Bird Sightings

Some incredible auk counts today was achieved through surveying some of the key breeding areas. The Terraces were busy with a slight passage of hirundines, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, and a pair of Stonechat. However, a strong passage of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins occurred this afternoon again. Elsewhere, a Yellow Wagtail was in Old Light and a Grey Heron was at Pondsbury.

Census counts from today included a single Mallard, 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Whimbrel, single Great Black-backed Gulls, 90 Herring Gulls, 9 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 44 Razorbills, single Fulmar, single Shag, single Peregrine, 17 Carrion Crow, 3 Ravens, 9 Skylarks, 6 Sand Martins, 12 Swallows, single House Martin, 5 Blackcap,  single Sedge Warbler, 8 Willow Warbler, single Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 18 Wrens, 34 Starlings, 11 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 6 Robins, 7 Wheatears, pair of Stonechat, 7 Dunnocks, 26 House Sparrows, single Pied Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinch, 36 Linnets and 10 Goldfinches.

Thank you to the Oldenburg staff for allowing the Conservation Team to undertake a quick whole-island boat survey of the island. Sightings included 26 Oystercatchers, 22 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 22 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 74 Herring Gulls, 2 Raven, 2 Peregrines, 78 Puffins (see our recent highest counts for more information), 79 Seals, 47 Shags, 2 Gannets, 2 Rock Pipits, 126 Fulmar, 407 Razorbills (big undercount), 1726 Guillemots (big undercount), 85 Kittiwakes, a Common Sandpiper (island scarcity), and a Bar-tailed Godwit. A few photos from the trip below…
Guillemots on Gannets Rock. ©Thomas WestonGuillemots on Gannets Rock ©Thomas WestonRazorbills in Gannet Coombe. ©Thomas Weston

Greenland Wheatear on the Airfield. ©Richard Campey

A quieter day on the island but some migrants are still pushing through the cooler wind. A survey at Jenny’s Cove resulted in 79 Puffins, 559 Razorbills, 641 Guillemots and 44 Fulmars spotted on the cliffs. Visible migration was quite strong with 2 Rooks attempting to migrate out from the NW and a passage of hirundines again. On the way back, a Yellow Wagtail was in Barton’s Field feeding with the horses, more ‘Greenland’ Wheatears were noted on the Plateau including a flock of 14 noted near Pondsbury this afternoon (no rings seen so undoubtably new in). At Pondsbury itself a small flock of Mallard and a pair of Grey herons were seen! In the Village, 2 Collared Doves were seen by the Camping Field.

Ringing

A late night resulted in birds being caught on the Airfield after midnight. This included a nice small catch of ‘Greenland Wheatear’ with some of these storing a large quantity of fat and muscle.

Not many sightings today. However, the highlights included a Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler singing in Millcombe, a second Cuckoo in Quarter Wall Copse and a Redpoll species flying around Millcombe. The Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin remained on the Lower Lighthouse Field. There was no sign of any Orioles, Herons, Shrikes etc today.

Ringing

Bar-tailed godwit caught and ringed on nocturnal surveys. ©Thomas Weston

A busy morning with roughly ~50 birds caught in Milcombe including a small fall of migrant warblers. A nocturnal survey resulted in a nice mix of species caught before midnight. The Bar-tailed Godwit was only the 2^nd ever ringed on the island with the previous record being in 1979.