Bird Sightings

A very busy day for the team.

To begin, the Puffin productivity survey was successful with more pufflings recorded in the study site adding to the previous sightings. In the next three weeks, the number of pufflings should increase, whilst the overall numbers of adults decrease as they begin their migration.   

Census was also undertaken today with counts including 2 Mallard, a single Feral Pigeon, 3 Woodpigeon, a single Collared Dove, 2 Kittiwake, 13 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 9 Lesser-Black Backed Gull, 66 Herring Gulls, 4 Guillemots, 12 Razorbills, 6 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Shag, Kittiwake, 26 Carrion Crows, single Raven, 2 Skylark, single Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 2 Whitethroats, single Willow Warbler, single Chiffchaff, 13 Wrens, 60 Starlings, 3 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, single Robin, 3 Wheatears, 3 Stonechat, 2 Dunnock, 14 House Sparrows, single Yellow Wagtail male with the Blue-headed Wagtail female, 4 Pied Wagtails, 14 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipit, 26 Linnets and 12 Goldfinches were seen.

Our quarterly seal census was completed at low tide. Between the four sections of the island a nice count of ~112 Grey Seals were recorded with all of these seen on the East Coast.

Peregrine on the Cliffs. ©Thomas Weston

After the seal census, the Fulmar, Kittiwake and Guillemot productivity surveys were undertaken. In the Fulmar productivity survey, the first chick of the year was confirmed within the colony with other birds seen on eggs. In comparison, the Kittiwakes are rapidly growing with the last of the nests still to hatch. Moreover, the Guillemots are growing and the first of the fledglings already out at sea with their adult looking after them. During the surveys, the first juvenile Peregrine of the year was seen on the cliffs.

Yellow Wagtail chick. ©Joe Parker

The day wasn’t over after these surveys, with the Yellow Wagtail + Blue Headed Wagtail nest found by visiting ringer/birder Noah. The four chicks were of the correct size to ring and this was undertaken this evening. This species tends to fledge quite early so it will not be long before they are seen in Barton’s or St Helen’s Field. It is an incredible record for the island with this being the first ever breeding record for this species after an unsustantiated report from the 1930's.

Storm Petrel from the Jetty. ©Joe Parker

A night of Storm Petrel ringing at the Jetty resulted in a catch of 30 including 27 new, 2 ringed on the island last year and a bird ringed elsewhere. The bird was originally ringed by the Teifi Ringing Group at either Mwnt or Strumble Head in June this year. This is quite impressive but not unexpected for a species who travels and moves large distances to feed.

The only sighting from today was the male Yellow Wagtail with food in Barton’s Field! This means we have had a successful breeding attempt. More on this soon…

The Village this evening. ©Caoimhe Abdul-Wahab

After a stormy night of Manx Shearwater catching, a very clear day with full cloud but excellent visibility with Wales and Devon very clear on census today.

Totals from census today included a 7 Mallard, 3 Woodpigeon, 7 Collared Dove, 4 Oystercatcher, Kittiwake, 11 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 2 Lesser-Black Backed Gull, 38 Herring Gulls, 8 Puffins, 262 Guillemots, 42 Razorbills, 82 Manx Shearwaters, single Gannet, 4 Shag, 23 Carrion Crows, 8 Raven, 3 Skylark, single Swallow flew South, single House Martin in Millcombe, 2 Whitethroats, single Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 14 Wrens, 40 Starlings, 7 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush, single Robin, 4 Wheatears, single Stonechat, 6 Dunnock including a family party of 4 juveniles, 29 House Sparrows, 7 Pied Wagtails, 26 Meadow Pipits, single Rock Pipit, 19 Linnets and 10 Goldfinches were seen.

The Yellow Wagtail male and Blue-headed Wagtail female were still in Barton’s Field with the horses.

A busy night for Manx Shearwater ringing with 53 caught between 23:45 tonight and 01:00 tomorrow. This involved a crazy number of birds returning to the colonies with hundreds if not thousands of birds seen/heard throughout the evening. Out of all the birds, 30 new birds were ringed probably involving non-breeders/prospecting/failed breeders scouting out the colony.