4th May 2024

 Weather: SW force 1,  very light spots of rain,   NW 1/2 by evening

Six Wheatears on the island today, one was the 'control' colour ringed bird ringed at the Calf of Man that arrived yesterday.

Two of the others that were of the Greenland race were caught for ringing.

Pride of place amongst the sea birds were 2 Arctic Skuas, the first seen here this year and there were 3 Manx Shearwaters, 70 Gannets and 6 Red-throated Divers, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Guillemots, 12 Common Terns (which have been scarce so far this spring) and 400 Sandwich Terns were present. 

 

Large flocks of Knot (5,000 were going north) and Dunlin (2,000) which had a single Purple Sandpiper among a small flock.

Odd birds mixed with the 105 Turnstone on the shore.

 

 

Also present were 3 Bar-tailed Godwits while Whimbrel were in large numbers with 26 all told. 

 

 

A Greenshank was heard calling in the afternoon. Seven Shelducks and 7 Eiders today, the drakes of both species are always photogenic.

 

 

 A Raven made the list as they have done quite often recently.

Two Woodpigeons came through on the day.

Single records of Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail and House Martin with 8 Swallows were logged.

Ringed: 2 Wheatear, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Linnet.

Photos  AEH, SRW