Bird Sightings

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.    

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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’.

Census this morning was completed after a brief half an hour ringing session in Millcombe. Millcombe hosted an arrival of warblers with the first 2 Sedge Warblers of the ‘post-breeding period’, 30 out of the 42 Willow Warblers seen and 2 Chiffchaffs. Other species spotted included 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Kestrels, a flyover Peregrine calling high over, 2 Swallows, 8 Carrion Crows, a single Blackbird, 3 Wrens, single Robin, a single Stonechat, 4 Dunnock, a single Chaffinch and 15 Goldfinches. Mixed gull flocks across the census area included 2 Great- Black Backed Gull, 10 Herring Gull and 2 Lesser-Black Backed Gull. In the fields, 10 Meadow Pipits, 21 Linnets, 55 Starlings, 5 Wheatears, 2 Pied Wagtails and 3 Raven. In the Village, 21 House Sparrows and 3 Mallards were seen.

Kittiwake at our Study Site. ©Thomas Weston

A check on the Kittiwake productivity site resulted in the first two fledglings of the year. This is a great achievement for the adults who have had a really tough season this year.

Ringing

Mid-census session resulted in 8 Willow Warblers caught in half an hour.