BOC news – Edition 8

There were lots of visits from local RSPB groups, a ability to bring outreach and education to children
student working group from Hadlow College, another around East Kent despite the obvious Covid-19
Holiday Club, a Family Trail, and we were pleased to see restrictions! We wish her the best of luck going forward.
Becky Taylor spend a week with us, courtesy of the RBA SBBOT have appointed Greg Lee as our new Assistant
Young Ornithologist Fellowship. After a Radde’s Warden for 2022.
Warbler on the 16th and 17th, the month ended with
large counts of Snipe on Restharrow Scrape and a few Hopefully, we’ll see some respite from Covid-19 next
Little Gulls offshore. year. It will be SBBOT’s 70th Anniversary and we look
forward to celebrating it with everyone. So why not
November began with another Vagrant Emperor, come for a visit? Whatever you reason for visiting Kent,
though this one was found dead. The month was the Field Centre offers modern and comfortable, self-
mostly spent creating new Management Plans for our catering accommodation with a kitchen, library, wi-fi,
reserves and a Development Plan for the future of the and free parking, allowing you to be on hand for early
Observatory. A talk about Dainty Damselflies to the morning ringing, late night moth-trapping, or just time
British Dragonfly Society went well and so did our day to explore the local area.
developing the skills of staff of the local schools. A Crane
on the 13th and 14th, and then a Sabine’s Gull on the
15th, showed there were still migrants to be found.
There were large numbers of Cormorants offshore, plus
a few Scaup and Velvet Scoters, and an unseasonal
White Stork which lingered to the year’s end.

White Stork © N.Smith

Despite the appearance of the Omicron variant of Clifden Nonpareil © Steffan Walton
Covid-19 our last events of the year went well. In
particular, a Christmas Shopping Day on the 5th was
well attended. Good numbers of Snow Buntings then
appeared, there was an arrival of White-fronted and
Barnacle Geese, and a late Eastern Lesser Whitethroat
was ringed. The end of the year also unfortunately saw
Assistant Warden Becky Downey leave SBBOT after
two years in the role. We have all been impressed by her

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Skokholm March was the usual blur of cleaning and early
Richard Brown migrants, with peak daycounts of five Curlew, four each
and Giselle Eagle of Turnstone and Purple Sandpiper, two Merlin, 14
Chough, 21 Raven, 18 Skylark, six Sand Martin, ten
Our ninth year on Dream Island Swallow, 30 Willow Warbler, 36 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap,
was another unique and 13 Goldcrest, seven Black Redstart, 37 Wheatear and 138
exciting one. We arrived to Pembrokeshire for the last Meadow Pipit, whilst an Iceland Gull and singles of Blue
week of February as it had been looking for some time and Great Tit were unusual for Skokholm. A Sedge
like a weather window on the 26th might be suitable for Warbler was the first March sighting to date and a
a crossing. However the swell (as measured by the Mid Wheatear was the second earliest ever. The avian
Channel Rock Lighthouse Beacon off St Anns) had been highlight during March was probably the evening
stubbornly refusing to drop. Even on the night prior to Puffin count on the 22nd, with a minimum of 11,245
our supposed departure, as we hopefully put the individuals being the most counted on Skokholm since
finishing touches to our packing, it was registering well before World War Two. Four pairs of Chough were nest
over two metres (although a crossing on such a sea is building, this a new Skokholm record.
fine, if a little wet, such a big swell makes landing almost
impossible). Even on the morning of the 26th, as we Low spring vegetation, coupled with the activities of a
transported two car loads of supplies and belongings to rapidly expanding Rabbit population, led to more
the boat and made a dash for some fresh groceries, the excitement during March; an interesting looking
swell was over two metres. Happily, as forecast, the pebble found between the Knoll and the Central Block
swell dropped, there was barely a breath of wind and was unusual enough to encourage us to send a photo
there was very little chop, allowing for a glorious two to Dr Toby Driver (of the Royal Commission on the
hour trip out of the Haven and across the Sound. Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and Senior
Investigator with the CHERISH project). He got in touch
with Andrew David, expert in such things, who replied
with the following:

Arrival Day ‘The photos are clearly of a late Mesolithic 'bevelled
pebble'. These are distinctive finds amongst flint
We were greeted by Fulmars cackling from the cliffs, scatters of this age found on coastal sites all the way
some rather indignant Herring Gulls, the overwintering from north France up to western Scotland, and also on
Whimbrel and an extremely slippery jetty (it is amazing some northern English coasts. Despite being so
how much algae gets established through the winter, familiar, their function remains tantalizingly
despite the pounding it gets from the Atlantic). We’re mysterious - most people favour their use in skin or hide
rather pleased that we don’t have to regale you with preparation, and I've wondered if they might have
wild stories of the various mishaps that might have been involved in manufacture of skin-clad watercraft.
befallen us; everything went extremely smoothly The present-day link of find-spots with seal colonies
thanks to an efficient, socially distanced team, a may be no coincidence. What it would seem to confirm,
dumper that started first time and a sun that didn’t stop and quite emphatically, is that there was a presence
shining (well not until it set as we were making the last on the island in the late Mesolithic (c7000-4000 cal
of three dumper truck trips to the Lighthouse anyway). BC)’.
We found an Island in generally good repair, although
the Neck Razorbill hide had blown over and the A further check of the same site revealed a piece of
Lighthouse had clearly been letting a fair amount of pottery. Jody Deacon at the National Museum Wales
water in on the rougher days. commented thus:

‘The clear bevel on the internal surface of the neck and
the curvature of the neck suggest to me that this is an
Early Bronze Age Vase Urn, which are usually
associated with cremation burials. These are common
in Ireland and seem to turn up more frequently in the
western areas of Wales, and occasionally along the
southern coast, which fits nicely with your location.
There are not a huge amount of radiocarbon dates
available for this type of vessel, but they appear to be
in use in Wales between 2100 and 1750 BC.’

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Dr Toby Driver of the Royal Commission on the Ancient Red-throated and Great Northern Diver, a Wryneck, a
and Historical Monuments of Wales added: Hobby, a Hooded Crow, up to 142 Swallow, 110 Willow
Warbler and 33 Blackcap a day, four Ring Ouzel, a
‘[this is the] First Bronze Age burial urn fragment from Nightingale, up to 122 Wheatear a day and a Lapland
the west Pembrokeshire islands. The prehistory of Bunting accompanying a good passage of common
Skokholm has changed completely in only a few days!’ migrants.

It is rather mind blowing that for thousands of years
people have returned to this same area, some of them
perhaps working at seal skins, perhaps building skin
boats, others burying their dead.

A glorious April started with a bang; an early afternoon
push of the Heligolands coincided with an Alpine Swift
tearing down Home Meadow.

Nightingale © R Brown

Alpine Swift © R Brown

This third for Skokholm spent the next 15 minutes Hobby © R Brown
feeding between Crab Bay and the Neck before
steaming off north (we gave our neighbours on Skomer Challenging May weather impacted our birding and
the heads up and they found it just a few minutes later). monitoring work, whilst huge seas (multiple waves in
There have only been two previous Skokholm records, excess of 16 metres) had a devastating impact on some
with singles on 13th July 1972 and 24th March 2002. The of the auk edges. At the Neck Plot over 60% of Razorbills
3rd saw the arrival of Nick Davison and Helen Hedworth lost their eggs to the sea. Whole ledges were deserted,
(here to set up our audio monitoring of the Storm leading to our cliff counts fluctuating massively.
Petrels in the Petrel Station), Ian Beggs (here to Although some of our ground nesting birds were also
continue with his Wheatear studies for his Masters) and impacted, there was exciting news with the discovery
Jodie Henderson (here as our 2021 Assistant Warden). of a pair of breeding Stonechat, this the first breeding
The 12th saw the arrival of Team Mouse, this being the record since 1932; they went on to have three broods
last field trip of Eveliina Hanski’s PhD (and the first visit and fledge at least ten young. Dunnock bred for only
of Klara Wanelik’s postdoc); during 12 spring trapping the second time in nine years. Exciting May migrants
nights, Eveliina and Klara set 1800 traps which resulted included a Turtle Dove, a Little Ringed Plover, two Little
in 124 captures of 47 individual House Mice (36 of which Egret, several Merlin, a Hooded Crow, up to 226 Swallow
were new and 11 of which had survived from autumn and 46 House Martin a day, ten Reed Warbler, five
2020). The sampled mice produced approximately Garden Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a female Eastern
2480 droppings, which when placed end to end would
reach approximately 12.4m. More importantly this
amazing sample will allow them to see how the gut
microbiome changes as the animals mature and will
perhaps show a link between the contents of the gut
and survival. As they departed we welcomed Richard
Dobbins who helped to run the Bird Observatory as we
prepared for the season ahead. The birding during April
was exciting, with (in addition to the Alpine Swift), three
Little Ringed Plover, 249 Whimbrel, three Ruff, both

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Subalpine Warbler and a stunning male Common
Rosefinch (although we have seen several of the latter
here over the years, this was our first red one).

Quail © R Brown

Common Rosefinch © R Brown Despite the May storm, it proved to be another
Western Subalpine warbler © R Brown excellent year for Skokholm’s seabirds. The Manx
Shearwater plots surveyed annually since 1999
suggested that numbers remain stable (at
approximately 89,000 pairs), whilst 160 hatch-access
study burrows contained 127 fledglings; a productivity
figure of 0.79 fledglings per pair was the second highest
of the last nine years, up on a 2013-2020 mean of 0.71. A
mean whole Island count of 225 apparently occupied
Fulmar sites was a new Skokholm high, up on the 217 of
2018, whilst a productivity figure of 0.51 fledglings per
pair matched the 2013-2020 mean. The Storm Petrel
transects again gave the impression that the
population is stable, although the breeding status of
calling birds remains a mystery in the vast majority of
cases. Nevertheless a small number of visible sites
suggested that the Storm Petrels had a late, but very
productive season; 80% of pairs fledged young (this a
2013-2021 record). Late summer mist netting again
encountered several birds ringed in the nest previously
(along with well over 1000 other birds), the most
exciting of which was ringed in the Petrel Station in
2019 (the first chick to fledge our wall of Storm Petrel
nest boxes). Three fledged from the Petrel Station, this
one more than last year and another step in the (slow)
establishment of an accessible colony.

June began with a very showy Quail, a record Great Black-backed Gull numbers dropped to 80 nests,
Pembrokeshire count of seven Great White Egret, a this down on a 2013-2020 mean of 86.1 and the lowest
Western Bonelli’s Warbler and a Blue-headed Wagtail. total since 2013. Productivity was again high, with 1.51
fledglings per pair. Unsurprisingly, given the drop in
Western Bonelli’s Warbler © R Brown numbers, there were fewer Manx Shearwaters eaten
this year. The 305 Herring Gull nests found this year was
up on a 2013-2020 mean of 299.8 and the third highest
total since 2010. Productivity was a minimum of 0.84
fledglings per pair (n=141), this despite the May storm
which destroyed multiple nests (the 2013-2020 mean is
0.67, with a high of 0.86 in 2016). Lesser Black-backed
Gull had an exceptional year by recent standards,
although a total of 935 apparently incubating adults
was the second lowest post-1970 tally (well down on
historical counts of up to 4600). Mark release recapture
in dense Bracken suggested a productivity figure of
0.96 (n=56), whilst a cliff plot suggested 0.93 fledglings

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per pair (n=42); this was unexpected given that the Spotted Flycatcher, six Pied Flycatcher, three Whinchat,
2013-2020 mean is 0.28, indeed it is unclear why 46 Wheatear and three Yellow Wagtail.
productivity was so high this year. Surprisingly the
gatherings of post-breeding Kittiwake, which have September saw the last two Swift of the year head
taken to Skokholm’s cliffs in recent years, failed to south on the 16th. A lone Dotterel was present on the
materialise this summer; whereas 1388 birds, including 9th and two lingered from the 13th to 15th.
several ringed in France, were logged last year, only a
handful were seen ashore in 2021.

A mean total of 5065 Guillemot was down on the 5101 of Dotterel © R Brown
2020, but otherwise the second highest to date and up
on a 2013-2020 mean of 4079.9. It is likely that the Golden Plover daycounts peaked at 27, Turnstone at 18
number present on the cliffs was impacted by the May and Purple Sandpiper at just three. The second Hobby
storm; three subcolonies were badly effected, with of the year was logged on the 3rd and Merlin returned
some ledges being entirely washed of eggs (although from the 19th. Hirrundine counts peaked at 77 Sand
there were lots of re-lays, meaning that some were on Martin, 1463 Swallow and 71 House Martin. Wood
the cliffs until 27th July). A total of 3356 Razorbill was Warbler on the 6th and 10th were a scarce treat here,
down on the 3517 of 2020, but again the second highest whilst commoner warbler daycounts peaked at 134
total to date and up on a 2013-2020 mean of 2539.8. Willow Warbler, 49 Chiffchaff, 16 Sedge Warbler, two
Boulder field birds produced 0.54 jumplings per pair, on Reed Warbler, 23 Blackcap, two Garden Warbler and 15
a sheltered cliff it was 0.65 and on an exposed cliff Whitethroat. Spotted Flycatcher daycounts reached 21
impacted by the storm it was 0.24. A combined 114 pairs on the 10th, Pied Flycatcher peaked at just three (a little
produced 56 jumplings (0.49), this the lowest estimate disappointing after the excellent autumn seen last
since 2017 (the 2013-2020 mean is 0.49, with a high of year), Whinchat counts reached six, up to four Yellow
0.69 in 2018). Puffin productivity was 0.80 (the 2013- Wagtail were noted each day and 12 Tree Pipit on the
2020 mean is 0.76, with a high of 0.80 in 2017), although 2nd equalled the highest ever daycount. The second
this includes several large chicks taken by Great Black- Common Rosefinch of the year was present on the 17th
backed Gulls. A male Blackbird was using dropped and 18th. A Vagrant Emperor which flew in through a
Sandeels to feed its chicks. guest’s bedroom window on the evening of the 9th
(later roosting there) was the first for Skokholm and the
An incredibly dry summer and autumn meant that 20th species of odonata to be recorded here.
North Pond was empty from 22nd July to 19th October,
a lack of water which severely impacted the number of Vagrant Emperor © R Brown
waders logged. Migrants in July included four young
Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove on the 8th (sadly just the second
of year and the first in this month since 1999), up to 24
Curlew a day, a juvenile Marsh Harrier on the 24th
which was the earliest ever autumn sighting, a couple
of Short-eared Owl here to make the most of the Storm
Petrels, up to 110 Willow Warbler a day and a Western
Subalpine Warbler on the 18th (just the second for
Skokholm and third for Pembrokeshire, although of
course there are several earlier records not assignable
to species). An adult female Rose-coloured Starling
present between the 5th and 7th August was our
second in two years. A trailcam at the Well revealed that
Water Rail had bred for only the fourth time; a
minimum of five chicks went on to fledge, although
they were only ever seen on the camera before the
usual autumn influx made it impossible to know which
birds were ‘ours’. Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters were
off the Lighthouse, as was one of the two Osprey seen
during the month. A Wryneck on the 28th was the first
in a record breaking autumn - up to four were seen on
many days to 4th October, a total of 45 bird-days being
a new annual record (the 20 bird-days logged in 2013
was the previous high, indeed there had only been 219
bird-days prior to this year). Daycounts peaked at 103
Willow Warbler, 15 Sedge Warbler, ten Whitethroat, ten

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The Guillemots returned to the cliffs from 23rd October, The second Blyth’s Reed Warbler for Skokholm was
this the earliest ever autumn return. The number of ringed on the 9th and a Red-flanked Bluetail two days
Manx Shearwater seen from the Lighthouse dropped later was a long-overdue addition to the Island list.
rapidly, the stragglers joined by a couple of Balearic
Shearwater. Cormorant passage peaked at 22 on the
21st. A Great White Egret on the 11th was just the fourth
Skokholm record, all logged in the last three years.

GreatWhite Egret © R Brown Red-flanked Bluetail © R Brown

Hen Harriers returned from the 8th and a Great Spotted Four House Sparrow on the 11th equalled our highest
Woodpecker on the 16th was the third of the year but daycount and a Richard’s Pipit was in the Bog on the
just the eighth ever. A flock of 35 Chough on the 9th was 1st. Finch passage peaked at 452 Linnet on the 10th, this
the highest ever Skokholm daycount. Skylark daily the highest ever Skok daycount, and 279 Goldfinch on
counts peaked at 105. the same day which was the second highest.

Cetti’s Warbler © R Brown November highlights so far have included the 13th and
14th Island records of Eider, two Goosander (just the
A Cetti’s Warbler on the 10th was just the fourth for third Skokholm record) and a Stock Dove (these days a
Skokholm, a Yellow-browed Warbler around the Crab real Island scarcity, despite the fact that up to 62 pairs
Bay cliffs on the 14th was surprisingly the only individual used to breed in the Island’s burrows). The Broad Sound
seen this year and seven Siberian Chiffchaff was a new gull flock peaked at 245 Kittiwake, 927 Black-headed
Island record. Gull, a Little Gull, 211 Mediterranean Gull and 30
Common Gull. Daily counts of up to 5204 Starling, 70
Blackbird, 14 Fieldfare, 233 Redwing, 51 Song Thrush, 50
Robin, two Black Redstart, nine Brambling and singles
of Lapland and Snow Bunting gave the end of the
month a more wintery feel, although our plan is to stay
on into December and eke out the last of what has been
another magical year.

Blyth’s Reed Warbler © R Brown Snow Bunting © R Brown
Opposite Skokholm Lighthouse ©G Eagle

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Walney spread across five days – what happened to “April
Colin Raven Showers”, while temperatures were below average and
fell below freezing on three days. An excellent total of
New Year’s Day highlights 134 species were recorded during the month with the
involved 16 Purple Sandpiper, two outstanding highlight involving a well-watched Stone
Jack Snipe and 30 Twite while the next day saw 92 Curlew (26th) – only the second island record and the
species recorded on the island including seven first since 1985.
Barnacle Goose, nine Whooper Swan and single Merlin,
Buzzard and Little Owl – the latter was to prove to be Stone Curlew © WBO
the only sighting of the year, while Treecreeper,
Goldcrest and Siskin were unusual winter visitors. A Offshore sightings were led by single Great Northern
Hooded Crow (3rd) and a post-roost gathering of 30 Diver (4th & 25th), Long-tailed Duck (8th), Great Skua
Shag (5th) were additional sightings before the return (8th & 27th), Mediterranean Gull (17th) and Black
to increased Covid-19 restrictions once again saw the Guillemot (23rd) while additional sightings involved 141
observatory closed following changes in the rules on Razorbill (17th), nine Shag (30th) and a total of 22 Puffin
essential travel. However, it was not all bad news with along with four Arctic Skua (27th), a date which also
word received of a successful grant application from provided four Velvet Scoter amongst 811 Common
the British Birds Charitable Trust to partially fund the Scoter, 140 Kittiwake, 115 Gannet and 31 Red-throated
replacement of the observatory ringing cabin. After 83 Diver while 313 Sandwich Tern were logged next day.
days of closure due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, a Also seen were small numbers of Manx Shearwater
slight relaxation of rules from “stay at home” to “stay (from 7th), Fulmar (from 8th), Arctic Tern (from 15th)
local” allowed the observatory to resume activities at and Little Tern (from 22nd). A Red Kite was seen (3rd),
the end of March, albeit in a reduced capacity to comply single Osprey flew through (14th and 29th) and a Long-
with the social distancing measures that remained in eared Owl was trapped and ringed (26th). A total of
place. It appeared that the birds had timed their arrival 4,136 Pink-footed Geese (1,245-20th) and 22 Whooper
to coincide with the reopening of the observatory. Swan (6-18th) headed north and up to 310 light-bellied
Sightings were led by single Water Pipit and Ring Ouzel and eight dark-bellied Brent Geese remained while
while commoner species which included: 134 additional wildfowl included: Goosander (1st),
Wheatear, 17 Goldcrest, 14 Chiffchaff, 12 Sand Martin and Goldeneye (to 7th) and Gadwall (2-27th). Waders were
single Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackcap and White Wagtail also well represented with 20,000 Knot (28th), 3,020
and wildfowl and waders included 430 light-bellied Dunlin (27th), 1,200 Golden Plover (9th), 300 Turnstone
Brent Geese and 15,000 Knot (all 30th). The Water Pipit (23rd), 217 Whimbrel (28th), three Greenshank, two
was still present next day and an early morning scan of Purple Sandpiper (12th) and single Ruff (3rd) and Green
the sea revealed 53 Sandwich Tern and, although the Sandpiper (18th). A Black Redstart appeared (20th), the
Wheatear influx had quickly moved on, 12 Goldcrest, six long-staying Hooded Crow was joined by a second
Chiffchaff, three Willow Warbler, two Stonechat and a individual (from 26th) and up to 60 Twite were logged
single Fieldfare and Brambling and the first Swallow (to 27th) with passage totals of 37 Lesser Redpoll (11-
were also logged. 18th) and 17 Siskin. The last Redwing moved through
(3rd) while summer arrivals included Sand Martin (1st),
Chiffchaff © WBO Blackcap (4th), Redstart and Sedge Warbler (14th),

For the second consecutive year April was to prove to
be a very dry month with just 7.4mm of precipitation

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Lesser Whitethroat (16th), Tree Pipit (18th), Grasshopper The last Merlin was seen (11th) and a Water Rail
Warbler,. remained in breeding habitat.

Grasshopper warbler © WBO Little Tern © WBO

Whitethroat and Reed Warbler (20th), Yellow Wagtail A total of 700 Pink-footed Geese flew north (to 14th),
(23rd), House Martin (24th), Whinchat (29th) and Pied two Gadwall were seen (3rd), a Goosander (12th), the last
Flycatcher (30th), amongst a steady passage of few dark-bellied Brent Geese remained and a female
Wheatear, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Long-tailed Duck took up residence (from 24th).
Waders continued to be well represented with 20,000
With a monthly rainfall total of 137.2mm, which Knot (7th), 10,000 Dunlin (4th), 1,200 Sanderling and 807
included 39.6mm (3rd) in the company of gales gusting Ringed Plover (10th), Golden Plover (to 10th), up to three
to 47mph and 45.2mm (20th) and only seven dry days Greenshank (to 12th) and a Curlew Sandpiper (9th-10th).
recorded, it was noticeably wetter in May while A total of 33 Lesser Redpoll moved through (10-14th)
temperatures remained mainly below average until and two Tree Sparrow dropped in (13th) with another
they peaked at 21C at the end of the month. A total of bird (27th). The long-staying Hooded Crow was present
124 species were seen on the island with a Great White all month but the second bird departed (2nd), although
Egret – the fifth island record the rarest avian sighting the second Pied Flycatcher of the spring was logged
during the month; however, a Water Stick Insect (31st) (9th) summer migrants were generally in short supply
was a first record for Walney and only the third for and final arrival dates involved Common Tern, Common
Cumbria. Sandpiper and Spotted Flycatcher (2nd), Swift (8th) and
Cuckoo (11th).

Water Stick Insect © WBO

Offshore highlights involved 10 Pomarine Skua (7-12th), Pied Flycatcher © WBO
four Velvet Scoter (12th), single Great Northern Diver
(10th) and Black Tern (28th), 94 Puffin (17-19th), 32 Arctic June was again a dry month; a total of 16.4mm of
Skua (7-25th), three Black Guillemot (2-31st) along with precipitation was recorded on just nine days with the
1,700 Common Scoter (21st), 1,000 Guillemot (25th), 710 majority, 14.2mm, falling on one day (24th).
Sandwich Tern (28th), 352 Manx Shearwater (25th), 211 Temperatures peaked at 24C (2nd). A total of 105
Gannet (5th), 160 Kittiwake (24th), 24 Red-throated
Diver (9th), 12 Arctic Tern (28th), 10 Little Tern (11th), 10
Fulmar (25th), eight Shag (27th) and four Great Skua.

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species were recorded with the highlight an adult Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Jay and Raven. However, the
Glossy Ibis (1st) - the first island record. numbers of gulls nesting continued to fall with the
main colony now concentrated on Shelly Bars at South
Walney, allowing improved fencing to be installed
which increased protection from mammalian
predation. Counts of Apparently Occupied Nests were
carried out by a drone survey which revealed of 263
Herring Gull and 186 Lesser Black-backed Gull nests. In
addition, South Walney held 45-50 Great Black-backed
Gull nests and four Black-headed Gull nesting attempts
were identified.

Glossy Ibis © WBO

Offshore sightings were led by four Pomarine Skua
(6th), five Gadwall (16th), single Mediterranean Gull (13th
& 20th) and Long-tailed Duck (6th & 12th) and a drake
Velvet Scoter (30th) along with up to five summering
Shag. Also seen were five Arctic Skua, two Red-throated
Diver (5th) and 570 Common Scoter (24th) and an
exceptional total of 114 Puffin (25-5th),). In addition,
feeding movements from Irish Sea colonies involved
1,630 Manx Shearwater and 365 Sandwich Tern (12th),
240 Guillemot (4th), 147 Gannet (11th), 13 Arctic Tern
(22nd), nine Common Tern and nine Little Tern (24th).
Lingering wildfowl included a single dark-bellied Brent
Goose (to 8th) and drake Pintail (to 14th) while 150
Sanderling, 43 Grey Plover and a Whimbrel (8th) were
all still presumably heading north. However, waders
were soon beginning to head south with two
Greenshank (1st), 290 Curlew (23rd) a Whimbrel (25th)
and 18 Black-tailed Godwit (27th).

Gull colony counts © WBO

Black-tailed Godwits © WBO In July a total of 45.0mm of rainfall was recorded over 13
days with a maximum 10.2mm (12th), temperatures
A Cuckoo (4th-7th) was also perhaps southbound while were generally above average especially during the
two Stock Dove (1st & 15th) were unusual. The last few third week when a peak of 26C was recorded – this was
tardy passerine migrants moved through and the to prove to be the highest temperature of the year. A
Hooded Crow remained albeit elusively. Less frequent total of 115 species were recorded during the month,
breeding species this year included: Teal, Grey Heron however, the highlight was non-avian with a Scotch
Smudge attracted to the moth trap overnight (11th).
Offshore highlights included a record eight
Mediterranean Gull (5-23rd), a Black Guillemot (14th), a
drake Scaup (6th & 27th), adult Little Gull (18th) along
with up to nine Shag, four Arctic Skua while a further 45
Puffin (12-2nd) were logged in another record-breaking
year. Also seen were 1,335 Manx Shearwater (3rd), 1,015
Common Scoter (4th) and 470 Sandwich Tern (5th).
Wildfowl remained scarce although waders were
already beginning to increase with 2,643 Curlew (26th),

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870 Redshank, 244 Sanderling and 80 Golden Plover (all Spotted Flycatcher (5-23rd), six Whinchat and single
26th), 34 Black-tailed Godwit (4th), 16 Greenshank and Goldcrest and Garden Warbler (30th) – the latter the
16 Whimbrel (26th), four Common Sandpiper (25th) and only sighting all year. Diurnal migration was also slow
a Ruff (23rd). The gull colony successfully fledged birds with totals of 276 Tree Sparrow (64-31st), 77 Grey
for the first time since 2016 with totals of 75 Herring Gull, Wagtail (16-23rd), 76 Tree Pipit (31-23rd) and 19 Yellow
42 Great Black-backed Gull, 31 Lesser Black-backed Gull Wagtail (4-20th) and hirundine peaks of 37 Sand Martin
and a single Black-headed Gull ringed. The first Merlin (19th), 250 Swallow (23rd) and 12 House Martin (28th). A
reappeared (7th) and single Osprey (17th) and Marsh Treecreeper (9th) proved to be the only unusual
Harrier (24th) flew through whilst the first Barn Owl of sighting.
the year was finally logged. The first birds were already
moving through, due to a combination of post- An even wetter September followed with 86.6mm of
breeding dispersal and migration, including: Blackcap precipitation spread over 20 days with the majority
and Great Spotted Woodpecker (2nd), two Whinchat falling in the final 10 days including a maximum daily
(7th), five Stock Dove (9th), two Cuckoo (23rd), four Tree total of 22.3mm (28th) and temperatures peaked at 22C
Sparrow (26th), a Wheatear (26th) and totals of 17 (5th). A total of 121 species were recorded, however
Willow Warbler and seven Yellow Wagtail. highlight of the month was again non-avian with the
first island record of Short-winged Cone-head (8th).

Hooded Crow © WBO Short-wined Cone-head © WBO

August was another damp month; a total of 58.3mm of After the welcome news earlier in the year of a
rain fell over 17 days, including 22.6mm (5th), while successful grant application from the British Birds
temperatures peaked at 22C during the final week. A Charitable Trust, the first phase of the replacement of
total of 118 species were recorded with seawatching the observatory ringing cabin was completed. After
highlights limited to 1,550 Manx Shearwater (1st), 915 c200 manhours the cabin was finally erected and
Common Scoter and 202 Gannet (5th), 170 Sandwich weatherproofed. The second phase which will involve
Tern (8th) and totals of seven Arctic Skua (4-5th), six the installation of services and the internal fitting will be
Mediterranean Gull (2-8th) and four Black Guillemot. carried out in due course.
Both Merlin and Peregrine were regularly recorded
while single Osprey (25th), Hen Harrier (26th) and Marsh Erection of ringing cabin © WBO
Harrier (27th) flew through. Wildfowl began to reappear Completed Ringing cabin © WBO
towards the end of the period with Gadwall (3-21st),
Wigeon (22nd), Pintail (29th) and Shoveler (31st) all
recorded. Waders remained prominent with 41
Greenshank (24th), 22 Whimbrel (24th), 11 Black-tailed
Godwit (6th), Green Sandpiper (2-15th) and single Wood
Sandpiper (15th & 29th), Spotted Redshank (21st-22nd),
Ruff (25th) and Curlew Sandpiper (29th-31st) amongst
2,180 Redshank, 370 Turnstone and 222 Ringed Plover
(all 24th) and 350 Sanderling (29th). Two Cuckoo
appeared (1st) and after going missing last month the
long-staying Hooded Crow put in another appearance
(20th), however passerine activity was generally light,
sightings of grounded birds included totals of 186
Willow Warbler (52-10th, 48-23rd), 66 Wheatear, seven

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Offshore sightings were scant but included: three Arctic Stint (1st-11th), Whimbrel (25th) and Spotted Redshank
Skua and two Great Skua amongst good numbers of (26th). Three Osprey flew through (7th, 13th & 19th) and
Common Scoter (1,455-11th, 1,115-16th) and Red-throated both Merlin and Peregrine were regular. Two Water Rail
Diver (42-23rd). A party of five Goosander (10th) were the appeared (9th), a Kingfisher was unusual (16th-23rd)
wildfowl highlight amongst the first few Pink-footed and an adult Mediterranean Gull was in residence (8th-
Geese (11th) and Whooper Swan (26th) which began to 29th). The Hooded Crow remained in residence.
move south, the reappearance of the first wintering Grounded passerine totals included 107 Wheatear (20-
light-bellied Brent Geese (19th) and 26 Pintail among 16th), 57 Chiffchaff, 42 Willow Warbler, 16 Goldcrest and
1160 Wigeon (21st). Waders included: 8,000 12 Spotted Flycatcher while diurnal movements were
Oystercatcher (8th), 500 Sanderling (23rd), 300 light but produced 856 Tree Sparrow (325-5th & 235-
Turnstone and 36 Greenshank (7th), 21 Black-tailed 7th), 341 Grey Wagtail (37-12th) and 69 Tree Pipit (30-
Godwit (3rd), seven Common Sandpiper (3rd), up to two 5th) while peak movements involved 1,585 Swallow,
Ruff (1st-18th) and single Curlew Sandpiper (1st), Little 1,175 Meadow Pipit, 43 Sand Martin and 33 House Martin
(15th) and 110 Skylark (25th). Departure dates involved:
Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler (12th), Willow
Warbler, Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail (15th), Spotted
Flycatcher and Whinchat (18th) and Sand Martin and
Whitethroat (25th).
The autumn theme of frustrating and increasingly wet
weather conditions continued through October with
rainfall on every day and a total of 199.0mm recorded to
provide the wettest month of the year and severely
curtailing migration movements through the island,
although 122 species were still logged with a Yellow-
browed Warbler (13th) the highlight. The sea provided
20 Gannet (25th), 16 Shag (12th), five Scaup (21st), three
Puffin (14th) and three Little Gull (26th) and single Little

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Auk (22nd), Long-tailed Duck (26th), Great Northern also moving through. Migrant departure dates involved
Diver (26th), Goosander (27th, 29th & 30th) before a late House Martin (8th), Wheatear (16th) and Swallow (21st).
Arctic Tern was seen (30th), along with 430 Common
Scoter (14th), 410 Razorbill (30th) and 152 Kittiwake
(25th). Pink-footed Goose (3,300-7th) and Whooper
Swan (35-15th) passage was well below recent levels
while the Brent Goose flock held up to 282 light-bellied
(19th) and 40 dark-bellied birds (25th) with 1,684
Wigeon and 458 Teal (6th) and seven Shoveler (13th)
also logged. Waders continued to be well represented
with 758 Golden Plover and 121 Snipe (6th), a Ruff (13th),
2,500 Knot (15th), 11 Greenshank, five Black-tailed
Godwit and a late Common Sandpiper (all 16th) and the
first returning Purple Sandpiper (30th).

Purple sandpipers © WBO Brambling © WBO

The adult Mediterranean Gull (to 6th) and Kingfisher (to The damp conditions continued into November, while
19th) both lingered and record numbers of Little Egret there was only 40.3mm of precipitation recorded there
were present (78-6th & 95-12th). A Buzzard was seen were just five dry days and mild conditions
(6th & 21st), a Long-eared Owl roosted (13th) and two predominated with temperatures only falling below
ringtail Hen Harrier (15th-21st) – included a satellite freezing on two days. The island took the full force of
tracked individual while both Merlin and Peregrine Storm Arwen (26th-27th) when winds gusted to 67mph.
were still regularly seen. The Hooded Crow remained A total of 111 species were seen during the month. The
and diurnal migration provided totals of 308 Tree now seemingly traditional late autumn rarity involved a
Sparrow (100-11th), 53 Siskin (12-20th), 22 Lesser Redpoll, Dusky Warbler (10th-13th) – only the second island
16 Brambling (from 11th) and 15 Grey Wagtail along with record and the third for Cumbria with a supporting cast
peaks of 790 Jackdaw (21st), 90 Chaffinch (11th), 80 provided by single Cetti’s Warbler (2nd) and Yellow-
Swallow (15th) and five Stock Dove (21st). Grounded browed Warbler (10th) – the latest ever recorded on the
birds remained at a premium but included totals of 37 island. Sightings over the sea included: single Little Auk
Goldcrest (14-15th), 19 Chiffchaff and three Blackcap (6th & 18th) and Great Northern Diver (9th & 22nd) along
with the first Redwing (13th) and Mistle Thrush (25th) with 248 Kittiwake (16th), 132 Common Scoter (6th), 128
Razorbill (17th), 37 Shag (5th) and 32 Red-throated Diver
(30th). Small numbers of Pink-footed Geese (315-14th)
and Whooper Swan (21-3rd) continued to move
through, the Brent Goose flock hosted 250 light-bellied
and three dark-bellied birds and 115 Pintail were logged
(18th). At least three Water Rail were present (4th).
Waders remained prominent with 3,080 Knot (29th),
830 Golden Plover (21st), 420 Turnstone (13th), 132 Snipe
(7th), 14 Black-tailed Godwit (19th), 12 Greenshank (4th),
three Jack Snipe (6th-7th) and two Purple Sandpiper
(21st). The first Water Pipit was noted (5th), up to 50
Twite took up residence (from 10th) and the Hooded
Crow remained. A few more winter thrushes finally
arrived with 67 Redwing (4th), 34 Blackbird (5th), 60
Fieldfare (15th) and a total of five Mistle Thrush,
however, Song Thrush numbers were low. Other
grounded passerines were limited to six Goldcrest,
three Chiffchaff and the final Blackcap (12th). Diurnal
migration was slightly better in comparison with totals
of 164 Tree Sparrow (62-3rd), 144 Brambling (64-8th), 56
Lesser Redpoll (12-10th), 54 Siskin (10-7th) and five Grey
Wagtail while 51 Stock Dove (17-2nd & 19-4th) was the
best passage for many years. Additional peak counts
included 2,650 Jackdaw (3rd), 440 Woodpigeon (4th)
and 75 Chaffinch (2nd).

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Tracking our flying visitors with Motus radio telemetry
Lucy Mitchell

Dr Lucy Mitchell, chair of the UK Motus steering group and now of the University of the Highlands and Islands,
summarises progress in 2021 and plans for more in 2022.
2021 has seen some expansion of the UK Motus network, which although still quite limited, has added 3 new receivers
to it. Following on from recent funding success with several local groups and regional utilities companies, our aim is to
capitalize on this and establish the network as a fantastic research and monitoring resource, eventually crossing the
length and breadth of the UK.
If this is all new to you, let me give you a brief introduction: ‘Motus’ revolves around a network of fixed, automated Very
High Frequency (VHF) radio telemetry receiver stations, which detect tagged animals – birds and flying mammals.
Motus is well established in the North America and a number of European countries, particularly the Netherlands and
Germany, where receivers automatically collect data from passing tags, which are then uploaded and stored on an
open-access, centralised database to be shared amongst numerous research groups. The smallest Motus tags weight
<0.3g, but can still emit a uniquely-coded radio signal up to every second, allowing small animals to be individually
identified when they fly within range of a receiver.

Fig 1: Receivers on the opposing coast of continental Europe and the British Isles (as of Dec 2021). Inset: names of UK
locations with receivers.

In the spring of 2021, an inland receiver was erected at Wheldrake Ings in North Yorkshire owned and managed by the
Natural England team there. Around the same time another receiver was added to the swathe along the coast in east
Anglia, this time at Minsmere RSPB reserve, as part of the ongoing collaboration between Wageningen University

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Research group and Norfolk Bat Group. This has been a real highlight of the year, producing the first tagged bats in the
UK, and an incredible result from the very first of these bats! A female Nathusius pipistrelle was equipped with a 0.26g
tag flew from Minsmere across the channel in early April in around four hours – an incredible feat for a tiny creature of
<10grams in weight. As the UK and continental Europe work on the same radio frequency, this means we can view
cross-channel movements of tagged individuals, and these crossings show the vast scope for collaboration between
study groups in Europe and Britain.

Further detections of the movements of a number of passerines from Europe are appearing in the UK, including Robin,
Starling, and Wheatear. Many of these were tagged by colleagues in Germany and the Netherlands, making the journey
to the UK in anywhere from one day to two weeks. Most recently, song thrush has been detected on the receiver
stationed at Spurn Bird Observatory, having crossed the southern North Sea in around 8 hours, arriving on the east
Yorkshire coast in the early hours of the morning. The detection was short – a minute or so – showing us that this bird
did not stop, instead continuing to…who knows where?! These are not the only westward movements detected here,
with a number of European starlings also seen moving across the channel from Europe in the past couple of months.

Fig 2: A map showing the estimated, rough movements of a Song Thrush originally tagged on Helgoland, that was
detected passing over Spurn Bird Observatory in mid-October.

Our pilot tagging project, funded by the British Ecological Society, started in April, deploying miniature tags onto
migrating European Blackcaps. Recent work has shown the interesting migratory behaviour of this species as
documented in the recent BTO magazine, and we will use Motus to continue to investigate the diversity of their
migratory directions. Our Motus tagging will identify the direction of travel of the individual and will indicate whether
birds are incoming breeders, outgoing migrants having wintered in the UK, or potentially transients passing through
from elsewhere.

Fig 3: A 0.26g Lotek ‘NanoTag’ deployed onto flying creatures to be subsequently detected by the Motus system.

Two birds were tagged in April, one at Landguard BO and one at Spurn BO, a female
and male respectively. The poor spring weather and slow migration of most species
meant that spring fieldwork was curtailed, and we kicked off again in early September,
tagging 4 at Wheldrake, 9 at each of Sandwich, Dungeness and Landguard, and a
further 1 at Spurn, where things were still quiet. There was a range of different
movements from these birds, some of which stayed around at the tagging site for a
couple of days, some of which left almost immediately. Most movements occurred at
night, as we would expect with Blackcaps, but a few filtered away in the vegetation to
continue their journeys in the daylight. The main results are still being analysed by
myself, but one standout result is the movement of a young male blackcap tagged at
Landguard on 28th September, over the channel into continental Europe. This shows us
that birds migrating in autumn do not always follow textbook patterns!

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Fig 4 A male blackcap tagged with a 0.26g NanoTag at Spurn BO, East Yorkshire in May 2021.

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Fig 5: Movement of a young male blackcap from Landguard BO in the UK, east into continental Europe.

Motus looks likely to progress further in 2022 with the installation of yet another receiver on the north coast of Norfolk
at Weybourne before the new year, followed by three more receivers in East Yorkshire including Bempton cliffs RSPB
reserve and The Deep in Hull. There are also singular installations at Stanford Reservoir in the east midlands, on the Calf
of Man, and in the Colne valley near Watford. We’ll be looking for further funding and trying to help groups with a bit
of cash and the interest, to move forward. Whilst we have only tagged blackcaps in 2021, we hope to add additional
species to this list once funding and project ideas are secured, such as the elusive yellow browed warbler, which are
already equipped with tags in Europe. Wheatear and twite have also been earmarked for future study across the UK,
but of course these things are all funding and licensing dependent, so we will continue to try and make progress here.

Get involved

Please visit www.motus.org for more information, including links to a variety of studies that have been published using
the system. For any other info or to contact me for support and advice email me at [email protected]; I do have
twitter (@lucyjayneryan) but I’m not a regular checker so don’t rely on it! #
$%"

.

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Young Birders at Bird Observatories in of Operations and Observatory Warden and Louis
2021 (another volunteer) on Solfach to ring Rock Pipits,
capturing them with a portable heligoland trap.
Many of the usual opportunities for youngsters to visit
observatories had to be abandoned in 2020 due to the Monday morning was windy and the sea was full of life,
Covis-19 pandemic, however, some under 25s still so I spent some time seawatching with Steve. I saw
managed to get to Observatories to either volunteer or hundreds of Manx shearwaters soar up the west coast,
take up roles as Assistants. A selection of their personal as well as other seabirds including an Arctic Skua and
reviews can be found here. some Common Scoters. In the afternoon the wind
dropped, and I saw my first Risso’s dolphins! Once it was
Rare Bird Alert Young Ornithologist dark, we set off for the north end to catch storm petrels
Scholarship trip to Bardsey Bird with Steve and Louis. We caught one, which I had the
Observatory honour of ringing.
by Hannah Coburn

In late 2019 Rare Bird Alert announced that applications Ringing Storm Petrel © Steve Stansfield
were open for their inaugural RBA Young
Ornithologists Fellowships I also had my first chance to ring Manx shearwaters - at
night, adults sit on the ground near their burrows so
Through the fellowships, RBA wanted to promote a love they are easy to catch. Due to their unusually flat legs,
of birds, wildlife and conservation to young people, by they require special types of rings. This evening was one
providing them with skills, equipment, friendships, of the highlights of my trip - handling birds that I would
trips, support and opportunities, and to encourage otherwise only see from afar was an exciting
them to share that love with their peers. experience.

By developing leadership, promoting compassion, The following morning, I joined Steve and Louis again,
teaching practical skills, sharing knowledge and this time ringing in the Obs garden. We had lots of
providing support through equipment, opportunities Willow Warblers passing through and I ringed my first
and trips, RBA are working to develop the young bird Linnet. I then joined an outing to ring and monitor
conservationists of tomorrow, by joining with selected Manx Shearwater chicks with Steve, Emma and Stuart
Observatories and support the young birders on their and some of the guests. The Shearwaters were almost
journeys. fully grown with adult feathers emerging, but still had
lots of fluffy down feathers. Carefully extracting them
Each of the four Fellowship awardees received a from their deep burrows was a challenge!
package of experiences and equipment worth over
£1,600, these included

• A week in a renowned UK bird observatory
• Swarovski 8x30 binoculars
• Rare Bird Alert subscription
• Birding and natural history books from WildSounds.

Having been awarded the Fellowship I chose to visit
Bardsey Bird Observatory in North Wales.

I arrived at Bardsey on a calm Saturday in late August.
It was my first time on the island. Before I’d even
unpacked my bags, I was welcomed into the ringing
hut and ringed my first bird of the week, a Blackcap. I
spent the rest of the day familiarising myself with the
island and its wildlife. As darkness fell I loved the
chuckling call of Manx shearwaters passing by my
bedroom window as they returned to their burrows on
the island. The following day I ventured up Mynydd
Enlli, enjoying excellent views of chough, a species I had
only seen once before. I also saw a nice mix of butterflies
on the mountain and a Redstart in the Obs garden. In
the afternoon I joined Steve, the Observatories Director

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pretty much the full season, although I missed the
latter parts of the autumn as I went off to start
university. The Spring was good, not only did I get to join
in with outdoor jobs essential to keeping the
observatory going like fencing, trap repairs and tending
to the polytunnel, but the birding was amazing too.
Before coming to North Ronaldsay, my experience of
‘hard core’ birding was limited, but I soon got into the
swing of things and managed to find Bluethroat, Great
Grey Shrike and Red Backed Shrike, as well as seeing
lots more rarities such as Wryneck, Icterine Warbler and
Red-rumped Swallow. I also got a good taste of spring
migration and what a good set of easterlies can
produce, with some days having decent falls of
Redwing, Fieldfare, Willow Warbler, Redstarts and
Blackcaps.

We spent most of the summer ringing wader chicks,
Tystie chicks and Fulmars, alongside spending the
evenings ringing Arctic Terns and Storm Petrels (I even
got to ring a Leach’s Petrel!), was brilliant experience for
me as before arriving, I had only previously ringed
passerines.

Ringing Mans Shearwater © Steve Stansfield

On Wednesday, I did some more ringing at the Obs
with Steve and we caught a Grasshopper Warbler,
giving me the chance to see one in the hand, a species
I’d only ever heard before. In the evening, Steve
organised a BBQ for everyone staying at the Lodge. One
of the aspects of the week particularly enjoyed was all
the people I had the pleasure of meeting. The people I
shared the Lodge with really made my week!

In my last few days I spent more time ringing with Ringing Fulmar with Gavin Woodbridge © NRBO
Steve and Louis, and caught a few different
species including my first Meadow Pipit. I also The social side of obs life was also brilliant, the obs staff
spent time enjoying being on such a stunning, had a pretty tight knit bond and I have definitely made
peaceful island. I had an incredible week and I friends for life. A trip to Hoy in search of Golden Eagles
can’t wait to return to Bardsey. Thank you so may not have been fruitful, but it was most definitely
much to the Obs staff for welcoming and hosting enjoyable!
me, and to RBA for being so generous and
funding my trip!

Volunteering at North Ronaldsay Bird The autumn was a bit quieter than I think everyone
Observatory expected or would have liked, but sea watching still
by Maddy Hine produced some highlights such as fully spooned
Pomarine Skua, hundreds of Sooty and Manx
I arrived on North Ronaldsay in March, having spent a Shearwaters, and of course the onslaught of Fea’s type
few months in the previous year starting my ringing Petrels that always made long, cold stints in the hide
training and volunteering at my local RSPB reserve. My worth it.
first day on the island was very welcoming, and I was
even treated to my first ever views of the Northern Volunteering at NRBO is an experience I’d encourage
Lights on my first evening. I stayed on the island for anyone to undertake, especially if you’re into birds. I
learned so much and am definitely hoping to go back
soon.

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Little Tern Project volunteer warden at As I pulled up in the Observatory carpark, a Pied
Spurn Flycatcher was behind the car. I checked my phone and
by Sam Caswell an Arctic Warbler had just been found in the
Churchyard – what a welcome! I rushed round but there
From 14th June to 16th August, I was the volunteer Little was no sign at first. Another Pied Flycatcher was
Tern warden for the 2021 season; this would be my present, though. Then I met Jonnie who showed me
second stint at Spurn as I had previously done the same round the Observatory and got me settled in. And as we
role in 2019 for a period of two weeks. walked there... another Pied Flycatcher! This is what
Spurn in September is about!
The duties of the position were very much the same as
2019 and over the nine weeks I was at Spurn, it was I was witnessing the tail end of a fall from a few days
fantastic to observe and protect the Little Terns as they before, but this was more flycatchers than I'd ever seen
went about their business from mating, to laying, to in my life.
hatching and then the relief when the chicks first take My first week was a whirlwind of meeting people, great
to the skies ahead of a mammoth journey to Africa! birds, Observatory tasks and setting up for Migfest. The
Observatory was suddenly full, and the nights were
Sam attending Little Tern ringing in July filled with socialising and getting to know lots of new
people.
During my stay, I was fortunate to see some amazing
species that I had rarely seen or never previously had This was my first Migfest, and what a great weekend it
the pleasure of observing with a Black-Browed was. My daily tasks then migrated more towards bird
Albatross, Black Stork, Bee-eater and Cory’s Shearwater recording, and I helped out with point count transects.
the highlight, plus a self-found male Red-Backed Shrike
along the Canal whilst on a Sunday morning walk Before my visit, it was to the many potential rarities that
looking at plants – only my second ever! my mind inevitably wandered. It is surprising, though,
how incidental one's individual birding can become
However, what I will take away the most from my stay alongside such a thriving birding community. Indeed,
is the lasting friendships that I made, and regained, so many of the happy memories that I'm taking away
since my first visit. Paul C, Jonnie, Toby, Lucy, Ollie, Luke, from my trip don't even involve a bird.
Mick, Paul & Georgia, Dave, Brian, the rest
of #TernTeam and the people of Kilnsea – I cannot This is why the YBOV grant is such a great initiative: it
thank you all enough for how you enhanced my stay helps young people to experience the camaraderie and
and helped me develop in ways that I never thought friendship of staying at a bird observatory.
possible. I will see you all again very soon!
It was about so much more than just the birds and yet I
BTO’s YBOV Fund volunteer still saw 144 species including an Isabelline Wheatear,
by Matthew Coward Arctic Warbler, Common Rosefinch, two Red-backed
Shrikes, two Long-tailed Skuas, Velvet Scoter, Dotterel
and Turtle Dove!

I am very grateful for how welcome I was made to feel
throughout, and to everyone who made my visit what
it was. Spurn really is a special place, and I will be back.

Sometimes, when you've wanted to do something for a Greg and fellow volunteer Liam on their leaving day.,
long time, it can never quite live up to expectations. Opposite page - Greg & other volunteers watching a
Thankfully, when it came to my visit to Spurn, this Greenish Warbler
wasn't the case – it matched my wildest expectations. I
visited for two weeks in September thanks to the BTO's
fantastic Young Bird Observatory Volunteer Fund.

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Valuing Young People at Sandwich Bay Pond Dipping
By Becky Downey and Steffan Walton

Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust (SBBOT) has a
long history of education and engagement of young
people. From the 1970s school groups visited the
Observatory and over the years since then courses such
as BTO Ringing Courses, ID courses, College and
University field visits, and trips from local primary
schools have all taken place here.

We want to ensure young people have access to the
Observatory and all the things we do, and to that end
we offer free digital membership to anyone under 21, as
well as free entry on guided walks to anyone under 18.
We hope this can encourage more young members to
join us for our events and walks and become part of our
community. We’re in the process of developing a Youth
Council for our young members to have a direct say in
our activities and plans.

Making Bee hotels

With various youth groups we have delivered both
online sessions during Lockdowns, and in-person
sessions at the Field Centre and the club’s own
premises. These sessions have included beginner bird
ID, moth trapping, wildlife treasure trails, pond-dipping,
and even learning about Wasps!

Steven Falk leading Bee ID Course In the past two years we have run four Nature Holiday
Clubs at the Observatory during school holidays,
Local primary schools have visited the Observatory on a engaging over 100 new young people with the
yearly basis in the past, but since January 2020, Observatory. We offer free nature-based sessions,
Assistant Warden Becky Downey, along with Trustee particularly aiming for vulnerable children who have
Sharon Irvine, have put together an Education Team been the most-adversely affected by Lockdowns,
and vastly increased our outreach with local schools, involving a range of fun-filled activities such as bird
youth groups, and young families. Despite the setbacks watching, bird ringing, bug hunting, owl pellet
that Covid-19 lockdowns brought, the Education Team, dissection, woodland trails, games, storytelling, crafts,
comprised of the wardening team, several trustees, and and music.
volunteers, have managed to connect with many local
primary schools, Scout groups, Girl Guides, and other For many years, SBBOT has linked with the RSPB in the
local youth groups in the East Kent area. running of the Wildlife Explorers (WEX) and Phoenix
groups at the Field Centre. These are groups for young,
Within primary schools we have run educational nature loving, budding conservationists that run once a
workshops based on wildlife and nature, focusing on month and focus on channelling their interest in nature
birds where we could, and we have delivered these and looking at local wildlife and environmental issues.
workshops both at the schools and at the Observatory The group is under the auspices of the RSPB, and all
Field Centre. The main aim of these workshops is to leaders are trained and managed by the RSPB. We
connect young people with nature, increasing both encourage this great working relationship and the
their knowledge and hopefully intrinsic value of wildlife. group based at the SBBOT Field Centre has been
We have even run sessions training the local school woven into the wide-ranging activities we do with
teachers on how best to engage children with nature. young people over the years, and it is continuing to
develop and expand! We’re currently in the process of
starting a second WEX group, for 8–12-year-olds, as our

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current group is so successful, and re-starting our interested in and can be found on our website and in
Phoenix group, for 13–19-year-olds, after a long Covid-19 our monthly newsletter. We have an abundance of
induced closure. other online resources for young people on our website,
We have many dedicated young birders who have which has grown over the past couple of years to
become involved with the various aspects of work that include a series of stop-animation videos, and
we do at SBBOT, such as bird ringing, moth nights, educational nature videos from Countrywide
attending our bi-weekly conservation mornings to help Productions. Here, you can also find access to grants
manage our nature reserves, and even helping out with and awards for young birders. We have hosted winners
the younger children at Holiday Clubs! We decided to from various awards before, including recently, Becky
harness this young enthusiasm and begin a regular Taylor from the Rare Bird Alert’s Young Ornithologist
Young Birders Walk and more recently a Young Birders Fellowship.
Blog.
During lockdowns in 2020/21 we ran a Wildlife Art and
Watching birds from the hides Photography competition for young people, and
The Young Birders Walks are open to anyone aged 10+, subsequently created a “Wildlife in Lockdown” exhibit
if you consider yourself young (!), and are led by our with over 100 art and photography entries in our bird
Warden and Assistant Warden. This has proven to be a hides, which were displayed throughout 2021. The
great way of getting them to connect with nature, meet material in the hides continues to change and develop,
like-minded people, and create a wider network of aimed at engaging anyone who visits them, whatever
birding friends. The Young Birders Blog gives the young their age.
people a chance to write about a topic they’re
The Education Team has more recently engaged with
several Universities. We hosted a placement student
from Christchurch Canterbury University during the
summer and currently have Carla Hill with us, a long-
term placement student from University of Exeter. We
are also planning a field course with University of Kent
for next year, and hope these relationships continue to
grow.

Our new Education Development Plan will come into
effect in 2022 and we look forward to seeing what we
can offer. The future certainly looks good. If you are
interested in joining in any of our events, as a
participant or a helper, or want to know more of our
plans going ahead, please get in touch at
[email protected].

Youngsters at Sandwich Bay Observatory

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