24th to 30th April – Low cloud slows but doesn't stop migration

Moderate winds from the southeast and southwest for the majority of the week. Avery light southerly on 29th. Poor visibility thanks to low cloud and sea fog in the mornings from 27th to 29th and all day on 30th.

It appears that Teal may breed again this year with two pairs, one in Barton Field and another on Pondsbury. A Swift was seen on 28th. Male Cuckoo were heard and seen on 25th, 26th and 28th. A female was also heard ‘bubbling’ on the 26th. A Stock Dove was seen on 26th. Collared Dove are still being seen, peaking at three on 26th and then just the one up to 30th. A Turtle Dove was in Barton Field on the evening of 29th before flying down to St Helen’s Copse.

Collared Dove, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey

A quieter week for wader passage. Whimbrel were seen on five dates with a max of three by Quarter Wall on 28th. A single Ringed Plover was seen on 24th and a Snipe on 27th. A whole island count of 53 Oystercatchers was taken on 26th. Amazingly, three Purple Sandpiper are still at Brazen Ward.

Purple Sandpiper, Brazen Ward © Stuart Cossey

A round island count on 26th gave a good estimate on our seabirds. 252 Kittiwakes, 41 Great Black-backed Gulls, 608 Herring Gulls and 165 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were counted. 3190 Guillemot, 3250 Razorbill and 161 Puffin were seen, though this number should increase in May as more birds return to the slopes. 124 Fulmar were counted, the majority on Gannet’s Rock. A Great Northern Diver was seen off the East Coast on 24th and 28th.

A female Merlin was seen on 24th and 28th and a pale Buzzard flew south on 25th. A Hooded Crow was seen flying over Quarter Wall and landed south of Pondsbury on 30th. There were no big hirundines days; the highest count of Swallows was 380 on 29th. A max of 40 House Martin were seen on 28th and 50 Sand Martin on 25th.

Hooded Crow, Pondsbury © Stuart Cossey

Nine species of warbler were seen this week. The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was ringed on 26th and a Garden Warbler on the 29th. Reed Warbler were noted on 27th and 30th. A steady movement of Willow Warblers were moving through the island with between 10 and 50 a day. Blackcaps were more regular with between 10 and 110. There were arrivals of Sedge Warbler on 26th and 29th with seven and 12 seen respectively. The 27th was the biggest day for Whitethroat with 23 counted. The female Firecrest was retrapped on 26th and single Goldcrest were seen on 24th, 27th, 28th and 30th.

Whitethroat, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey

Ring Ouzel are still passing through with two seen on 26th and 27th and singles on 24th, 28th and 29th. Spotted Flycatcher are starting to arrive with two on 27th and singles on 28th and 30th. A male Pied Flycatcher was seen on 25th and a female on 27th. A male Redstart was present on 27th. A female Whinchat was seen on 27th and two on 28th. There were a few days of Greenland Wheatear passage. Greenland Wheatear are a bigger race of Northern Wheatear that pass through the UK on their way to breed in Greenland and Canada. 142 Wheatear were counted on 24th, 75 on 25th and 87 on 26th.

Greenland Wheatear, Quarter Wall © Stuart Cossey

A single Yellow Wagtail was heard on 25th. Three White Wagtail were seen on 24th, two on 25th and singles up to 29th. Tree Pipit were heard on 24th and 29th.

There appears to be three pairs of Chaffinch in Millcombe with two females seen nest building. Three Greenfinch were present on 25th and a pair are now frequently being seen around Millcombe. Around 30 Goldfinch are being seen each day with many ringed including 4 with rings from elsewhere. 180 Linnet were counted on26th with a flock of 50 forming in Barton Field most evenings. Other Linnet have been seen nest building in the Gorse around  the island.

It has been too cold for most invertebrates but in other non-avian news, a Common Pipistrelle was seen and recorded on a bat detector outside the Tavern and in Millcombe on 28th. Two Harbour Porpoise were off Jenny’s Cove on 26th and a Bottlenose Dolphin was in the Landing Bay on 30th. 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.

Contributors: Stuart Cossey, Luke Marriner, Rosie Ellis, Rob Duncan, David Kightley, Kevin Waterfall, David Jones, P Maunder.