none fledged chicks remaining in the nests. This is a good sign after a bit of a rollercoaster of a summer for this species. Walking the West coast to the Fulmar productivity survey site is always a great area to wander along. The Fulmar chicks were doing really well and two of them were looking pretty grown up and it is not long before these two oldest ones will think about heading off and fledging.

On the way back, a quick check of Pondsbury resulted in very few birds seen, however, there was a flock of Mallards and a flock of bathing Herring, Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A couple of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were the best on the way back to the Village.

ManxShearwater ringing at our Productivity Site. ©ThomasWeston

Too foggy to see much and it was very windy too. Census counts to be added here soon combined with logbook sightings.