Bird Sightings

Sightings from across the island by all-comers involved 6 Mallards, 2 Feral Pigeon, 5 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Doves, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Kittiwakes, 25 Herring Gulls, 5 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 4 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, single Fulmar, 82 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Gannet, 16 Shags, single Kestrels, single Peregrine, 15 Carrion Crows, 6 Ravens, 3 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, single Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaffs, single Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, 5 Wren, 54 Starlings, single Blackbird, single Robin, 5 Stonechat, 16 Wheatears, 2 Dunnocks, 56 House Sparrows, 4 Pied Wagtails, 47 Meadow Pipits, single Rock Pipit, 3 Chaffinches, 86 Linnets, and 10 Goldfinches.

A well developed juvenile Herring Gull with its adult in the productivity colony. ©ThomasWeston

Census was undertaken this morning showing an arrival of Willow Warblers into Millcombe. The team were undertaking productivity surveys across the island. The Manx Shearwaters are growing well with the next chicks developing their primaries quickly. There was more excitement at the Herring Gull colony where a number of the metal ringed chicks have started to fledge and explore the surrounding area. Above the colony, there was a nice post-fledging flock of 9 juveniles and 20 adults seen. Due to the visibility being excellent today, flocks of Gannets were seen at distance with at least 21 individuals seen in small feeding flocks whilst others passed by. All the Puffins from the Jenny’s Cove colony and most of the Guillemots and Razorbills have now left the cliffs and were seen on the water in the Cove. It’s looking like a successful year for these species but we are starting to calculate the productivity estimates for the former two species. Moreover, Fulmar are continuing to raise their young, but they do have a long way to before we determine the success of the colony. On the other hand, Kittiwakes seem to have gone from good to bad within a few days with the number of nest failures dramatically increased over the last few days. We are quite complexed what has happened in the last week but with our, already small colony, getting even smaller each visit it’s not looking great.

Ringing

An evening session of Manx Shearwater resulted in 0m fog, some moisturising drizzle, poor visibility, and a small catch made. As with this site, it is amazing how we can catch 50% new and 50% retraps each nocturnal session.

Census counts from today included 5 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Doves, single Oystercatcher, single Lesser-Black Backed Gull, 13 Herring Gulls, single Fulmar, 4 Shags, single Kestrel, 10 Carrion Crows, 7 Ravens, 3 Skylark, 8 Wrens, 14 Starlings, single Blackbird, 2 Robins, 2 Wheatears, 4 Dunnock, 14 House Sparrows, the male Yellow Wagtail calling over Barton’s Field, 5 Pied Wagtails, 12 Meadow Pipits, 34 Linnets and 12 Goldfinches were seen.  This was followed by a day of housekeeping for most of the conservation team whilst fog covered the island reducing sightings from elsewhere.

Ringing

A Manx Shearwater session resulted in a small but worthwhile catch of shearwaters. Considering the moon phase and cloud cover, we did pretty well.

Sightings from across the island by all-comers involved 7 Mallards, 3 Feral Pigeon, 8 Woodpigeon, 2 Oystercatchers, 400 Puffins, 9 Guillemots, 9 Kittiwakes, 45 Herring Gulls, single Great-Black Backed Gull, 15 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 25 Storm Petrels (second half of the night), 14 Fulmar, 15 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Gannet, 19 Shags, 3 Kestrels, 3 Peregrines, single Carrion Crows, 10 Ravens, 2 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, single Whitethroats, single Wren, 30 Starlings, 2 Blackbirds, single Robin, single Stonechat, 16 Wheatears, 18 House Sparrows, 2 Pied Wagtails, 16 Meadow Pipits, 40 Linnets, and 7 Goldfinches.