Red-breasted Flycatcher on Brownsman (Graeme Duncan)
Showing well (Graeme Duncan)Thursday 26th May comments: What a month. The breeding season is in full swing, warden’s work is cranking up by the day and visitors continue to increase by the day. However the main talking point has been the weather. The month of May has produced a mixed bag of weather with a dramatic conclusion on Monday as winds peaked at 70mph.
Amazingly the seabirds appeared to have generally got away with it but next time, they might not be as lucky. Where just hoping for calm weather and a successful few months ahead.
On another note, today produced a big surprise as we produced our first noticeable passerine of the spring – a female/immature Red-breasted Flycatcher on Brownsman! The bird arrived late afternoon and showed well to all admiring wardens. Although almost an annual migrant to the islands, this was only our fourth ever spring bird and the first since 1988!
Highlights: Red-breasted Flycatcher 1 on Brownsman, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Redstart.
Breeding bird news: Razorbills now on chicks, Sandwich Tern number low – estimated at only 400 pairs (potentially our lowest ever breeding number).
Amazingly the seabirds appeared to have generally got away with it but next time, they might not be as lucky. Where just hoping for calm weather and a successful few months ahead.
On another note, today produced a big surprise as we produced our first noticeable passerine of the spring – a female/immature Red-breasted Flycatcher on Brownsman! The bird arrived late afternoon and showed well to all admiring wardens. Although almost an annual migrant to the islands, this was only our fourth ever spring bird and the first since 1988!
Highlights: Red-breasted Flycatcher 1 on Brownsman, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Redstart.
Breeding bird news: Razorbills now on chicks, Sandwich Tern number low – estimated at only 400 pairs (potentially our lowest ever breeding number).
Nice one steely!
ReplyDeleteI think we have all your Sandwiches! We are up from 1069 to 1717. Lets hope we are more up than you are down, it would be good to see these birds do well again for a while
ReplyDeleteAll the best from Coquet Island
Wez