Bird Sightings

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.

Census counts from today included 14 Mallard; 3 Woodpigeons in Millcombe; single Collared Dove flew south over Quarter Wall; 3 Oystercatchers in the Landing Bay; 10 Guillemots, 120 Razorbills, 48 Kittiwake off Benjamin’s Chair; 123 Herring Gulls including nesting pairs on territory; 13 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls in Millers Cake; single Fulmar and 2 Gannets off the coast; a female Merlin flew North past the Church chasing Meadow Pipits; 15 Carrion Crow; 7 Ravens in the Village; 4 Skylarks with birds displaying and singing throughout most fields; 2 Swallows North; 2 Whitethroat around Millcombe; single Sedge Warblers at Quarter Wall; 2 Willow Warblers and 4 Chiffchaff singing; 11 Wrens across the route; 39 Starlings being super active today; 11 Blackbirds; single Fieldfare at Quarter Wall Copse; single Song Thrush still singing; single Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Robins in Millcombe; 4 Wheatears; single Whinchat female in SouthWest Field; 6 Stonechat including some fledglings near Millcombe; 17 House Sparrows in the Village; 2 Pied Wagtail throughout the fields; a single Tree Pipit; 9 Meadow Pipits; 2 Chaffinch in Millcombe; 23 Linnets; with a Lesser Redpoll and 11 Goldfinches mostly in Millcombe.

Other highlights included a Siskin over Millcombe, 3 Golden Plover in Aerogenerator Field, Ringed Plover over the Old Hospital, a Cuckoo on the Upper East Path, a Moorhen (very rare with less than 50 records) on Pondsbury and a female Golden Oriole in Millcombe.

Ringing

Two short sessions resulted in few migrants.

Lesser-Black Backed Gull on Millers Cake. ©AndreaMay

A pretty special day, with glorious warm weather resulting in some great birding. Highlights included a Little Ringed Plover was heard flying around the Village around 00:15 whilst the Aurora was reducing until 01:30 when it flared up again. Daytime sightings included 3 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover both on Lower Lighthouse Field; a Sparrowhawk at the South End and one in off at Castles; a Siskin, 2 Spotted Flycatchers in Millcombe, a Collared Dove at the Church; a female Redstart on the Terraces; a Lesser Whitethroat in Quarry Pond; the first Hobby of the year drifted SouthEast; a male Pied Flycatcher was on the Upper East; a Lapwing in SouthWest Field; a very surprising Fieldfare in Quarter Wall Copse; 2 Whinchat near Halfway Wall; a Golden Oriole male and female seen separately in Millcombe; a Wood Sandpiper flew over the Village calling this evening shortly followed by an Osprey being mobbed by a Carrion Crow and Herring Gull. Our gulls have begun settling down and breeding with Great Black Backed, Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gull all noted with nests.

Ringing

A female Redstart in the Heligoland was the first of the year.