Bird Sightings
10/05/2026 – Waders and Shearwaters
Dunlin at Rocket Pole Pond by Thomas Weston
Golden Plover on the Airfield by Thomas Weston09/05/2026 – A Weather Shift
By Eleanor Harris
After the last few days of still, sunny and warm weather today really felt like a change. Today was a travel day but due to the Easterlies predicted day-trippers were cancelled meaning that it became another odd day. The layers came out for census with wind picking up from the East blowing strongly through Millcombe. Birds were around but sheltering in the trees and bushes with little in the Landing Bay. Some of the highlights from Millcombe were flocks of Goldfinches fighting with the persistent wind and a few Whitethroats and rather suspicious Blackbirds along the way. It is crazy to think that for the last week it has been relatively calm and still but today it all changed with a cold breeze sweeping the island.
Lighthouse View EH
Continuing census I bumped into the new Dexter Cows behind Stonycroft who looked rather grumpy and shy settling into their new home. They will be joining the other three to help with land management and grazing schemes. Walking along the airfield flocks of Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits battled the elements whilst I got slightly sideways blown which is always fun. Overall, it was a nice steady census with a range of different species.
Dexter Cows EH
Heading back to the Village I got ready for work ahead of a day in the Tavern.
As it was a travel day everyone was rather busy with the Tavern, Housekeeping, Ship and other tasks so our visitors became important eyes and ears for the day. Some of the highlights found were the first Common Terns of the year, Cuckoo in Millcombe, Swifts and a female Pied Flycatcher. It is great to hear your sighting and add then to the records so keep them coming!
08/05/2026 – Having a whale of a time
Minke Whale and Whimbrel migrating toward The Castles by Thomas Weston07/05/26 – Moths on Tour
By Tara McEvoy-Wilding
I'll start my Thursday blog with Wednesday evening, as the conservation team took an excursion to the South Light area to take moth trapping on tour! The aim was to trap a Netted Pug who favour Sea Campion, and there is lots of plants around South Light. We split the trap into parts and carried a bit each up the very long set of steps! After setting up the trap we attempted to herd the group of 8 goats out of the area... Unfortunately we were outsmarted.
Being heckled by the Wingnuts
On Thursday morning we met at South Light at 6:30 to check the trap, sadly there were no Netted Pugs. We caught 3 moths, 1 Marbled Coronet and 2 Mullein Waves. Today was a Bideford boat day and we had divers arrivng so at 11, me and Simon headed down to the Landing Bay to collect the divers' luggage and and see the Oldenburg in. After lunch, helping the shop with their stores arrival, and a bit off office work, we headed back down to the Landing Bay to fill the divers' cylinders and see off the Oldenburg.
In the bird world, Greg spotted a Golden Oriole at Pointless Wall! It was decided that it was a different individual to the Golden Oriole seen a few days previously. Quarter Wall Copse was full of singing birds including Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Wren. A Wood Pigeon was seen on the West Coast near Aztec Bay and a Garden Warbler on the Terrace. At Belle Vue Cottages a Yellow Wagtail was seen by Thomas and Greg spotted a ringed Female Pied Flycatcher in Millcombe. Off the west coast both Common and Risso's Dolphins were sighted!
Golden Oriole at Pointless Wall by Greg Lee
In the village, a Sedge Warbler was caught- which we later learned was ringed as a juvenile in Dorset last year!
In the evening the conservation team headed out to the west coast to ring Manx Shearwaters. It was a busy night and we ended up catching 56 Manx Shearwaters, including 24 new birds and 32 retrap birds- a successful night!
Manx Shearwater ringing on the west coast