Bird Sightings

Census counts included 5 Mallard, 2 Feral Pigeons, single Woodpigeon, single Great-Black Backed Gull, 110 Herring Gulls, 42 Guillemots, 22 Razorbills, single Gannet, single Shag, single Grey Heron, single Kestrel, 23 Carrion Crows, 2 Raven, 3 Skylark, single Swallow, 4 Whitethroats, single Willow Warbler, single Chiffchaff, 23 Wrens, 6 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 5 Wheatears, single Stonechat, 2 Dunnocks, 21 House Sparrows, 4 Pied Wagtails, 9 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 27 Linnets and 16 Goldfinches were seen.

Kittiwake Study Site. ©Thomas Weston

Our seabird productivity surveys have been very busy recently so we apologise for the lack of updates recently. However, the we can confirm the Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Puffins and Fulmar seem to be having a good breeding season so far.

Other sightings today included the return of the female Blue-headed Wagtail with the male Yellow Wagtail in Barton’s Field. We have not seen them around for a while so we hope they have been hanging around unseen for the past few days. Also, an unidentified wader species was seen by a member of staff, our thinking is a Green Sandpiper but we are not 100% sure.

Jennys Cove surveys. ©Thomas Weston

No sightings from today unfortunately.

Census counts included 3 Mallard, 9 Feral Pigeons, 2 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 185 Herring Gulls and 17 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 32 Guillemots, 56 Razorbills and 12 auk spp, 3 Shag, a Kestrel, 8 Carrion Crows, the Hooded x Carrion Crow hybrid, 3 Raven, 11 Skylark, 13 Swallows, single House Martin, single Blackcap, 4 Whitethroats, single Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 11 Wrens, 11 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, 3 Robin, 14 Wheatears, 3 Stonechat, 2 Dunnocks, 26 House Sparrows, 4 Pied Wagtails, 14 Meadow Pipits, single Rock Pipit, 4 Chaffinches, 32 Linnets and 3 Goldfinches were seen.

An evening wander to OldLight. ©Thomas Weston

Census was warm but breezy. Millcombe was the hive of juvenile activity today, although passerine juveniles heard/seen throughout the route. Also, 2 Woodpigeon, a single Collared Dove, single Willow Warbler, single Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, 22 Wrens, 9 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 2 Dunnocks, 4 Chaffinches, 18 Linnets and 5 Goldfinches were seen. The Landing Bay held 6 Shag and a single Oystercatcher. Off Benjamin’s Chair, a Kittiwake flew South,138 Guillemots, 41 Razorbills and 3 Puffins were present. Large gulls across the route included 3 Great-Black Backed Gull, 119 Herring Gulls and 6 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls with nests for all three seen – hopefully some juveniles soon! The fields were productive with a Kestrel hunting one of the 53 Starlings, a Peregrine also hunting Starlings, 3 Ravens, 6 Skylarks, 6 Pied Wagtails, 8 Wheatears, a Stonechat, 20 Meadow Pipits and a flock of 15 Carrion Crows. A couple of fully fledged young Rock Pipits were a pleasant surprise at Old Light today and showing incredibly well. In the Village 9 Mallard were seen in Barton’s Field including 3 almost fully grown ducklings, the local House Sparrows have successfully raised young across the Village and we have experienced an influx of Feral Pigeons with 6 seen today.