Monday 23 March 2020

Today was relatively calm with a slight breeze from the South, bringing with it the chance of some more migrants.

There were five Chiffchaffs flycatching on the Obs Garden lawn when the Assistant Wardens got up - a sure sign that some birds had arrived during the night.

Chiffchaff in Cristin Garden. 

The warm, sunny morning had also prompted what seemed like every Meadow Pipit on Bardsey to start singing! As well as Meadow Pipits, Stonechats, Linnets and Goldfinches had also joined in, making for a nice dawn chorus. A male Kestrel was present in the Lowlands - this is the first for the year and a good record as not many are recorded in spring.

male Linnet along the West Coast.

After lunch, the Assistant Wardens headed up to Nant Plantation at the North end of the island, to put up the mist nets at the ringing site. The Stock Dove was present here as were a reasonable number of Chiffchaffs - 15. A quick seawatch once the nets were up produced the first Puffins of the year and a Collared Dove was seen on the way back to the Obs - another new bird for the year. 

George furling a net at Nant.

Later that evening, at around 11pm, Sam and George headed out to try and catch the first Manx Shearwaters of the year. These birds have been heard calling for the last few nights as they arrive back on Bardsey to breed after spending their winter in South America. 

Manx Shearwater.

While on the way to the West Coast, a Woodcock was flushed from the Lowlands, another new bird for the year! A total of 13 Manxies were handled - 6 of which were new, and the rest retraps. One of the retrap Manxies had been ringed on 2nd May 1999 as an adult and hadn't been handled since, making this bird atleast 25 years old; it is thought that after fledging, Manxies stay at sea for four years before returning to land to breed. 

George ringing a Manxie on the West Coast. 

Manx Shearwaters have slim, streamlined legs to make pushing them through water less energy-intensive. A normal round ring would add resistance when swimming, so they are shaped elliptically to reduce drag in the water. 

Other sightings today include: five Shelducks, 16 Mallards, one Sparrowhawk, ten Snipes, four Curlews, eight Redshanks, 187 Herring Gulls, 38 Razorbills, one Stock Dove, one Collared Dove, 2 Little Owls, four Wheatears, one Song Thrush, 52 Chiffchaffs, 24 Goldcrests, one Blue Tit, 14 Goldfinches and 28 Linnets.

Ringing totals: Manx Shearwater 6(7)


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