Bird Sightings

A lovely breezy morning with a bit of cloud cover and slight drizzle to begin. Census was completed and included 16 Mallard spread between Barton’s Field and Government House; 4 Woodpigeons in Millcombe Pines; 4 Great Black-backed Gulls off Benjamin’s Chair; 2 Herring Gulls in Barton’s Field; 2 Manx Shearwater passed Old Light; 21 Shag in the Landing Bay; single Kestrel and Peregrine in South West Field; 5 Wheatears, 22 Starlings, 5 Pied Wagtails, 78 Linnets, 9 Meadow Pipits, 15 Carrion Crows and 3 Ravens in the fields; single Swallow and 41 House Sparrows in the Village; 9 Wrens across the route; in the fields; and 2 Blackbird, 6 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Stonechats, 2 Chaffinches, 9 Goldfinches in Millcombe.

Manx Shearwater box checks were successful, and all chicks were growing well. One in fact was looking like it was going to fledge within the next couple of days.

Channel Wagtail in Barton's Field. ©Thomas Weston

An afternoon checking the fields and Landing Bay resulted in a new brood of Stonechats with two adults feeding three chicks on the Beach Road. There was some bird life in Millcombe, but overall quite quiet. In Barton's Field, one of our 'Channel Wagtails' (Flava x Flavissma Yellow Wagtail hybrid) was present and showing really well with the Horses and Sheep around the pond.

Census was undertaken this morning and was relatively quiet. Sightings to be added soon.

Rock Pipit on the main beach in the Landing Bay. ©ThomasWeston

A walk down to the Landing Bay this afternoon resulted in flocks of feeding Shags, a slight passage of Gannets, a fully fledged family of Rock Pipits and a couple of Wheatears. Please be warned that our Grey Seals have been pupping around the island in the last week. The Main Beach may be closed when you arrive if there are pups present on the beach or in the vacinity. If the beach is closed, please do not enter as it will result in unecessary disturbance to the hauled out individuals.

Ringing

Manx Shearwater from the Productivity Site. ©Thomas Weston

A nocturnal visit to our Manx Shearwater productivity colony resulted in the first few ‘semi-fledged’ chicks making their way out of their burrows. The chicks are still quite, to very downy at this stage, and will begin building up flight muscles through flapping, and orientating their way through star-gazing. The bright moon was impressive and lite to the first few chicks – there will hopefully be a lot more to come!

Census was undertaken this morning but there were signs of migration here and there. Counts included 6 Mallard, 2 Oystercatchers, a Green Sandpiper flushed from Ackland’s Pond and flew high south before veering round to the North to Pondsbury, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, single Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwaters, single Gannet, 16 Shag, 7 Carrion Crows, 8 Ravens, single Swallow, 4 Willow Warblers, 4 Wrens, 62 Starlings, 2 Blackbird, single Spotted Flycatcher, single Robin, single Stonechat¸ single Dunnock, 16 House Sparrows, single flava x flavissma Yellow Wagtail juvenile, 2 Pied Wagtails, 16 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 44 Linnets, and 5 Goldfinches.

An afternoon/evening seawatch from North End resulted in 2772+ Manx Shearwaters, 41 Gannets, a slight passage of Kittiwakes, and the odd Fulmar and gull.

Juvenile Kestrel at Benjamin's Chair. ©ThomasWeston

A busy day in the field started at 06:00 when the team opened the mist nets in Millcombe. There was a nice cool breeze coming from the North but there were very few signs of migration going on. Ringing was slow with only 6 birds in three hours though did include a Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, another Lundy-born Chiffchaff and Pied Wagtail, and our first known migrant Blackcaps. The team packed up and census was completed soon after. Sightings included 14 Mallard, 3 Feral Pigeons, 5 Woodpigeons, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 7 Herring Gulls, 2 Shag, single juvenile Kestrel (showing really well and a little stunner at that), 2 Peregrines, 3 Carrion Crows, 11 Ravens, 3 Skylark, 6 Swallows, single Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, single Chiffchaff,  9 Wrens, 28 Starlings, 2 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 5 Wheatears, Stonechat¸ Dunnock, 57 House Sparrows, single flava x flavissma Yellow Wagtail juvenile, single Pied Wagtails, 12 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 81 Linnets, and 10 Goldfinches.

Juvenile Mallard caught and ringed in Barton's Field. ©ThomasWeston

A quick Mallard catch in Barton’s Field resulted in 4 ducklings and an adult female caught and ringed.

Seabird productivity surveys were split with the Fulmar chicks doing really well with two looking like they maybe thinking about fledging soon. The Kittiwakes have all now fledged the nests and are feeding out in the Atlantic with a couple seen passing close by, but not associating themselves with the 57 adults who were still present. A Wheatear in off the West coast was unexpected but very interesting.

Ringing

An amazing piece of artwork of our Wheatear nightcatching work in/around the Village. ©ThomasWeston

Wheatears arriving in off the sea in the afternoon inspired an evening of dazzling, and under a hazy red moon caused by Canadian wildfires, 11 Wheatears were seen with one caught and two Skylarks caught to. See this incredible artwork subsequently painted into one of the guest accomodation logbooks.  We thank Paul and Jo for coming to wildlife log, coming out with us nightcatching, painting this amazing piece of artwork and allowing us to share it with you.