Friday 18 May 2012

A very good day of migration and a few scarcities thrown in saw the Easterly winds continuing. A Marsh Harrier flew South over the mountain midday, which Is the first record of the year and the 36th record for the island; a lovely Firecrest was the second good find of the day in Cristin garden late in the afternoon. An excellent count of 70 Spotted Flycatchers passed through during the day, whilst a Tree Pipit, a male Ring Ouzel, 18 Sedge Warblers, 28 Whitethroats, 14 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff, four Willow Warbler and four Goldcrests were also recorded. The Turtle Doves remained in the ruins field at Nant, whilst a Short-eared Owl was flushed from the wetlands and a Grey Heron remained on Pwll Cain.

There have been 25 records of Marsh Harrier since 1998, including today's bird, with only 11 sightings before that year. The bird above was an adult male that flew South over the mountain ridge, before heading back North half an hour later
The count of 70 Spotted Flycatchers today is the highest total of birds since the 30th of August 2005, when 149 were seen. The highest island record was of 500 birds on the 17th of August 2002, which broke the previous highest total of 200 in 1969
 A few Sedge Warblers (above), Whitethroats, Wheatears and plenty of Manx Shearwaters were attracted to the lighthouse during the overcast and drizzly conditions overnight
The Broom Moth's typical habitat includes open woodland and heathland. The caterpillar feeds on Broom, bracken and other trees and plants (hence the name), and is brown and yellow striped in appearance

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