There were strong northerly winds all day today, mixed with some driving rain. So although not the easiest conditions to record birds in, it was an ideal day to catch up with IPMR (Integrated Population Monitoring Reporter), which is the programme that the bird ringing data is entered into. 

With little avian news, here are some photos of slow worms found around Cristin in last week's warmer weather. Slow worms are legless lizards, with eyelids and a flat tongue unlike the forked tongues of snakes. Slow worms do not reproduce by laying eggs, instead giving birth to live young (neonates) in late summer. Females can be identified from males by their larger size (up to 50cm) and dark markings on the side and occasionally the back; males can also have small blue spots. Neonates can be identified by their small size, dark bellies and flanks, and dark dorsal stripe. Slow worms can also drop their tails (caudal autotomy) as a defence from predators.

A large female Slow Worm, presumably pregnant, showing a blunt tail tip indicating that it has been dropped in the past.

One of a few young Slow Worms found, presumably born last year.

A brief recce of the Herring Gull colony revealed that around half the nests now contain chicks, so far no auk chicks have been seen, but this isn't to say that there aren't any present. 

Other birds around include: two Collared Doves, one Little Owl, two Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroats and five Spotted Flycatchers.