Tuesday 19 July 2022

Last night we took guests on the Island on a 'Meet the Manxies' walk that was paired with more Storm Petrel ringing at the North End. Some technical issues with the speaker meant we only caught and ringed two birds, however the Manx Shearwaters stole the show when we found one that had not been handled since it was originally ringed as a chick on the South End on the 6th September 1986, making it 35 years old! Just think of the distance it has flown over its lifetime! 

The 35 year old Manx Shearwater © Ollie King

During the day, it was fairly quiet bird-wise with the only species of note being the continuing juvenile Marsh Harrier. We led a guided walk in the morning, showing the guests many of the local breeders that continue to entertain us as juveniles are discovering the Island for themselves, with many Linnet, Stonechat and Wheatear young scattered around. 

Later on we went to the North End for the fourth week of Manxie chick monitoring - most chicks now are weighing between 300-500g (depending on hatch date), with the first primaries starting to form in pin.

Manxie chick at the North End © Ollie King

Almost getting too big for the scales! © Ollie King

The Obs garden trap performed the best so far this year with 211 moths of 43 species, including this years high count of Crescent Darts (65!)

Marbled Green © Ollie King

Early Thorn © Ollie King

Pine Shoot Moth © Ollie King


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