Bird Sightings
April 20th Sightings - A great Swallow passage
A sunny Saturday with a slight Northernly breeze. This inspired the first big Swallow movements of the year with an amazing 1444 birds moving North through the island from about 1pm onwards. The Swallows were joined by both House Martins, Swallows and even 9 Swifts, the latter the first for the year. Migration was strong today with a ‘new in’ Bar-tailed Godwit looking very dapper in its summer plumage, as well as a Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler seen in Millcombe.
Some of the scarce species today included 3 Jackdaws who decided to undertake a circuit of the island before presumably leaving to the South later; a pair of Buzzards arrived on the East coast and departed off the West as they circled and gained height; the Canada Goose remained on Pondsbury; and the Golden Oriole remained in Millcombe.
The sunny weather has inspired a great selection of photos to be taken. Here are just a few from today, enjoy…
Linnet at Rocket Pole Pond. ©Joe Parker
Golden Oriole in Millcombe. ©Joe Parker
Meadow Pipit near Old Light. ©Joe Parker
Whitethroat at Quarter Wall. ©Joe Parker
Swallow at Quarter Wall Pond. ©Michael Hui
Skylark at Quarter Wall. ©Michael Hui
Ringing
A slower day for ringing in Millcombe; mostly Blackcaps and the first Reed Warbler of the year.
April 19th Sightings - Greylag!!!!
Highlights from today:
- Golden Oriole in Millcombe again
- Merlin along the East Coast
- Single Whimbrel on Lower Lighthouse Field.
Census counts this morning were completed in beautiful weather today. Totals included 6 Mallards, 5 Woodpigeons, single Oystercatcher, the Whimbrel, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 121 Herring Gulls, 13 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 376 Razorbills, 2 Gannets, 11 Shag, single female Merlin, 4 Peregrine, 26 Carrion Crow, 4 Ravens, 11 Skylarks, 11 Sand Martins, 23 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 7 Blackcap, 35 Willow Warbler (another big arrival on the island today), 3 Chiffchaff, 13 Wrens, 63 Starlings, 6 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, single Redwing, 6 Robins, 11 Wheatears, 6 Dunnocks, 21 House Sparrows, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 ‘alba’ wagtails, 9 Meadow Pipits, 7 Chaffinch, 47 Linnets, 16 Goldfinches and single Siskin.
Greylag Goose on Pondsbury. ©Thomas Weston
A check of Pondsbury this afternoon resulted in the first Greylag Goose of the year which has started to associate with the Canada Goose on the island. This is a great record and who knows where this individual is going!
Ringing
A busy day in Millcombe with a good number caught again, mostly Willow Warblers.
April 18th Sightings – Woodchat Shrike
A Woodchat Shrike on the Upper East Side Path near Millcombe. ©Thomas Weston
Highlights from today:
- Golden Oriole in Millcombe again
- A ‘new in’ Woodchat Shrike from the Tavern/St Helens Field and Copse
- A Hooded Crow flew South over Tent Field.
- Two Jackdaw flew North.
- A Yellow Wagtail on Barton’s Field again.
- Canada Goose on Pondsbury again
- A Night Heron flew over Millcombe.
- Single Rook flew South
- More colour ringed Wheatears reported to us – great work everyone taking the time to find, photograph and report these birds to us! Every resighting counts.
Census counts this morning were completed in beautiful weather today. Rarities were found during the census but have been included in the highlights above. Totals included single Mallards, 2 Woodpigeons, 3 Oystercatcher, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 16 Herring Gulls, 3 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, Guillemot, 393 Razorbills, 5 Fulmar, single Peregrine, 2 Jackdaw, Rook,19 Carrion Crow, 10 Ravens, 9 Skylarks, 15 Sand Martins, 18 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 7 Blackcap, 15 Willow Warbler (a big arrival on the island today), 3 Chiffchaff, single Goldcrest, 13 Wrens, 28 Starlings, 7 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 5 Robins, 15 Wheatears, 3 Stonechat, 7 Dunnocks, 12 House Sparrows, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 ‘alba’ wagtails, 13 Meadow Pipits, single Chaffinch, 46 Linnets, 13 Goldfinches and 2 Siskin.
April 17th Sightings – Good Coverage
A Green Sandpiper flying from the St Johns Valley area. ©Thomas Weston
Highlights from today:
- Golden Oriole in Millcombe again
- Green Sandpiper flew out of St John’s Valley.
- A Jackdaw on Upper Lighthouse Field and 2 over the Ugly
- A Yellow Wagtail flying around Tent Field with the same (or another) seen on Barton’s Field again.
- Canada Goose on Pondsbury again
- Purple Sandpiper at Brazen Ward
- 1st Tree Pipit of the year
- Ring Ouzel at Halfway Wall
- Sub-adult Night Heron in Smelly Gully
- Colour ringed Wheatears reported to us – great work everyone taking the time to find, photo and report these birds to us! Every resighting counts.
Subadult Night Heron in Millcombe's Smelly Gully. ©Alan Rowland
Census counts this morning were completed in beautiful weather today. Rarities were found during the census but have been included in the highlights above. Totals included 2 Mallards, 4 Woodpigeons, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 61 Herring Gulls, 6 Guillemot, 28 Razorbills, single Fulmar, Kestrel, 10 Carrion Crow, 8 Ravens, 9 Skylarks, 10 Sand Martins, 26 Swallows, 5 House Martins, 18 Blackcap, single Sedge Warbler in Millcombe, 46 Willow Warbler (a big arrival on the island today), single Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 15 Wrens, 48 Starlings, 4 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Robins, 8 Wheatears, single Stonechat, 5 Dunnocks, 19 House Sparrows, single Pied Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinch, 113 Linnets (big movement throughout the day), 6 Goldfinches and a Siskin.
Ringing
A big fall of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps today with these, plus others, caught and ringed in Millcombe today resulting in 257 birds ringed. A Manx Shearwater box check found a returning pair back in their 2023 breeding burrow!