Bardsey's Wildlife

Thursday 9 December 2010

2010 in pictures

A summary of some of the highlights of yet another cracking year on Bardsey. Thanks to all who have contributed during the year

January and February saw just Ben on the island

Mediterranean Gull (C) Ben Porter

Knot (C) Ben Porter

Little Gull (c) Ben Porter

Purple Sandpiper (c) Ben Porter

Redshank (c) Ben Porter

Curlew (C) Ben Porter

Fulmar (C) Ben Porter

March Saw the return of Obs staff

Red Kite (C) Ben Porter
14th record for the island

Jack Snipe (C) Ben Porter

Reed Bunting (C) Ben Porter

Black Redstart (c) Ben Porter

Chiffchaff. Steve Stansfiled top, Richard Brown bottom

Willow Warbler (c) Richard Brown

The first Great Northern Diver of the year was seen feeding west of Solfach.

Little Owl (c) Richard Else

April

Grasshopper Warblers (c) Richard Brown

Lesser and Common Redpolls (c) Steven Stansfield

Two Mute Swan spent the day at sea, moving swiftly in the tides before flying short distances. Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Razorbill and Fulmar were all visible in the same scope view (c) Richard Brown

Merlin (c) Richard Brown

Blackcap (c) Richard Brown

Wheatear (c) Steve Stansfield

Several Common Redpolls were trapped and ringed again this morning - the

two above are at the paler end of the spectrum.

Hen Harrier (c) Steve Stansfield

Ring Ouzel (c) Richard Brown

House Sparrow (c) Steve Stansfield

White Wagtail (c) Steve Stansfield

A 'proper' Lesser Redpoll (c) Steven Stansfield

Red Kite (c) Steve Stansfield

White Wagtails (c) Steve Stansfield

May

A good net round at Cristin(top row) Common Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler and Common Redstart.
Below Willow Warbler and Blackcap
(c) Steve Stansfield

Hooded Crows are rare in Wales. There were four recorded on the island today (c)Ben Porter

Ringed Plover (c) Richard Brown

The majority of the fifteen Blackcap to the north of the island showed a yellow dusting to the feathers around the base of the bill (c) Richard Brown

16 Whimbrel (above) were dotted around the coast (c) Ben Porter

2nd-summer Yellow-legged Gull. Among nearly 400 large Larus around Solfach this individual eventually caught the eye. In flight the large black band on the fifth primary (counted outwards from the secondaries), supports the identification. Top (c) Richard Brown, bottom (c) Ben Porter.

Female Yellow Wagtails are notoriously awkward to assign to a race. This bird had a darker crown and ear coverts than may be expected of a typical British bird (flavissima) and the supercilium lacked any yellow tones. It is tempting to think that this may be a Western European flava or a hybrid involving this race. (c) Richard Brown

The first Whinchats of the year were seen today; one was in the Southend gorse whilst another was present in the wetlands. Top (c) Ben Porter, below (c) Richard Brown

Blackcap (c) Ben Porter

Chamomile Shark (c) Richard Else

Turnstone (c) Steve Stansfield

An Orange-tip was seen visiting the gardens of the Island today (c) Ben Porter

Dunlin and Ringed Plover (c) Steven Stansfield

Sedge Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield

Today's male Eastern Subalpine Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield

Campion (c) Richard Else

Turtle Doves (c) Steve Stansfield

Spotted Flycatcher(top), Black Redstart (bottom). (c) Richard Brown

Blue-headed Wagtail (c) Richard Brown

Golden Oriole (c) Steve Stansfield

Nut-tree Tussock (c) Richard Else

Two of the four Ringed Plover chicks were ringed today (c) Richard Brown

Common Rosefinch (c) Steve Stansfield

June

Firecrest (c) Steve Stansfield

Puffin (c) Richard Else

Puffins at sea around the Gwylans (c) Richard Brown

Perhaps not the cutest of chicks up close...Skylark (c) Richard Brown

The first view of this stunning White-throated Sparrow was as it popped up on a fence at Nant for approximately 5 seconds before disappearing into the Plantation (c) Richard Brown

Whilst searching for the sparrow this Greenish Warbler was heard in song! Although very mobile it eventually found a mist net (c) Richard Brown

This Rose-ringed Parakeet answers to the name of Polly but may apparently go on to supplement a feral breeding population... apparently. (c) Richard Brown (the owner can contact us through this blog)

A minimum of 24 Thrift Clearwing were recorded today. (c) Richard Brown

Six-spot Burnets seem to have been recent colonists of Bardsey, only appearing in any number in the last few years. 2010 has already been the best year ever for this species on the island. Burnet moths exhibit a good example of aposematic colouration: their bold black and red markings provide a warning to potential predators that the insects do not make a pleasant meal. Photographs (c) Richard Else

First heard at 2300 hours two nights ago, this Grasshopper Warbler continued to sing throughout last night and into this morning. Yet another photo of a bird on a barbed wire fence. (c) Richard Brown

July

Robins have had a turbulent past as a breeding species on Bardsey, indeed they were absent in 2004. They recolonised the following year and the four pairs present in 2010 is the best they've done since. Productivity is again excellent with all pairs currently having fledged two very inquisitive broods (c) Richard Brown

The predator-free Welsh Islands are vital to the world population of Manx Shearwater. Approximately 2000 are seen most days at the moment. (c) Richard Brown

Swallow (c) Richard Brown

Little Egrets and a Gannet (honest) (c) Richard Brown

Little Egrets (c) Ben Porter

It was the distinctive smell which led to the discovery of this Storm Petrel (c) Richard Brown

Sedge warblers(top), Grasshopper warblers (middle) and Willow warblers (bottom) were seen in numbers all over the island today (c) Ben Porter

This Melodious warbler in the lighthouse garden was the highlight of another good day.

By far the most dramatic sight of the day was this spectacular roll cloud that swept low over the island during the afternoon. A relatively uncommon form of Stratocumulus, a Roll Cloud or Arcus is a long tube-shaped cloud, detached from any other cloud, that appears to roll across the sky on a horizontal axis. In coastal situations they are usually created by the movement of a cool sea breeze. Picture (c) Richard Else

August

The Shanny is a common fish in shallow water around the island. This is another animal that can change its colour to match its habitat. Pictures (c) Gwyn Stacey

Good numbers of Common sandpiper have been recorded around the island's coast
(c) Ben Porter

The Drinker. 2010 has been a record year for this species. Most records refer to the males, which come more readily to light, but females such as this one occasionally turn up in the moth traps and can sometimes be found resting by day. The name 'Drinker' comes from the caterpillar's supposed habit of drinking dew drops.

Pictures (c) Richard Else

One of the highlights of the year so far was the discovery of this Lesser Horseshoe Bat roosting on the staircase carpet of Ty Nesaf. They typically live in sedentary colonies so the events leading to the arrival of this first for Bardsey are unclear. (c) Richard Brown

Eight Black-tailed Godwits (top) had joined the Curlew (bottom) flock later on in the day.

Polly still adds a splash of colour to a cloudless day.Pictures (c) Steve Stansfield

Pied Flycatcher(top), Willow Warbler(bottom).(c) Steve Stansfield

Canary-shouldered Thorn (c) Ben Porter

This is one of two Migrant Hawkers that were seen in the new plantation today.

Knot (c) Steve Stansfield

Sanderlings (c) Steve Stansfield

Shag (c) Steven Stansfield

Swallow (c) Steve Stansfield

Manx Shearwater and Balearic Shearwater (c) Steve Stansfield

Sandwich Tern (c) Steve Stansfield

Juvenile Kittiwake (c) Steve Stansfield

Arctic Tern (c) Ben Porter

Sanderling (c) Ben Porter

Many young Swallows were taking time out before continuing their migration to South Africa (c) Steve Stansfield

September

Meadow Pipit(bottom) for comparison to the Tree Pipit(top two). (c) Steve Stansfield. (note the stronger flank streaks, orangey legs and longer hind claw)

Cuckoo (c) Ben Porter

The hoarse, croaky call of Sandwich Terns could be heard all around the coast today.

The Storm Petrel nest that was found earlier in the year was revisited yesterday for its tiny, downy occupant to be ringed. (c) Richard Else

Two Migrant Hawkers were seen in the morning. (c) Ben Porter

Melodious Warbler (c) Ben Porter

Tree Creeper (c) Ben Porter

Two Lapland Buntings fed on the maritime heath throughout most of the morning.

The highlight of the day though was this Convulvulus Hawkmoth(top) that was caught in the moth trap on the top of the mountain. Even though it was a very worn specimen, its impressive size and shape made up for it. A Lime speck Pug(bottom, only the second record for the island) was also amongst the 400 other moths caught today.

This Barn Owl spent most of the day perched in the back of Nant Withy. (c) Ben Porter

This Ortolan Bunting was the rarest bird of the day, seen around the Limekiln in the afternoon. (c) Ben Porter

Melodious Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield. Note the typical Hippolais steep sloping forehead on the lower image.

A handful of the Willow warblers today were of the cold grey northern form P.t.acredula like this one. (c) Steve Stansfield

Some of the Spotted Flycatchers are still sporting juvenile 'spots'. (c) Steve Stansfield

Pied Fycatcher (top) and Spotted Flycatcher (bottom). (c) Ben Porter

One of the Melodious Warblers present in the back Garden this morning (c) Steve Stansfield

Five Lapland Buntings remain on the Maritime Heath. (c) Ben Porter

Spotted Flycatcher (c) Steve Stansfield

Meadow Pipit (c) Steve Stansfield

Grey Heron (c) Steve Stansfield

Arctic Skua (c) Steve Stansfield

Bar-tailed Godwits (c) Steve Stansfield

Grasshopper Warbler. (c) Ben Porter

Sandwich Terns (c) Steve Stansfield

Fulmar and Sandwich Tern (c) Steve Stansfield

Kittiwakes (c) Steve Stansfield

Balearic Shearwaters (c) Steve Stansfield

Arctic Skua (c) Steve Stansfield

Great Skua eating Manx Shearwater. Two Great Black-backs and a Leach's Petrel watch on! (c) Steve Stansfield

Sooty Shearwater (c) Steve Stansfield

Sabine's Gull (c) Steve Stansfield

Leach's Petrels (c) Steven Stansfield

Common Rosefinch (c) Steve Stansfield

Hummingbird Hawkmoth (c) Steve Stansfield

Melodious Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield

Sighting of the day the Red Arrows display team training aircraft in a nine aircraft diamond. (c) Steve Stansfield

Reed Warbler (c) Ben Porter

Melodious Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield

Normal Wheatear (c) Ben Porter

Albino Wheatear (c) Ben Porter

Chiffchaffs (c) Steve Stansfield

Today's moth highlights included a Pink-barred Sallow(top) in the withies, a few Black Rustics(bottom) at the obs and a couple Brindled Ochres at the lighthouse. (c) Ben Porter

October

Yellow-browed Warbler (c) Ben Porter

Sabine's Gull (c) Ben Porter

Great Tit (c) Ben Porter

Greater spotted Woodpecker (c) Ben Porter

Hen Harrier (c) Ben Porter

Firecrest (c) Ben Porter

Ring Ouzel (c) Ben Porter

Pied Flycatcher (top) and Spotted Flycatcher (bottom) (c) Steve Stansfield

Firecrest (top three) and Goldcrest (bottom) (c) Steve Stansfield

Whinchat (c) Steve Stansfield

Blackcap (c) Steve Stansfield

Reed Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield

Long tailed Tits arrived during the night. (c) Ben Porter

Yellow-browed Warbler (c) Ben Porter (upper) & Steve Stansfield (lower)

Red sword Grass and Red-green Carpet (c) Ben Porter

Pale Pinion: another species that has been added to the Bardsey list in the last week.
(c) Richard Else

The Brick: the first specimen of this species for the island was trapped at the lighthouse last week, but there have been several further records in the last few days.
(c) Richard Else

Western Conifer Seed Bug: this spectacular animal was discovered in the garden of Ty Bach last week. It is an American species that was accidentally imported to Europe in the 1990s and has been turning up in the UK in the last few years. This is apparently the first record for North Wales. Picture (c) Richard Else

Whooper Swans (c) Ben Porter

Snow Bunting (c) Ben Porter

Merlin (c) Ben Porter

Ty Pellaf and Donogoch gardens are shaping up to be a particulary good spot for House Sparrows this autumn. Three more were seen there this morning. (c) Ben Porter

Pied Flycatcher at Ty Nesaf (c) Richard Brown

It's been an amazing year for Reed Warblers (c) Richard Brown

But Redstarts have been very thin on the ground (c) Richard Brown

The rocks above Cristin are the best place to catch up with Ring Ouzels (c) Richard Brown

Easily confusable with Gannets at long range, well, sort of, five Whooper Swans headed for Ireland (c) Richard Brown

Young Knots are also very approachable (c) Richard Brown

A Barn Owl had found its way into one of the barns at the farm. (c) Ben Porter

A few Bramblings made the most of the seeds left in the sunflower heads at Ty Pellaf today. (c) Ben Porter

Although only worth the same as two House Sparrows in the autumn bird race, this stunning Pallas's Warbler is one of the autumn highlights so far. First found in Ty Nesaf garden, she later moved to Nant Withy where she was trapped and ringed. A shorter wing and tail suggest the sex. (c) Richard Brown; Below (c) Steve Stansfield

November

Finches continue to feed on the sunflower seeds at Ty Pellaf. Goldfinch(top), Chaffinch(bottom). (c) Ben Porter

Reed Bunting. (c) Ben Porter

This Feathered Thorn found on the north side of the mountain was another addition to the island's list. (c) Ben Porter

Starling (c) Ben Porter

Two Short eared Owls spent most of the day in the wetlands. (c) Ben Porter

Brambling (c) Ben Porter

Blackcap (c) Ben Porter

Snow Bunting (c) Ben Porter

Glaucous Gull (c) Ben Porter

A female Blackcap at nant enjoyed the last of the blackberries. (c) Ben Porter

The same Black Redstart was feeding behind Ty Pellaf again today. (c) Ben Porter

Pallas's Warbler. (c) Ben Porter

Short eared Owl. (c) Ben Porter

first-winter Grey Phalarope(c) Richard Brown

The waders decided to feed in the shallow pools formed by the millimetres of rain that fell throughout the day. Redshanks(top two), Turnstone(bottom). (c) Ben Porter

A couple Wigeons spent the day feeding with the Mallards. (c) Ben Porter

Brambling. Pictures (c) Ben Porter

Little Egret. (c) Ben Porter

This Common Rosefinch was a good find by assistant warden Richard Brown and Giselle Eagle. (c) Ben Porter

December- cold temperatures continued with a few birds being pushed out to the milder coast to survive.

After arriving to paddle into their usual lagoon for the night, the Mallard flock was found to contain two slimmer, paler-looking birds that, on closer inspection were revealed to be Pintails. (c) Ben Porter

A Mistle Thrush fed with the waders in the Donogoch fields for a short while this afternoon. (c) Ben Porter

Typically told by it's smaller size and lack of pale bands on the wings, this Stock Dove, though a bit drab, was a first for this year. Pictures (c) Ben Porter

One Grey Plover remained today. (c) Ben Porter

Dunnock, Golden Plover, Buzzard and Golden Plover. (c) Richard Brown

Bittern. A good record for Bardsey with only two previous records. (c) Ben Porter

Golden Plover (c) Ben Porter

Lapwing (c) Ben Porter

No comments:

Click to see inside!

Edited by Mike Archer, Mark Grantham, Peter Howlett and Steve Stansfield and published by T & AD Poyser, this fabulous book describes how much has changed since the first edition of Bird Observatories in Britain and Ireland was published in 1976. There are detailed accounts of the history and work carried out at each of the 18 observatories, with personal accounts by wardens and staff of the excitement of discovering a rarity, watching thousands of migrants attracted to a lighthouse after dark, and the pleasure and experiences that working at some of the country’s most remote and beautiful locations can bring. Click the picture of the book to see inside or to buy your copy.

Migrants

Being sited on the main migration route of many species, Bardsey (or Ynys Enlli in Welsh) is a well-known site for migrant birds, turning up many scarcities and rarities, as well as large numbers of common migrants. The island’s list now stands on 326, after the recent addition of Citrine Wagtail in October 2012.

Although Bardsey’s reputation for rare birds may not quite match that of some observatories, it is almost certainly the best site in Wales for rarities. Among Bardsey’s rarer visitors are the first Summer Tanager (1957) and Yellow Warbler (1964) to have been recorded in Britain and Ireland, as well as American vagrants such American Bittern, Sora, Kildeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Grey-cheeked Thrush, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blackpoll Warbler. To add to this impressive list of rarities, Black-winged Stilt, Lesser Yellowlegs, Lanceolated Warbler, River Warbler, Western Orphean Warbler, Booted Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Eyebrowed Thrush, Thrush Nightingale, Red-flanked Bluetail, Isabelline Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Collared Flycatcher, Blyth’s Pipit, Pine Bunting, Rock Bunting, Yellow-breasted Bunting and White-throated Sparrow have all been recorded.

Besides the rarities, Bardsey regularly attracts large numbers of weary migrants during 'fall' conditions in Spring and Autumn, largely a consequence of the fully operational Bardsey Lighthouse. In 2011, for example, a single grounding of migrants resulted in over 1000 Willow Warblers making groundfall on the island in August. In the not-so-distant past, a single attraction of 40,000 Redwings occurred in late October at the end of the last century.

Breeding birds

Bardsey is home to some 26, 000 pairs of Manx Shearwaters, which can be heard on dark nights from mid-March to August. They breed in their excavated burrows, which are scattered all over the island. Chough is the most important species of conservation concern, with between four to eight pairs nesting around the coastal cliffs most years, and a wintering flock of up to 50 individuals. A pair of Peregrines breed on the island, and a 1-2 pair of Ravens also nest most years. There are several species which nest only occasionally, such as Sparrowhawk and Little Owl, along with Afro-Palearctic migrants like Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Up to ten pairs of Stonechats can nest in the isolated gorse patches around the island, along with many Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Corncrakes were once a common breeder on the island, although since 1970 there have been no confirmed pairs nesting. In recent years the likes of Lapwing, Yellowhammer, House Sparrow and Starling have also all become extinct as breeding species. In contrast, Shelduck, Puffin, Long-eared Owl, Grasshopper Warbler and Goldcrest have been added to the breeding bird list since 1998.

Ringing

Ringing is a very important part of the observatory’s role on the island. Since 1953, the observatory has ringed over 315,00 birds of 198 species. The highest number ringed in a single year was 1988, with a total of 11, 301 birds ringed of 93 species. There have been many days in the observatory’s history when several hundred birds have been ringed in one day; these occasions have mostly involved breeding seabirds, although these numbers can also easily occur with migrant species.

Lepidoptera

A total of 561 species of moths have been recorded on the island. Bardsey is not an overly good location for scarce moths, although the existence of Thrift Clearwings (Nationally scarce) has been established on the Thrift plants around the coast in recent years, after first being recorded in the years 1980 and 1996. Migrant moths arrive in small numbers every year, for example the annual arrival of Hummingbird Hawkmoths in the autumn; rarer immigrants in the past have included Death’s Head Hawkmoths, Vestals, Crimson Speckled and Red-necked Footman.

In recent years, a greater emphasis has been placed on recording and identifying the so-called ‘micro-moths’, which has resulted in the finding of 41 new species for Bardsey since 2011. In 2012, the coastal subspecies of Eana penziana (E.p.colquhounana) was re-found on the island, which was the first time that this Nationally Scarce species had been recorded on Bardsey since 1966. Apotomis semifasciana is also amongst the scarcer species of micro-moths to inhibit the island (also Nationally Scarce).

Butterflies are present on the island in small numbers, with species such as Common Blue, Small Copper and Small Tortoise-shell being the most common. A scarcer breeding species is the Grayling, which can be found in small numbers on the top of the mountain. Migrant butterflies such as Painted Lady can arrive in their hundreds, although other migrants such as Clouded Yellow and Dark-green Fritillary are quite rare.

Bardsey's Wildlife

Pages

Thursday 9 December 2010

No comments:

Post a Comment

Pages