|
January
sightings on Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
A quiet month.
Good chough numbers were revealed during transects with a peak of 30
birds on 14th. These consisted of paired birds plus
several feeding flocks, exclusively on the maritime grassland, of up to
8 birds. Lapwing numbers fell from the bumper December
numbers. 150 at the start of the month became 50 by the month
end. Curlew continued to use the island as a feeding and roosting
station with the regular flock numbering around 55 birds this
month. Fieldfares and redwing were present occasionally with 16
and 48 logged respectively. Single goldcrest, goldfinch, golden
plover, greenfinch, water rail and woodcock were all recorded, along
with 4 skylark heading south mid month.
Up to 12 buzzard were present all month, plus the regular
peregrine pair and a single merlin recorded on 31st.
Fulmar were present most of the month but, interestingly,
disappeared for two 5 day periods at the start and end of the month
while the air pressure was at it’s highest and winds lightest. A
few guillemots and razorbills were recorded in the Sound during
crossings to the mainland. Kittiwakes were recorded offshore
occasionally (up to 15). The
over wintering purple sandpipers remained at their high tide roost site
(up to 11 recorded), with up to 8 snipe also over wintering.
February
sightings on Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Highlights of the
month were a short-eared owl on 8th and a red kite on 20th.
In addition to guillemots on ledges on several mornings, razorbills
appeared around the SE coast in good numbers on the 27th.
Fulmars were present on the cliffs up until the 18th and then
disappeared for 10 days. The first gannet of the year was seen
offshore on 17th. A red-throated diver was
in Ramsey sound on 19th and 23rd and breeding
plumage cormorants have been seen on the island on a regular basis (not
a regular breeding species looking at past records). 7 LBB
gulls were at Colomenod on 17th. The curlew flock
was again present all month, peaking at 67 on 17th. After
dropping off at the end of January, lapwing numbers increased again to a
peak of 350 on 9th before decreasing again to 30-40 birds by
the month end. A flock of 15 golden plover on 17th were in
the Northern fields. Birds of prey were well represented with up
to 16 buzzards in the month. 4 peregrines have been around occupying 2
distinct territories. A male kestrel was recorded on 3 dates.
Chough numbers continued to be impressive through February. 3 transects
in the month revealed 22 individuals (6th), 19 (17th)
and 33 (27th). Many pairs are now present at traditional
sites, with territorial displays in evidence towards the end of the
month. Ravens continued nest building with 3 sites now located.
Birds were lining nests towards the month end with moss and rabbit
fur. Canada geese reappeared on 23rd with 3 birds on
Ynys Cantwr. Fieldfares were present most of the month with 46 logged
(max 20 on 6th and 23rd). Redwings were also
regular with 21 recorded (max 10 on 6th). Other records
of note were a grey heron (27th), skylark (8th)
and regular pairs of stonechats taking up territory. A pied wagtail on
14th was the first record since Oct 8th.
March sightings on
Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Migration began mid month with the first wheatears of the year on 16th
(2 in central fields). Up to 3 recorded most days after that before an
invasion of up to 50 birds around the island on 29th.
Swallows and sand martins both passed through for the first time
on 29th (c. 10 of each heading East), plus the first
chiffchaff (31st). A
female house sparrow on 30th was an unusual record out here,
likewise a mistle thrush that hung around the pump house on 20th
and 21st March. Signs
of winter were still around with single fieldfares on 1st, 2nd
and 19th and single redwings on 15th and 16th.
Spring fought back with the first skylarks of the year singing on 11th.
Guillemots,
razorbills and kittiwakes were present on ledges on several dates during
the month and lesser black-backed gulls increased in numbers as the
month progressed. Lapwing
numbers peaked at 21 on 10th with around 10 to 15 remaining
by the month end. A peak of 35 curlew on 1st had dwindled to
14 by 21st with none remaining by the end of the month.
Chough
began nest building on 19th and by the end of the month a
record 9 pairs had been confirmed. The
number of ravens nests found increased to four during the month, while 2
pairs of peregrines appear to be holding territory. Single merlins were
seen on 10th, 15th and 28th.
Other
records were goldcrest (1 on 29th), goldfinch (1 on 31st),
great tit (1 on 22nd), linnet (max flock of 25 on 6th)
and Canada goose (up to 3 around the southern islets from mid month).
April
sightings on Ramsey Island – Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Highlights of the month were a wryneck 24th, a male ring
ouzel 6th-7th and a red kite 10th.
The first
willow warbler of the year returned on 2nd. In total there
were 107 “bird days” in the month max. 45 on 15th.
Chiffchaffs numbered 76 “bird days” max. 20 on 15th.
Other migrants were blackcap (9 in month), 16 goldcrest max 6 on 16th,
common sandpiper single from 19th-21st, whimbrel 1
on 20th, 3 on 24th and whitethroat, an early bird
on 17th then 8 on 22nd. Hirundine passage
got under way in earnest on April 3rd when 5000+ each of
swallow and sand martin passed through (east). Swallow numbers for the
month totaled 5464+, sand martin 5134+. The first house martins
appeared on 5th (3) with 62 recorded in total. Manx
shearwaters were first heard at the bungalow on the night of 5th
(the first night volunteers were up there). Other records of note
were 9 curlew 21st, great tit 5th, greenfinch 3 on
3rd, grey wagtail, single on 16th, linnet, max 30
on 20th, redpoll, single birds East on 22nd and 30th,
and sandwich tern (16 North in month). Purple
sandpipers continued to occupy their winter roost site throughout the
month with a maximum of 15 on 15th. Chough flock numbers
peaked at 26 on 5th and a female merlin has been present all month.
May
sightings on Ramsey Island – Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Highlight of the month was undoubtedly the subalpine warbler that
appeared on 23rd. Lisa did well to find it in an area in
which it could so easily have been overlooked. It stayed around for 5
days in total and was seen by a good smattering of local birders.
Lyndon Lomax took some excellent photos and the general feeling was that
the bird was an adult female (or possibly a first summer female). Other
good birds for Ramsey were a garden warbler on 25th, a female
house sparrow on 3rd and two records of sedge warbler. Other
migrants trickled through with a single blackcap (3rd), 4
records of chiffchaff and 6 of willow warbler during the month., 2
cuckoos (including a rufous type on 13th), common sandpiper
(14th), collared dove on 6 dates, 8 dunlin (11th),
3 white wagtails (6th) and 67 whimbrel spread though the
month. The first spotted flycatcher of the year appeared on 8th,
with 14 records in total (max. 4 on 13th).
Swallow passage saw 323 logged (mainly heading west); house martins
numbered 56 (west), sand martin 5 (north) with only 2 swift recorded (1st
and 3rd). The
over wintering purple sandpipers lingered on with 3 on 6th
and 2 still there on 24th. 2 female redpoll appeared mid
month and stayed around, on and off, for 2 weeks. The first raven
fledglings were out on 3rd, lapwing counts revealed 6 pairs
while the chough flock peaked at 25 birds (mix of breeding and non
breeding) on 23rd. A
female merlin turned up towards the month end while peregrine were
feeding young at one site. Puffins
appeared off the south end in fog (up to 6) while a trip to the breeding
site on the North Bishop on the evening of 31st revealed 32
individuals. Guillemots and razorbills were late laying, the first eggs
not recorded until 13th.
June sightings
on Ramsey Island – Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Two Red Kites
on 4th were the highlight of any other quiet month. Migrant wise
there were single Chiffchaffs on 6 dates, spotted flycatcher on 3 dates,
single house martins on 1st and 6th and a male cuckcoo singing at the
start of the month. Towards the end of the month saw the beginning
of some return passage with the first curlew heard on the 24th with 2
more the next day. Whimbrel followed shortly after with 21 on
26th. The first starlings appeared on 26th with a flock of 30 and
swift were heading south on a regular basis with 95 recorded (max. 70 on
26th).
The first chough fledglings were recorded on 13th. In total 15
birds fledged (bad weather in may being responsible for two west coast
sites failing). The largest flock of he month was 24 on
15th. Lapwing look to be having a decent year by Ramsey standards,
6 pairs bred and 6 fledglings were recorded towards the end of the month
with a further 7 small chicks (week old) still present from 3 late
broods on 30th. Water levels remained good in the central area
thanks to the pipe dam system despite lack of rain. Seabird counts
were carried out in the month and numbers are still being analysed.
Kittiwakes, guillimots and razorbills were all busy feeding chicks by
the month end. The peregrines at Aber Mawr had one large chick by
the end of the month and a pair of kestrels on the east coast have two
chicks almost at the point of fledging. Wheatears had a good year
again with 80 AOT and lots of fledgings around. Although not
censused, linnets look to have had a successful time with large numbers
of fledglings around during the month. An interesting record was
breeding chaffinch, a pair fledged at least one young from a nest in the
farmhouse garden. Other birds in the month were golden plover on 3
dates, collared dove on 11 dates, up to 30 black headed gulls feeding in
the Sound and a single merlin on 27th.
July sightings on
Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
A quiet month.
Wader passage was noted with common sandpiper on 20th and 26th, dunlin 3
on 26th, golden plover 20 on 15th and 2 redshank flying south on 14th,
whimbrel passage was slow with a flock of up tp 14 most of the month and
occassionally singles passing through. Roosting curlew numbers
built to 60 by the month end. Other passege included single chiffchaff on 3 dates, and the first
return willow warbler (juvenile) on 14th, with 5 more later in the
month. The first robin of the autumn was heard on 16th. 2
sand martin flew east on 14th and 45 swift logged south through the
month. Black headed gulls began appearing in the sound mid
month. Linnet numbers built to around 70. Common scoter
began moving through with 40 logged north during the month. Chough families merge together with flocks of up to 30 birds. The
last 2 lapwings of the season finally fledged on 28th. 3 kestrels
fledged from an east cost nest on 28th while the young peregrine
continued to perform at Aber Mawr. The seabird season began winding down. There were no guillimots
recorded on a round island trip on 28th and just 3 razorbills.
Puffin numbers at the north bishops peaked at 52 mid month before
quickly disappearing. The first kittiwake fledgling was noted on
28th. Productivity of this species is still being
monitored but initial findings indicated a mixed season with some sub
colonies doing well while other have suffered a complete failure. Fieldwork on Grassholm in the month saw some interesting wader
records. Common sandpiper, greenshank, redshank,
whimbrel, curlew and turnstone were all logged. Also of note were
a little egret and sooty shearwater. Up to 25 harbour porpoise
have been in ramsey sound all month with occassional records of common
dolphin seen from ramsey and a basking shark in the first half of the
month.
August sightings on
Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Highlights in a quiet month were a juvenile dotterel present from 24th
– 28th August and a kingfisher on the NE coast on 27th.
Migration was slow. There were 28 willow warblers logged in month (max 4
on 11th and 18th) and just 2 chiffchaffs. 3 spotted flycatchers, 1
goldcrest, 3 sand martins, 1 sedge warbler and 2 collared doves made up
the rest of a meagre haul! Waders saw a single greenshank fly over
(17th), a single golden plover (6th), single snipe on 23rd, a flock of
16 post breeding lapwing diminish to 8 by the month end and a flock of
85 curlew at the beginning of the month reduce to c.20 by the month end.
Purple sandpipers returned to their winter roost site on 8th with 2
recorded. This number had increased to 5 by 10th but they were hard to
find by the month end (thanks to the local boat operators for reporting
these sightings to me). A maximum chough flock of 25 was recorded
on 29th, the near resident linnet flock peaked at 80 mid month, a male
merlin was reported on 29th, with a female on 31st. Robin numbers built
up as the month progressed with around 20 present by the end and a total
of 6 sandwich terns headed North through the Sounds on various
dates. 12 hummingbird hawkmoths in the month was a good haul.
September
sightings on
Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Highlight was a wryneck on 22nd and 24th
September. Yellow wagtails were recorded on 7 days during the month,
with common migrants recorded in small numbers: Willow warbler 26,
chiffchaff 3, spotted flycatcher 5, pied flycatcher 3, whinchat 1 and
goldcrest 17. Swallow passage peaked on 25th and 26th
with 7000+ heading south. Wheatears and Manx shearwaters were still
present at month end in small numbers. Ramsey sound produced a steady
stream of passing seabirds with 21 common scoter, 20 arctic and 10
common tern, regular sandwich tern, large numbers of guillemot and 6
puffin all recorded during the month. The chough flock peaked at
30 during the month.
October
sightings on
Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
The highlights of the month all occurred at sea. A spell of strong to
gale force SW followed by NW winds made for perfect seawatching
conditions. Early morning and evening watches by staff and vols on
several dates between 1st and 8th October produced
a decent haul of sightings, the highlight being a Corys shearwater on 1st.
Also of note were: Artic skua (9 records), Balearic shearwater
(11), common scoter (109), “commic tern” (75+), bonxie (29 – max
13 on 2nd), Manx shearwater (43), sandwich tern (150+
on 1st), storm petrel (1 on 1st), auk sp.
(1578 west) and kittiwake (832 west). Passerines
of note were few and far between with ring ouzel and black redstart
being conspicuous by their absence. The only warblers logged were
chiffchaff (2 singles), willow warbler (a single bird), garden warbler
(single) and blackcap (23 in total, max 11 on 26th).
Goldcrest showed in small but regular numbers all month. Some
passage did occur: skylark (181, mainly west), swallow (154 south –
last date 17th), chaffinch (172 west), redwing (5 on 20th
was first record, max 42 on 22nd), mistle thrush (single),
reed bunting (single birds on two dates), andwhinchat (single birds on
two dates). Wader passage saw a flock of 21 golden plover on 2nd
plus a single dunlin on 22nd. Lapwing numbers built up as the
month went on with a max of 60 in the central fields by month end.
Purple sandpipers seem to have returned to their winter roost with 18 on
13th and 10+ at the month end. A female / juv merlin
was present all month and a barn owl took to roosting in the compost
toilets on days when rough weather meant no visitors. Chough
flocks fluctuated between 20 and 30 all month. A hummingbird hawkmoth on
21st was a late record.
December
sightings on
Ramsey Island - Greg and Lisa Morgan, Wardens
Highlight was two little gulls feeding in Ramsey Sound on 30th amongst
kittiwakes and black-headed gulls. Large numbers of kittiwakes have been
feeding around the island all month (up to 500). Interestingly a good
proportion of these have been juvenile birds which normally disperse
widely in their first year. Small numbers of winter plumage razorbills
have been in the Sound all month, and, had we been here, probably some
Leach’s petrels at the start of the month as part of the huge storm
driven influx that occurred in nearby waters in the first week of
December. Relatively
quiet away from the water with up to 18 chough, 30 curlew and 150
lapwing over wintering (400+ in Dec 05 but this might have something to
do with the relatively mild conditions on the continent). A female
merlin was noted on two dates with kestrel, peregrine and buzzard (up to
12) completing the raptor records. Local
boatmen informed us that the purple sandpiper roost reached 18 during
November but only one record of a single bird in December. Snipe were
recorded on 22nd and 26th. Redwings
were sparse with only 7 records all month. An influx of song thrush
occurred on 17th with 26 present. Grey
seal haul outs peaked at 69 on 24th
as they begin the winter moult.
|