Bird Sightings

A migrant Spotted Flycatcher in Millcombe. ©Thomas Weston

Census was busy and the number of species recorded gave a very autumnal theme this morning. Millcombe was particularly busy with 6 Woodpigeons; the first Water Rail heard since the Spring; a flyover Turnstone heading North up the East coast calling – an island rarity but it may have been present for a while with the Oystercatchers in the Landing bay; 2 Shag offshore; 2 Carrion Crows; 2 Ravens; single Swallow roosting in the trees; 5 Willow Warblers demonstrating a small arrival of this species with another few noted on the plateau; single Goldcrest in Millcombe Pines heard all morning; 17 Wrens; 48 Starlings; 9 Blackbirds; single Spotted Flycatcher in the trees near the Gas Store/Battlements, with at least another 4 or 5 seen elsewhere; 6 Robins giving their autumnal ‘ticking’ call; 3 Stonechats; 6 Dunnocks; 4 House Sparrows but plenty more in the Village after a successful breeding season; single Meadow Pipit in the field by Castles; single migrating flyover Tree Pipit headed high SW over the Landing Bay heading towards Rat Island/South Light; 4 Chaffinches; 6 Linnets; and 4 Goldfinches.

A Pondsbury Sunset. ©Thomas Weston

A night of Storm Petrel surveys resulted birds seen at multiple breeding colonies. More on this to come in due course.

Logbook sightings to be added.

Mallard in Barton's Field. ©ThomasWeston

Census was undertaken this morning within ex-hurricane Ernesto. Census counts included 16 Mallard, single Woodpigeon, 7 Great Black-backed Gulls, 18 Herring Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, single Manx Shearwater, 8 Shag, single Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crows, 5 Ravens, 2 Wrens, 12 Starlings, 2 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 2 Wheatears¸ single Dunnock, 14 House Sparrows, 3 Pied Wagtails, 11 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinches, 21 Linnets, and 3 Goldfinches. Most unusually, a Whimbrel came in off the sea at Benjamin’s Chair and flew high North.

Pied Wagtail in Barton's Field. ©ThomasWeston

We have mentioned our hybrid wagtails for a while now, but if you are keen to spot them, you have to be aware of the juvenile Pied Wagtails in the same field. These birds are more grey and black, rather than the olive cast of the hybrid Channel Wagtials.

A lovely breezy morning with a bit of cloud cover and slight drizzle to begin. Census was completed and included 16 Mallard spread between Barton’s Field and Government House; 4 Woodpigeons in Millcombe Pines; 4 Great Black-backed Gulls off Benjamin’s Chair; 2 Herring Gulls in Barton’s Field; 2 Manx Shearwater passed Old Light; 21 Shag in the Landing Bay; single Kestrel and Peregrine in South West Field; 5 Wheatears, 22 Starlings, 5 Pied Wagtails, 78 Linnets, 9 Meadow Pipits, 15 Carrion Crows and 3 Ravens in the fields; single Swallow and 41 House Sparrows in the Village; 9 Wrens across the route; in the fields; and 2 Blackbird, 6 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Stonechats, 2 Chaffinches, 9 Goldfinches in Millcombe.

Manx Shearwater box checks were successful, and all chicks were growing well. One in fact was looking like it was going to fledge within the next couple of days.

Channel Wagtail in Barton's Field. ©Thomas Weston

An afternoon checking the fields and Landing Bay resulted in a new brood of Stonechats with two adults feeding three chicks on the Beach Road. There was some bird life in Millcombe, but overall quite quiet. In Barton's Field, one of our 'Channel Wagtails' (Flava x Flavissma Yellow Wagtail hybrid) was present and showing really well with the Horses and Sheep around the pond.