Tuesday 27 March 2018

A calm weather day allowed us to make our first visit below the mountain and around to the impressive east side where the majority of the island's breeding seabirds reside. The purpose of this visit was to observe the behaviour of colour-ringed Chough pairs around their respective nest sites in an effort to gauge early season breeding progress. There were no obvious signs of nest building, but one pair were settled and feeding on the slopes above their regularly used nest site, perhaps suggesting that nest building has been completed and the adults are now focused on gaining energy before the task of egg laying in April. Further visits during the season will build up a detailed timeline of breeding progress for these colour-ringed pairs.

The first Black Redstart of the year was at Ty Pellaf and a second Firecrest was found at Cristin. Just three Chiffchaffs were noted after yesterday's small influx, whilst four Wheatears and three Stonechats were noted. Raptor interest included a female Merlin, two Buzzards and two Peregrines. A Little Owl remained vocal along the track between the observatory and Nant, and the Great Spotted Woodpecker continued its stay for another day. At sea a Red-throated Diver, eight Fulmars, 12 Manx Shearwaters and five Gannets passed by.

A single Common Quaker was caught overnight in the observatory moth trap.

 The steep-sided slopes and tall cliffs of the east side is a sight not often experienced by visitors to the island. © Billy Dykes



 The island's Razorbill and Kittiwake colonies are restricted to the rocky ledges and boulder fields of the east side. All photos above © Ben Porter

Oystercatchers are a common sight and sound along the tideline at this time of year. Many birds are already paired up with territories established © Ben Porter

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