Bird Sightings

The seabird surveys were the main task of this morning with the Kittiwakes, Herring Gull and Fulmar productivity sites being covered. Starting with the Fulmars, the chicks are growing well, and the adults are not necessary at the breeding colony so only 2 adults were seen. Moving round to the Kittiwakes and it seems a bit more positive with more fledged chicks being seen in their nests and flying around – not a complete disaster for this colony. The Herring Gulls are a big success this year with a, what seems to be, a higher productivity than last year. All chicks have now fledged so we will be calculating the success of this year’s attempts.

A hot afternoon with not many birds seen apart from the adult female Blue-headed Wagtail with at least 1 of the Flava x Flavissma Wagtail hybrids. Oh, and a Green Sandpiper briefly alighted twice in Barton’s Field before flying off SE. 

A Battery Sunset. ©Thomas Weston

An evening walk resulted in a lovely sunset from the Battery.

Ringing

Quieter on the Willow Warbler front but we have now ringed just under 100 birds in Millcombe in the last five days which is very impressive and a sign of migrants to come. This species is one of the earliest to move and it is a good start to the autumn ringing efforts. Whilst in Millcombe, 2 Kestrels, 2 Woodpigeons, a couple of Blackcaps and the family party of Chiffchaffs were seen. Moving to the Manx Shearwater colony, we ringed the penultimate chick in the artificial boxes which is growing well. From this view, we saw a pod of Common Dolphins, roughly 24 Gannets, the breeding colony of Lesser-Black Backed Gulls and Herring Gulls and some of the local Linnets. Census was then finished and a nice mix of species were recorded including 2 Swift and small flocks of Wheatears. Whilst this was being undertaken, a Robin was caught and ringed in St Helen’s Field and the Blue-headed Wagtail female continued to associate herself with her two hybrid juveniles. The heat increased to midday and the team took an afternoon of data inputting whilst trying to help with the Sparrow Project.    

.    

Millcombe at sunrise. ©ThomasWeston

A hot day with ringing and seabird surveys undertaken throughout the morning. Ringing started at dawn and continued until midday. Numbers from the valley included high numbers of warblers including ~150 Willow Warblers amongst a small selection of Sedge Warblers and a single Reed Warbler. Breeding finches continued in the valley with both Goldfinches, Linnets and a couple of Chaffinches present and juveniles noted throughout.

Meanwhile, at the seabird surveys, there has been an increase in Kittiwake fledglings from our productivity site with 7 chicks fully flying around the site. The Fulmars chicks have reached an age where they can be left at the productivity site alone, and they are doing really well.

An afternoon of data input and enjoying the sun was necessary for the team. The first summer weather we have had this year and hopefully the birds respond positively.

Ringing

A big day for Willow Warblers today with 52 caught and ringed amongst a good selection of migrants and residents.

FlavaxFlavissima hybrid in Barton's Field. ©ThomasWeston

An early morning ringing session in Millcombe resulted in half of census being completed in the valley whilst ringing. And the other half completed before Housekeeping began. In total, a Mallard, a Feral Pigeon, 3 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Doves, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Great Black-Backed Gulls, 41 Herring Gulls, 6 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 2 Gannets, 2 Shags, 3 Cormorants flew high South over Old Light before heading out to sea over Benjamin’s Chair, 2 Kestrels, 13 Carrion Crows, 6 Ravens, 2 Swallows, single Blackcap, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Wrens, 27 Starlings, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Robins, 2 Stonechats, single Dunnock, 26 House Sparrows, single Blue-headed Wagtail female with one of the Flava x Flavissma Wagtail hybrids, single Pied Wagtail, 26 Meadow Pipits, 31 Linnets, and 12 Goldfinches.

A busy afternoon led to few birds being seen in the heat.

Ringing

A good morning for Willow Warblers with flurries of birds moving through Millcombe this early morning. A couple of Sedge Warblers in the mix as well as some of the ‘locals’.