"It has been a very busy period for both the birds (most are now looking after small chicks and young fledglings) as well as the conservation team who’ve been out most days to survey them. Millcombe has seen the arrival of some more youngsters in the past week, namely Dunnock, Pied Wagtail and House Sparrow, and the island’s plateau is now busy with the fluttering of young Skylarks, Wheatears and Meadow Pipits.
The island's Guillemots and Razorbills have all been very busy too, repeatedly heading out to sea in order to provision their adorable newly hatched chicks with a bounty of sandeels and sprat. Wednesday 13th saw the team head out to Jenny’s Cove for a dawn to dusk Puffin survey aimed at trying to identify all the burrows with pufflings in them by noting instances of feeding by parent birds. Unfortunately the last shift had to be cancelled due to the earlier-than-expected arrival of rain and strong winds, but despite this minor setback the team was able to identify at least 95 burrows which had fish delivered to them throughout the day.
Additionally the productivity slope in Jenny’s Cove swarmed with birds in the late afternoon, 164 in fact, which is the highest number reported yet for this site this season."
Other sightings of note:
- A Rose-coloured Starling on 9th was seen initially with Common Starlings near the Old Light in the morning by one of the Manx Shearwater survey team, then by Frances Stuart and Rebecca & Richard Taylor in the afternoon, when it was wheeling around Millcombe (see photos below). Potentially one of the birds seen on 3rd, but perhaps more likely a new arrival given the exceptional 'invasion' of this species into western Europe this summer.
- The Little Egret reported by Mark Kelly on 7th lingered around Barton Field pond until the afternoon of 8th at least.
- A single Dunlin was seen next to Kistvaen Pond on 9th by Andrew Cleave and his Naturetrek group.
- Swift: Small numbers recorded most days including two birds on 13th seemingly prospecting for a nest site on the church tower in the early morning.
- Our beautiful Blackbirds have now started incubating their second load of eggs for the year in Millcombe and two of the Swallow pairs are now busily feeding small young (the other is still on eggs).
- Whitethroat: One on 13th.
- Spotted Flycatcher: Three on 13th.
- Lesser Redpoll: One flying over the High Street on 10th and one flying around Millcombe on 13th.
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| Rose-coloured Starling, Millcombe, 9th June © Richard Taylor |
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| Rose-coloured Starling, Millcombe, 9th June © Richard Taylor |
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