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BIRD
DIARY 2011
January -
February sightings on Ramsey Island – Greg and Lisa Morgan,
Wardens
Quiet as you might expect for the RSPB Nature Reserve of Ramsey
Island. Highlights being a single jack snipe (30/1), single
mistle thrush (12/2), a collared dove on 2 dates in Feb
(becoming less common out here), a woodcock (11/2) and the first
gannets of the year seen offshore on 14/2 (although local
reports suggest they were back much earlier than this). Lapwing
numbered around 10 birds by the end of Feb but hard to tell if
these were our birds or still hanging on from winter. A single
bird was displaying for the first time on 26/2. Chough numbers
were quiet low in January (max 9) but built to over 20 birds
(max flock 16) by the end Feb. Curlew, normally a regular winter
visitor of up to 100 birds, were noticeable by their absence
with just one record of a single bird in mid Jan. Skylarks were
singing for the first time on 26/2 and made it feel like spring
was around the corner. Stonechat numbers are low again after
their big decline following last year’s cold winter. This
winter won’t have helped and we only saw a max of 5 birds but
typically just one or two. Ravens began nest building in early
February and a flock of 22 were seen to come in from the
mainland on 26/1. Fulmar were present on ledges on most days in
both months (and some nights) with guillemots present on
breeding ledges on several dates through the period. Special
mention must go to a pair of blue and great tits that have been
ever present in our garden all winter. They obviously received a
helping hand from us but still found enough food for themselves
while we were off the island for a month at the beginning of
winter during the very cold spell. Grey seal haul out peaked at
167 and a peacock butterfly was logged on 26/2.
March - April sightings on Ramsey Island – Greg and Lisa Morgan,
Wardens
Highlights in
the two months were hoopoe, honey buzzard, Lapland bunting, hen
harrier (2), house sparrow, mute swan (4), red kite (9 in
total), ring ouzel, snow bunting and lesser whitethroat. First
returning dates for migrants were chiffchaff (10/3), sand martin
(12/3), wheatear (13/3), black redstart (17/3), goldcrest
(19/3), blackcap (23/3), swallow (26/3), willow warbler (2/4),
house martin (7/4) and whimbrel (17/4). Also of note, two
grasshopper warblers in April, 5 white wagtails in April, 3
lesser redpolls and a male and female common redstart.Grey seal
haul out peaked at 100+ animals and regular otter spraints (but
no sightings yet) found from mid April onwards. Porpoises with
calves were seen in Ramsey Sound during April
bird watching and
guided walks RSPB nature reserve ramsey island nature reserve
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