Bird Sightings

A busy boat day resulted in some good coverage from across the island. The 2 Golden Orioles remained in Millcombe showing well in both the morning and afternoon and a flyover Osprey was a stunning bird, the second one of the year, and was only seen by one lucky observer.

HerringGull in Lower Lighthouse Field. ©Thomas Weston

Counts from across the island resulted in 29 Mallards, single Feral Pigeon, 5 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Dove, 5 Oystercatchers, single Whimbrel, 174 Puffins, 944 Razorbills, 2681 Guillemots, 181 Kittiwakes, 283 Herring Gulls, 4 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 59 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, the return of the 2 Great Northern Divers,  68 Fulmar, 7 Gannets, 19 Shag, pair Kestrel, Peregrines, 22 Carrion Crows, 7 Ravens, 20 Skylark, Sedge Warbler, single Sand Martins, 85 Swallows, 7 House Martins, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, single Garden Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 23 Wrens, 77 Starling, single Song Thrush, 9 Blackbird, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Robins, 10 Stonechat, 14 Wheatear, 4 Dunnock, 27 House Sparrows, 2 Pied Wagtails, 26 Meadow Pipits, 11 Rock Pipits, 2 Chaffinch, 53 Linnets, Lesser Redpoll, and 10 Goldfinches.  

Today was a nice sunny day resulting in some great counts by allcomers.  The standout highlight was the 2 Golden Orioles in Millcombe who were showing well together this afternoon. This confirmed we have an adult male and an immature/adult female type which was very very nice!

From allcomers, 7 Mallards, Feral Pigeon, 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Dove, 3 Swifts, 9 Oystercatchers, 99 Puffins, 880 Razorbills, 3975 Guillemots, 347 Kittiwakes, 295 Herring Gulls, 8 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 85 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 49 Fulmar, 3 Gannets, 11 Shag, male Kestrel, Peregrines, 25 Carrion Crows, 8 Ravens, 18 Skylark, 2 Sand Martins, 124 Swallows, 4 House Martins, single singing Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 19 Wrens, 22 adult +44 juvenile Starling, single Song Thrush, 10 Blackbird, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Robins, female Redstart, 6 Stonechat, 25 Wheatear, 3 Dunnock, 23 House Sparrows, single White Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtails, 22 Meadow Pipits, 5 Rock Pipits, 4 Chaffinch, 155 Linnets, and 6  Goldfinches.  

The Conservation Team were rather busy today, so census was split. However, Millcombe was more productive than the SouthWest Field/Airfield area with a nice range of species noted. It’s been a while since we have seen a nice passage of Manx Shearwaters in the daytime, so to see 34 fly South past the Cruise Ship in the Bay in less than five minutes was really nice. Following their line, a single Gannet passed by during the very short seawatch. In Millcombe, a single Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a pair of Lesser Redpoll remained in the valley. Once the wind died down a bit, birds were moving with at least one Golden Oriole still in Millcombe, a Woodchat Shrike around the Old Quarry Cottages and a probable Montague’s Harrier were seen by visiting birders.

From allcomers, 13 Mallards, Feral Pigeon, 3 Woodpigeons, single Collared Dove, 2 Swifts, 8 Oystercatchers, single Ringed Plover, single Whimbrel, 63 Puffins, 57 Razorbills, 1503 Guillemots, 31 Kittiwakes, 250 Herring Gulls, 7 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 54 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 3 Storm Petrels, 17 Fulmar, 2 Gannets, 7 Cormorants flew North, 15 Shag, female Sparrowhawk came in off the sea, female Kestrel, pair of Peregrines, 18 Carrion Crows, 7 Ravens, 18 Skylark, 38 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 3 Willow Warbler, single Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, 17 Wrens, 40 Starling, single Song Thrush, 8 Blackbird, single Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Robins, 10 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Dunnock, 15 House Sparrows, Yellow Wagtail flew North, 3 Pied Wagtails, 24 Meadow Pipits, single Tree Pipit, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Chaffinch, 83 Linnets, 10 Goldfinches and a Siskin.  

A wet day with most of it spent inside doing data inputting.

Hepatic Cuckoo at Old Light. ©Thomas Weston

However, the standout census highlight was a hepatic female Cuckoo at Old Light. Elsewhere, a Grey Heron and a Eurasian Teal with 2 ducklings were on Pondsbury and the first Red Kite of the year flew North across the island.