The day started with a wind from the North and gradually moved around to the East during the day. Willow Warblers are still passing through in steady numbers with 58 recorded across the island today, with the majority seen in the Observatory garden. A total of three Whitethroats were seen, the highest day count so far. Most of the Wheatears being recorded are males or pairs on territories, with a few noticeable migrating birds congregating at the Narrows or along the West Coast.  

Male Wheatear

After the morning census, Sam and Stuart headed around the East Side to monitor the returning seabirds. The majority of Shags are currently incubating eggs and a total of 59 occupied nests were recorded, well above the 2010 to 2019 average of 38 nests. This number is likely to increase slightly as counts are also completed from a boat and other pairs start breeding later in the season. Shag nests are mostly made of sticks and seaweed but many use anything available, this can include Manx Shearwater remains and sometimes man-made objects such as netting. Other birds counted included Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Choughs.

Incubating Shag

Fiona, our current volunteer, has been busy in the Observatory garden this week. She has cleared back the Fuschia to the North of the Observatory and today the cuttings were removed and chipped. 

Garden to the North of the Observatory

Birds today: 24 Fulmars, 76 Shags, three Merlins, one Ringed Plover, one Snipe, 25 Whimbrels, one Curlew, two Redshanks, three Turnstones, 223 Guillemots, 441 Razorbills, 12 Puffins, eight Sand Martins, five Swallows, six White Wagtails, 32 Wheatears, one Grasshopper Warbler, one Sedge Warbler, three Whitethroats, 20 Blackcaps, nine Chiffchaffs, 58 Willow Warblers, 18 Siskins, 13 Goldfinches, 16 Lesser Redpolls