Bird Sightings

Migrating Grey Heron from Rocket Pole. ©Thomas Weston

On census, 3 Mallard were seen in Barton’s Field around the pond, 7 Collared Doves around Quarters, and 18 House Sparrows. From the Ugly, 3 Oystercatchers and 11 Shag were in the Landing Bay whilst two individual Grey Herons flew past heading North to Pondsbury. A large gull flock, that involved loitering birds and local breeders, included a single Great-Black Backed Gull, 88 Herring Gulls and 4 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls. Offshore of Benjamin’s Chair, 48 Guillemots, 106 Razorbills, 29 Puffins, 50 Auk sp., a Rock Pipit, and a single Gannet. Nearby, a pair of Peregrines were seen in the distance, a flock of 8 Swifts came in off at Benjamin’s Chair and a Hobby flew in off at Castles before both species headed high North. Hirundines were thin off the ground but included 5 Swallow and 4 House Martin. Millcombe hosted 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, the majority of the 17 Wrens, 10 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, 4 Robins, 4 Dunnocks, 5 Chaffinches, 17 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches. In the Fields, 10 Carrion Crows, 7 Ravens, 6 Skylarks, 33 Starlings, 8 Wheatear, a single Stonechat, 13 Meadow Pipits and 4 Pied Wagtails were spotted. The only bird of great note was the Carrion Crow x Hooded Crow Hybrid.

Our team were very busy today with it being a boat day. However the highlights included a Manx Shearwater night catching session, our Jenny’s Cove Seabird Station and the RSPB arriving to undertake Storm Petrel surveys.

Another day of Northernly winds leading to a real reduction in the activity of the birds.

YellowWagtail Flavissima male in Bartons Field. ©ThomasWeston

On census, 6 Mallard were in Barton’s Field with the Yellow Wagtail male and Blue-headed Wagtail female. In the Village vicinity, 41 House Sparrows and 5 Pied Wagtails. Millcombe was sheltered quite a bit from the breeze and held 3 Swallows, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, 8 Wrens, 2 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Whitethroats, 9 Chaffinches, 20 Linnets, 6 Goldfinches. From the Ugly, a single Oystercatcher was seen. Moving around to Benjamin’s Chair saw a single Kittiwake, 94 Guillemots, 38 Razorbills, 39 Puffins, a single Fulmar, a single Rock Pipit and 22 Manx Shearwaters. In the Fields, 3 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 97 Herring Gulls and 10 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls were spotted, as well as 6 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 9 Meadow Pipits, 6 Carrion Crows, 3 Ravens, 8 Skylarks.

Yellow Wagtails Flava (female) and Flavissima (male) in Bartons Field. ©ThomasWeston

The female Blue-headed Wagtail and the male Yellow Wagtail were seen again in Barton’s Field and showing very well.

On census, 3 Mallard were in Barton’s Field, a Feral Pigeon, 23 House Sparrows and 70 Starlings was in the Village, and a single Swift flew North. Millcombe was sheltered quite a bit from the breeze and held a single Woodpigeon, a flyover Sand Martin, 7 Swallows, 2 House Martins, single Willow Warbler, single Chiffchaff, 8 Wrens, 5 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, 5 Robins, 3 Dunnocks, single Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, 6 Chaffinches, 21 Linnets, 11 Goldfinches. From the Ugly, 4 Oystercatchers were seen. Moving around to Benjamin’s Chair saw 134 Guillemots, 41 Razorbills, a single Shag, a single Fulmar, and a single Rock Pipit. In the fields, 7 Wheatear, single Stonechat, 6 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 97 Herring Gulls and 6 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls were spotted, as well as 3 Carrion Crows, 3 Ravens, 7 Skylarks. In the Village, 4 Collared Doves, 70 Starlings, 23 House Sparrows, single Pied Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipits.