1st to 7th May – Some rare early May arrivals

Bird Observatory Assistant Warden Luke Marriner summarises a varied start to May.

Moderate to light winds from the northto start the week increasing on the 3rd and 4th from the southeast. Winds from the south west on 5th and 6th brought low cloud and rain but cleared into blue skies with light winds on 7th.

It seems that there are still two pairs of Teal on the island although the Barton’s pond pair has moved onto Pondsbury. A male Shoveler was on Pondsbury on the 7th. Two Shelduck were seen flying along the east on the 7th. We have had Swift sightings every day this week with a highest count of 36 coming on the 7th. Two sightings of Cuckoo totalling to 3 birds with one calling in Millcombe on the 3rd and then a Male seen along Upper East Side and a female caught in the terrace trap on the 5th. This being the first to be ringed since 2009. Collard dove numbers peaked at five on the 5th when a the group were seen first thing coming in off over Milcombe by Rob Duncan. On the Same day a Turtle Dove was seen at Quarter Wall. A Water Rail was heard at Pondsbury on the evening of the 5th. 

Shoveler, Pondsbury © Stuart Cossey

Cuckoo, Quarry Terrace © Luke Marriner

Turtle Dove, Quarter Wall © Luke Marriner

Wader passage has been a bit better this week with a single Whimbrel being seen daily by Quarter Wall Pond. A single Ringed Plover seen in middle park on the 3rd and 4th. Dunlin were seen on Rocket Pole scrape peaking at three including one being ringed on the 3rd. A scramble around Rat island on the 3rd also produced two Common Sandpipers. Two Purple Sandpiper were still on Brazen Ward on the 3rd.

Another round island count gave us a good indication of where our breeding sea birds are at. 16 Greater Black Backed gull, 94 Herring Gulls, 17 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 2500 Guillemot, 350 Razorbill, 110 Puffin,32 Fulmar, 15 Gannet, 25 Shag, three Cormorant. A Great Northern Diver was still in the Landing bay on the 2nd.

It has been a very good week for Herons with up to 3 Grey Herons being seen across the week, however the Star Bird of the week has to go to the Purple Heron that was first found on the 5th and has been very mobile and giving visiting birders and both wardens the run around, but when being seen giving good views. Just the 5th record for the island, the last being in 1994.

Purple Heron, South Light © Rick Morris

Raptors have been quiet in the last week with Peregrines now being on nests and the Kestrels are looking to settle down along lower east. The Hooded Crow was seen in Brick Field on the 1st.  Buzzard was seen on three occasions with the pale bird still getting our hopes up for something rarer! A Female Marsh Harrier was enjoyed by all observers on the 3rd and 4th with the bird quartering just past Quarter wall.

A Hoopoe was found by Luke on Quarry pond on the 3rd and was watched for c30 mins until it was unfortunately lost to view. We have had a very good week for Hirundine passage with three-figure counts of Swallow happening on 3 occasions peaking at 17,000 on the whole island. On some days birds were landing and roosting in the island in the fog. Sand Martin are still trickling through with single figure counts daily and now House Martins are picking up with the highest count coming again on the 7th of 1000+.

Swallow, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey

Warblers are starting to slow now with many birds already returning to their mainland breeding grounds. A Grasshopper Warbler was seen on the 1st, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Chiffchaff were seen daily peaking at 21, 33, and 12 respectively. A silent Wood warbler was seen briefly in Smelly Gully on the 5th. Our first of the year. Reed Warblers were trickling through with a mini fall of five birds in Millcombe on the 7th. Blackcaps were a constant being in low double figures all week peaking at 24 on the 1st. A single Garden Warbler on the 2nd and two Lesser Whitethroat both males on the 6th and 7th. Goldcrest peaked with three on the 5th. Our thinking is that these are failed breeders with no bird been heard singing for at least a week now.

Sedge Warbler, Quarry Pond © Stuart Cossey

The resident male Song Thrush is still singing its heart out in Millcombe. Spotted Flycatchers are starting to come through now being seen daily all week and peaking with 5 on the 7th. A female Redstart was caught and ringed on the 1st. Wheatear are still moving through with some big Greenland type bird around with migrants peaking with 70 on the 1st.

Yellow Wagtail was logged on three days all single birds in Barton’s field. White Wagtail are still around with birds being seen in Barton’s and on the working site for the new water tanks.

Finch passage has slowed now with us now seeing Goldfinch and Linnet setting up territory but a Siskin flew over on the 2nd and up to two Lesser Redpoll have been associating with a group of Linnet in Bartons and also being seen in Millcombe.

We have started seeing butterflies now it has warmed up with Small White, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper all being recorded.  Silver Y and Hummingbird Hawk-moths are becoming more regular now too. Rabbits have bred well this year and are being seen on a regular basis around the whole island, particularly Millcombe, South West Field and Castle Hill. The most bizarre record of the week was a Common Toad heard in Quarry Pond on 7th. There are no amphibians on the island, the last records being escaped European Tree Frogs back in the 1900s.

Contributors: Stuart Cossey, Luke Marriner, Rob Duncan, David Kightley, Graham Madge, Rick Morris, W Shipman, Humprey Crick, N Gates, H Taylor