Moderate winds from the east and southeast to start the week. Rain showers and moderate southwesterlies on 5th and 6th before switching back to the southeast at the end of the week.
A total of seven Teal were counted on Pondsbury on 3rd and eight on 9th. Three Canada Geese were seen flying north then south past Jenny’s Cove at around 7:30 on 4th. They were then seen flying north over the Village before turning south and heading off over Millcombe. What is likely to be the same three Canada Geese were seen flying south over Castle Hill on 8th.
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| Canada Geese, Village © Stuart Cossey |
A Stock Dove was seen at Jenny’s Cove on 7th and then flying over the Village on 8th. The number of Woodpigeon has increased to nine. A few waders are on the move with a Golden Plover past Jenny’s Cove on 3rd. Also on 3rd, a Dunlin was seen at the Earthquake and a Snipe and Jack Snipe by Quarter Wall Pond. Six Purple Sandpipers remained at Brazen Ward on 3rd. A Ringed Plover was seen in Brick and Tillage Fields on 7th and 8th. The first Whimbrel of the year was in Barton Field on 9th.
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| Purple Sandpiper, Brazen Ward © Stuart Cossey |
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| Jack Snipe, Quarter Wall © Luke Marriner |
The first Puffin productivity survey took place this week
and a total of 235 Puffins were seen
at Jenny’s Cove. Numbers of Guillemot
and Razorbill still remain low. A Great Northern Diver was in
the Landing Bay on 6th. Two Cormorant
were seen along the East Side with Shag on 3rd, possibly a sign that they may
breed this year? Another two flew over Millcombe on 9th.
The female Sparrowhawk
and Merlin are still being seen
frequently. There were two records of Buzzard,
two flew south along the East Side on 3rd and a pale bird flew south over the
Village on 8th. The pair of Kestrel
have been seen together around the island. Possibly the best bird of the week
is a Hobby, first seen on the Old
Hospital on 5th, it has been seen up to the 9th above the Terrace and Millcombe.
A total of 43 Carrion Crow were counted on 4th and included a
flock of ten which were seen flying south off Benjamin’s Chair.
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| Hobby, Old Hospital © Luke Marriner |
There has been steady hirundines passage on most days. Only one
Swallow was seen on 5th but this increased
on 6th and 7th when 101 and 240 Swallows
were counted respectively. 169 Sand Martin were counted on 7th. House Martin numbers are still low with a high count on 14 on 7th. Willow
Warblers are now a constant sight in
Millcombe with high counts 32 on 7th and 30 on 8th. Chiffchaff are still frequent with a high count of 20 on 8th. The
first Garden Warbler of the year was seen in Millcombe on 8th and a maximum of
six Blackcap were counted on 7th. The
male Firecrest ringed on 1st was
seen up to 4th and a new bird was ringed on 9th. Goldcrest numbers have dropped and remained in single figures for
the whole week.
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| Willow Warbler, Quarter Wall © Stuart Cossey |
The first Ring Ouzel of the year was a male seen up by
the North End. A Black Redstart was b Earthquake on 6th and a
male Redstart was on the Terrace on
8th. A total of 49 Wheatear were
counted on 3rd, 27 on 4th and 39 on 7th. A White
Wagtail was seen again on 3rd and
the first Tree Pipit of the year was heard over Millcombe on 9th. There has been a
noticeable movement of finches including 14 Goldfinch on 3rd and 15 on 8th. 105 Linnet were counted on 3rd and 79 on 7th. A Siskin was in Millcombe on 5th and 6th and a female Bullfinch was heard on 8th and before
being seen on 9th.
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| Linnet, Rocket Pole © Stuart Cossey |
In non-avian news, a Holly Blue was seen in Millcombe on 3rd. More common butterflies being seen at the moment are Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral. The moth trap has been successful this week with Common Quaker and Early Grey the most common. Surprisingly a Brindled Beauty on the 9th was the first record of the island. This moth is one of the most abundant species in woodland in April in mainland Devon.
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| Brindled Beauty © Stuart Cossey |
Contributors: Stuart Cossey, Luke Marriner, Rosie Ellis, Shaun Barnes, Chris Baillie, Nick Elliott
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