Sunday, 1 September 2024

Another day of easterlies resulted in an arrival of migrants, including 22 Willow Warblers, 33 Wheatears, and 23 Spotted Flycatchers of note. Also seen were two Grey Wagtails, 26 White Wagtails, two Whitethroats, three Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, three Goldcrests, and a cream-crown Marsh Harrier quartering over the lowlands. A flock of 28 Swifts flew over Cristin; a good count for this time of year, more than double the previous highest September day count which was 12 in 1958! Hirundines were on the move too, with a total of 107 Swallows and 195 House Martins recorded, including a Swallow and 26 House Martins ringed at Cristin. 

Highlights from the sea were seven Pintailfive Brent Geese, three Arctic Skuas, two Yellow-legged Gulls, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, two Razorbills, and 37 Sandwich Terns moving along the West Coast, plus a Common Tern off the South End and a total of 130 Black-headed Gulls and ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Gareth kindly took the students on a boat trip around the Island to see it from a different perspective. Several colour-ringed Shags and Gulls were spotted while out and the last remaining Fulmar chick was seen in its nest around the East Side. The afternoon was spent out birding, and many of the  students got to see bird ringing for the first time at the Observatory. 

Gareth showed the students his lobster pots, and generously gave them some for dinner... a real taste of island life! © Kate Fox
Ed introducing the students to bird ringing © Kate Fox

After dark the group ventured up to the North End for Manx Shearwater and Storm Petrel ringing. With lots of full-grown chicks out on the walls they all had a go at ringing their first 'Manxie', and three Storm Petrels were also caught! 

Ella, one of the students, ringing her first Storm Petrel © Steve Stansfield

No comments:

Post a Comment