BOC News – Edition 7

B O C News January 2021

The newsletter of the
British Bird Observatories Council

Thanks to all the contributors and to all the
photographers for allowing us to use their images.

QUESTION
WHAT IS A BIRD OBSERVATORY?

ANSWER

It's a place which conducts long-term monitoring of bird populations and migration.
Individual observatories are located at prime migration points where a daily census is
taken in a defined recording area. An integral part of observatory work is bird ringing,
undertaken within the national scheme which is coordinated by the British Trust for
Ornithology. This provides data for guiding conservation policies of such bodies as
Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and their
counterparts in Ireland.
The Observatories encourage volunteers to participate in scientific studies of birds
and the environment. The results of these studies and more general information are
made freely available to researchers and to the public who are welcome to visit
observatories.

QUESTION
WHAT IS THE BIRD OBSERVATORIES COUNCIL?

ANSWER
The Bird Observatories Council co-ordinates and promotes the work of the bird
observatories at a national level. Individual observatories are accredited to the Council
when they meet specified criteria relating to activities and facilities.

For information about the Bird Observatories Council contact the secretary Alison
Duncan at [email protected]

FRONT COVER
Black-browed Albatross at
Flamborough Bird Observatory by Craig Thomas.
Albatrosses are the epitome of all migrants. They
are most efficient travellers of all vertebrates on
the planet. they expend very little energy soaring
hundreds of miles over the ocean each day using
both dynamic and slope soaring, so once aloft
and soaring across a fair breeze they never need
to flap their wings.
Albatrosses are usually found in the southern
oceans, however this Albatross has been
returning to the North Sea for several years and
occasionally visits the Gannet colony at
Flamborough Bird Observatory

Chairman’s Welcome agreement between the BOC and BTO and in just a few
weeks we should be voting to accept a new
Steve Stansfield Memorandum of Understanding between the two
parties. It has been a long haul and meant that our
Welcome to this seventh BOC Newsletter, and what a constitution had to be re-written (it was quite old…!)
fantastic summary we have over the next 80 or so
pages! Observatories are renowned for stories of Another setback in 2020 was a BOC meeting that was
magnificent arrivals of migrant birds, rarities that make to be held on Cape Clear island in County Cork in July.
the mind boggle, and camaraderie that is hard to find Due to the issues with the Covid-19 pandemic this had
elsewhere. In this newsletter you will find all that and to be cancelled.
much more from all 20 BOC Accredited Observatories.
2019 saw the total destruction of Fair Isle Bird
It is with great sadness that we lost two of the Bird Observatory by a fire which engulfed the whole
Observatories Councils stalwarts in 2020. Firstly Kevin building and left nothing but a large pile of ash and
Woodbridge, the owner and director of North twisted metal in early-March. An appeal to help raise
Ronaldsay Bird Observatory, my predecessor as Chair of funds was launched by FIBO to help rebuild the new all
the BOC, my mentor, former boss and my friend passed singing all dancing Observatory. Please visit their web
away after a short and unexpected illness in March. We site and donate to help the directors of the Observatory
had seen Kevin at the BOC meeting in February and his reach their goal, or if you would like to make a donation
presence around the table at future BOC meetings will to help with the re-build of the next Observatory on this
be sorely missed. Secondly Peter Dunn the Chairman of magical Isle then please contact the FIBO Treasurer
Filey Bird Observatory passed away in April; Peter was [email protected] who will advise on the best way
ill and complications with Covid-19 were too much for of making a donation.
him. Peter, another friend of mine, who helped out on
Bardsey ringing courses that I organised, and also put The BOC has been continuing our efforts to get all the
me forward for my ringing trainer’s licence in the late Observatories data digitised and uploaded to BirdTrack,
1990s will leave a big hole in the east coast Observatory with many Observatories now getting all their data
family. onto the system shortly after the year’s end, and some
are even doing it ‘live’ each day. More Observatories are
Moving on, this newsletter is like none that have been nearing the completion of the digitisation, and
before it, and we pray none that will follow. Talk of Dungeness hopes to become the next to complete in
lockdowns throughout each section, no ringing, 2021.
minimal census, staff being sent home and furloughed
is something that we really though we would never The future of Bird Observatories relies very much on the
have read before, nor do we want to again. This all due massive amount of volunteer hours which go into
to the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic that causes the disease running the individual observatories, as well as the
Covid-19. The pandemic swept across the globe from large number of hours spent by volunteers to move the
China in late 2019 and by mid-March 2020 the UK and BOC forward as a body. With that in mind as I begin my
much of the world was in lockdown, and even as I type 31st year working at Observatories, I remain very
this from our winter retreat in Norfolk in January 2021, positive about the future, and the number of
we are still in Lockdown #3. youngsters that are once again spending time at Bird
Observatories. Spurn Bird Observatory managed to
Many Observatories struggled to get staff to the sites host Luke Nash as a volunteer for some of the autumn,
during spring, others that did were forced to send staff Bardsey hosted Josie Hewitt for her 6th year as short-
home, whilst others were lucky enough to be operating term volunteer as well as Alex Starace as the autumn
the census, monitoring and ringing work at almost full intern, Billy Dykes went to Skokholm and each have
capacity. I was asked as Chair of the BOC by a number written a short piece which can be found later in this
of Observatories to speak to local councils, landowners edition of BOC News.. Unfortunately the Young Bird
and managers, in their struggles to be allowed to Observatories Volunteer programme (YBOV) was
continue working at their Observatories during the first cancelled this year due to covid, as was the Bardsey
Lockdown. Joint University week, which was to be funded by the
West Midland Bird Club, and the Isle of May training
As well as doing my primary job as Director of week was also cancelled.
Operations and Observatory Warden at Bardsey BO, I
have worked closely with the BOC Executive (Secretary An exciting new radio tracking project was launched
Alison Duncan (Warden of North Ronaldsay BO), Peter last year and introduced by Nick Whitehouse in the last
Howlett, and Steffan Walton (Warden of Sandwich Bay issue of this Newsletter. An update on the MOTUS
Bird Observatory) to progress various BOC items during project can be found towards the end of this newsletter.
2020. We have almost completed a review of the

Page 1 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

SUMMARY OF THE 2020 BOC AGM AT BTO HQ, THETFORD ON SATURDAY 2 FEB 2020

The BOC Meeting at The Nunnery 2 February 2020 – © Emma Stansfield

From left – Steven Newman (Holme), Sarah Harris (Spurn), Erin Taylor (Portland), Mark Bolton (Fair Isle), Paul Stancliffe (BTO), Jim Morgan (Flambrough) Peter Morgan (Portland),
Jonnie Fisk (Spurn) Steve Wing (Cape Clear), Sally Hunter (Sandwich), Jez Blackburn (BTO) Steve Williams (Hilbre), Sophie Barker (Holme), Steffan Walton (Sandwich), Chris
Williams (Hilbre), Phil Woolen (Hilbre), Peter Howlett (Bardsey), Nigel Odin (Landguard), Kevin Woodbridge (North Ronaldsay), Dean Jones (Lundy), Steven Stansfield (Bardsey
and BOC Chair) Chris Dee (Lundy), David Walker (Dungeness). Alison Duncan (North Ronaldsay and BOC Secretary), Tim Earl (Alderney), Ian Hunter (Sandwich), Aron Sapsford
(Calf), Mike Archer (Bardsey) Gill Holamby (Dungeness)

The meeting was very productive and very large with some 32 delegates, including representatives from 16 of the 20
bird observatories within the UK, many BTO staff members, a Finnish observatory representative there to learn more
about how British Bird Observatories operate, as well as skype attendances from Alderney and Long Point in Canada!!

The Chair was tasked with keeping the meeting under control, running smoothly and managing to fit a massive agenda
into an seven-hour meeting. Well we did it, and finished bang on time! The meeting was opened by a wonderful
introduction from Jez Blackburn (Head of the BTO Licencing and Sales team) and then the Chair and Secretary were
re-appointed. We discussed the new Observatory on Alderney, and a proposal for Alderney to gain accreditation was
forwarded by Bardsey, seconded by Hilbre and unanimously agreed. We had discussion based around Safeguarding
and there was discussion surrounding the BTO/BOC Agreement and MOU and the BOC Constitution and the possibility
of inviting several new ‘affiliated’ Observatories. The chair reported on a Feather Sampling project with Jez Blackburn,
and then Mike Archer, presented a report on the Young Bird Observatories Volunteer program. Dean Jones was invited
to give a presentation about the proposal that Lundy be re-accredited as a Bird Observatory. There was an update on
BirdTrack from Scott Mayson from the BTO, who began his speech by announcing that all the Bardsey data from 1953
to the end of 2019 had now been sent to the BTO for upload onto BirdTrack. There was an update on the Bird Tracking
Technology MOTUS and a presentation from Steve and Emma Stansfield on the new design of the BOC Bird Fair
Stand.…

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk Page 2

Alderney February was mild causing us to miss out on the
John Horton sprinkling of locally rare wildfowl species recorded in
previous years during hard weather. A Great Northern
Incredibly, as I complete this Diver was present from the 7th to 17 February and an
piece just ahead of Christmas, over-wintering Whimbrel remained all month. A locally
Alderney has to date remained completely COVID-19 rare Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen on the 23rd
free. This does not mean that it had no impact on the and a single Bonxie was offshore on the 24th. Two
ABO, far from it. All set and armed with our new for 2020 Bottlenose Dolphins were our first of the year on the
‘Quality in Tourism’ 4-Star rated accommodation we 25th and migrant Firecrests began arriving on the 26th.
were set to see our highest ever occupancy rate but On the last day of the month a single Cattle Egret was
bookings plummeted as any hope of UK visitors faded at Kiln Farm but was not seen subsequently.
to zero. March began with 2 Small White butterflies at Essex
Field work was also severely curtailed and during the Farm on the 1st, the earliest recorded in the Channel
height of spring migration we found ourselves Islands this year. A nervy Graylag Goose, (locally rare)
individually limited to a two-hour hour walk per day for was briefly on farm fields above the south cliffs on the
daily exercise. While limited field observations 2nd. A wonderful Large Tortoiseshell was located and a
continued, ringing came to a complete standstill and dozen Firecrests recorded on the 3rd. An adult Yellow
this was reflected in the end of year figures. legged Gull 5th was the first for 2020 and 3 Sand Martins
There were, however, plenty of interesting sightings came through on the 6th. Sea-watches during the
and by year-end despite limited staff and no UK visitors month produced 3 Black-throated and 2 Great
whose field observations and ringing are of great Northern Divers. A Water Pipit was present near the
assistance, we recorded a total of 187 species, the Longis jetty on the 7th and 8th. Three Purple
highest annual total since documented bird records Sandpipers were on Fort Razz on the 15th. We had an
began here in 1876. Osprey fly over on the same day and a male Zitting
Now in our fifth year of recording, we are making good Cisticola was caught and ringed. Two males were
headway in providing the official Birds of the Channel displaying at the same location by the 23rd. Water Rail
Islands annual report with realistic and current numbers peaked at 8 on the 16th and we had an early
estimates of the status of many of Alderney’s breeding Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Two Ring Ouzels were seen
and migrant birds. The status of many of our birds has on the 22nd with singles on the 24th and 26th. An adult
been either a ‘best guess’ or simply listed as unknown White-tailed Eagle passing through on the 31st brought
there having been no prolonged standardised bird the month to an exciting end.
recording in the island prior to 2016.
Our 2020 species total was in no small way down to the ABO warden John Horton’s best catch ever… he slipped a ring
efforts of spring migration assistant Elliot Monteith and onto Cathy Hanlon’s finger while on a cruise in January.
autumn assistant Jason Mitchell. Both were invaluable
contributing numerous excellent records and
completing the daily census. The ABO added 20 new
species to the island’s list of fauna and flora prior to
2020. The trend continued this year as we added Scaly
Cricket and Box-tree moth along with White-rumped
Sandpiper, Bearded Vulture, Black-winged Kite, Pallid
Swift, Hume’s Leaf Warbler and Radde’s Warbler (all
bird species subject to acceptance by the Bailiwick
Islands Rare Birds Committee).
Our social media following on Facebook rose by 63%
during the year and we had our first individual Twitter
post that reached more than 100,000 people.
Cathy and I were truly fortunate to squeeze in getting
married and a honeymoon during January but this did
mean there were no field sightings until our return to
Alderney in the second week of February.
During our absence news reached us that Alderney
Bird Observatory as an independent organisation,
company and locally registered charity had been
awarded accreditation status by the British Bird
Observatories Council. Tim Earl was delighted to attend
the BOC AGM on behalf of the ABO. Our team are
honoured to be a small part of the wealth of
ornithological excellence that is the BOC family.

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April began with a second Large Tortoiseshell on the some 16 days after the April bird It appeared to be a 2nd
4th. A Rook (rare locally) was seen and there was a calendar year bird and was quite settled along the west
movement of 20 Grey Herons on the 5th. A Grasshopper coast where it spent the best part of 3 hours.
Warbler was singing on the 6th, 2 female Serins were
spotted on the 5th and 6th. News came through Black winged Kite – © John Horton
concerning the only Dunlin ever ringed in Alderney, at
Longis Bay in October 2016, it was re-trapped in Poland Four Common Crossbills were seen flying over Essex
last year. Two Blue-headed Wagtails were seen and a Farm on the 14th. A female Nightjar was hunting over
Powdered Quaker caught in the moth trap on the 11th. Longis common at dusk on the 15th. The cracking
A Pomarine Skua on the 13th and our first Black Kite of spring for birds of prey continued with a first record for
the year on the 15th were followed by 2 Ospreys on the the Channel Islands of Bearded Vulture. This
16th. Some 13 Ring Ouzels were recorded between the magnificent bird was found and photographed by ABO
1st and 25th. The 16th was a truly memorable day as I board member Neil Harvey on the 20th, the following
latched onto the owl-like face of a Black-winged Kite day the vulture drifted across the island and headed
coming in off the sea at Mannez Lighthouse. The bird over Mannez lighthouse NE out to sea.
began hunting almost immediately as it drifted over
the coastal grassland appearing oblivious to its two
mesmorised admirers. This was a wonderful experience
not least because I was able to share it with my 83-year-
old father who was visiting. Surely soon to be recorded
in the UK, this Alderney bird follows a record from
Jersey in October 2018. A Black Tern was seen on the
18th, a Hen Harrier and brief views of a Red-rumped
Swallow were seen on the 21st. A Wood Warbler was
recorded on the 23rd while a Canada Goose, another
local rarity, was at the airport on the 23rd and 24th. A
Black Kite was present on 8 separate days between the
18th and 30th, with 2 seen together on the 25th.

Bearded Vulture – © John Horton

Black Kite – © Elliot Montieth We recorded 22 Small Elephant Hawkmoths and 36
Cream-spot Tiger moths in the observatory trap on the
A Hoopoe was ringed on the 27th and during the same 28th. May was also the month we began to believe that
session a Portuguese-ringed Tree Pipit was processed, Fan-tailed Warbler was attempting to breed. On the
the first foreign control of this species for the Channel 15th we observed a male presenting food to a female
Islands. We initiated the first specific Bailiwick Islands which she accepted – we had not recorded a female
Garden Bird-watch event during the last week of April. until that occasion. The pair were observed regularly
With a strong uptake from both Alderney and Guernsey travelling to and from the same specific location where
residents we hope to repeat the event for the same they appeared to be building a nest. Another Osprey
week in 2021. was seen 31st and Quail heard calling the same
In May a Pomarine Skua was seen offshore on the 2nd afternoon. A fine Rose-coloured Starling in spring-
and on the 20th. Three different Serins were spotted plumage was keeping company with around 40
between the 3rd and 17th. A Nightingale ringed at Common Starlings between the Fosse Herve fields and
Mannez on the 3rd was in good voice at the same adjacent residential gardens on the 30th and 31st. There
location on the mornings of the 4th and 5th but not were only 2 Black Kite records in May and 5 Honey
after. The Hoopoe ringed on the 26th of last month was Buzzards between the 8th & 21st. Our assistant warden
still at Longis reserve until 6th. Two vocal Bee-eaters Elliot found 79 species, including Black-winged Kite, on
showed well but all too briefly around Mannez the 8th, a new record for the most bird species recorded
lighthouse on the 7th before heading NE and out to sea. in a single day.
Just two Turtle Doves were recorded this spring, 1 on June began in the pink with 2 adult Rosy Starlings in
the 1st St Anne allotments and another over the NE of gardens in Newtown.
the island on the 8th. Our SECOND Black-winged Kite
of the spring (we could not believe it either) was seen

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk Page 4

one of the highest annual returns since they were first
ringed on Burhou in 1946.
A very recently fledged Cuckoo was ringed at Longis
reedbed on the 22nd, the first evidence of successful
fledging of this species occurring in Alderney. Scaly
Cricket, Pseudomogoplistes vicentae, was discovered
in Alderney by guest Guernsey ringer Trevor Bourgaize
on the 28th. One of the rarest and least well studied of
the UK’s Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) Scaley
Crickets are known from only four localities in the UK
but they have been recorded on four of the Bailiwick of
Guernsey islands in recent years.

Rose-coloured Starling – © John Horton

A record 13 Oystercatcher chicks were ringed from 5
clutches along with a single clutch of 4 Ringed Plovers.
The colonisation of mainland Alderney by Lesser Black-
backed Gull continues as the location that supported
the first nesting pair in 2019 had 3 pairs this year.
In July, about 1,200 Balearic Shearwaters were rafting
off the NE coast on the 15th. Around 20% of the world’s
population is thought to be present offshore around
the Channel Islands each July. The birds’ arrival
coincided with local fishermen reporting higher than
average numbers of Herring fry: is this the annual event
that attracts these Red List birds to the Channel Islands,
we wonder.

Scaly Cricket – © John Horton

Four recently fledged Zitting Cisticolas seen on the 29th
confirming the first successful breeding of this species
here in Alderney. One of these recently fledged birds
was trapped and ringed the same day.

Herring fry – © Blake Jackson

Balearic Shearwaters – © John Horton Zitting Cisticola – © John Horton

Though few in number, experience of ringing seabirds
runs deep among Channel Islands’ bird ringers. With no
UK ringers visiting this year we brought together a
team of CI-licence holders to pool resources. We
completed the annual survey of Storm Petrel and
Lesser Black-backed Gull colonies on the offshore
island of Burhou. More than 600 Storm Petrels were
processed during the evenings of the 20th and 21st July,

P a g e 5 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

During August we recorded three species of moth Deaths Head Hawk Moth – © John Horton
previously recorded on fewer than 10 occasions on White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Stint – © John Horton
Alderney: Nut-tree Tussock, Celypha cespitana and
Dioryctria sylvestrella. Two Honey Buzzards and a Turtle
Dove were seen on the 5th. A Nightingale was ringed
and a Quail flushed at Longis Common during the
census walk on the 7th. An Osprey flew over on the 29th
and a Sooty Shearwater was seen off the NE coast the
same day.
September saw our last Common Swift record was on
the 3rd, 2 Curlew Sandpipers were present on the 7th
with one remaining until the 12th. A Great White Egret
was seen on the 8th and 9th. Sightings on the 10th
included single Sooty Shearwater, Pomarine Skua and
Cattle Egret; a Grasshopper Warbler was ringed and
photos received of an immature Rose-coloured Starling
in a private garden. On the 11th, a Knot (locally rare)
preceded a good run of rarer waders to come, a Nightjar
was observed hunting from the Longis Naturetrek hide
on the 11th. That day the ABO recorded a new moth
species for the island with a flurry of Box Tree moth
Cydalima perspectalis starting with a dark form
individual and a further 6 (all light form) on the 12th and
13th. By the 18th we had recorded more than 20
individuals. A Wryneck was spotted on the 12th and a
further bird ringed on the 19th. A bird of prey passage
on the 13th involved 52 Common Buzzard, 9 Honey
Buzzard, 1 Black Kite, 12 Sparrowhawks, 2 Hen Harriers
and a Marsh Harrier. A Black Tern explored Longis Bay
briefly late the same afternoon. On the 14th we were
contacted by a local resident who had discovered an
impressive Deaths Head Hawkmoth in her porch! The
magnificent beastie was hissing at her when she tried
to leave her home, we were glad to rescue it but not as
glad as the resident was to see it go! On the 14th a
White-rumped Sandpiper was found in Longis Bay by
Jason Mitchell, virtually the first bird he saw on
emerging from quarantine, it last seen the next day.
This is the first Channel Islands’ record. The
accompanying Little Stint present from the 14th to 18th
was the first Alderney record since 2004.

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk Page 6

An immature Purple Heron visited Longis Reserve 20th Zitting Cisticola – © John Horton
and 21st, while 3 Great Egrets passed over Mannez
quarry also on the 21st. October had not quite finished when we stumbled
September ended with some very productive sea- across the unexpected sight of an adult Grey Phalarope
watches. During strong NW winds on the 26th and 27th at the roadside near Mannez lighthouse, only the third
we clocked up an island record for Sooty Shearwater record for Alderney.
with 53, many passing remarkably close to shore, also 19 November has become my favourite month as we see
Balearics, 30 Manx Shearwaters, 76 Bonxie, 4 Arctic and many thousands of thrushes passing through. This
3 Pomarine Skuas made for two productive mornings. autumn we ringed just under 800 Redwings, just below
A Pochard in a cold snap on the 30th was only the the mean total over our five autumns’ operation. We
second record since 1997. In late September we had a took a short break from extracting Redwings on the 4th
report of a possible Little Crake captured on a ‘trail to admire two Common Cranes passing over, headed
camera’ only. At the time of writing the island bird NE but surprise of the day was the ringing of an
recorder and Bailiwick rare birds’ panel are yet to extremely late Common Whitethroat, another latest of
receive any further details. the year island record.
The same cold spell produced a Jack Snipe that Winds looked favourable for a sea-watch on the 3rd and
remained until the 2nd October. Two Great Egrets were we were quickly rewarded with a single Sooty
seen on the 3rd and 2 Pintails (under 10 previous Shearwater close in, another latest ever island record.
records) were found on Corblets quarry on the 5th. Our As is so often the case with sea-watching persistence
last migrant Sand Martins (8) were on the 6th. A single paid off as we picked up a distant Sabine’s Gull.
Pink footed Goose was seen passing off the NE coast on A Goldcrest wearing a Finnish ring was processed on
the 8th. There were 4 Ring Ouzels between the 12th and the 5th together with a further Yellow-browed Warbler.
17th. On the 13th a further 5 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 A Dusky Warbler was trapped and ringed on the 7th
Balearics and a Little Gull were recorded. A run of NE and a fine male Hen Harrier was hunting the airfield. A
winds starting overnight on the 13th pushed birds ring-tailed Hen Harrier was present on the 11th.
across to us from the continent producing the first of 3 Our last sighting of Zitting Cisticola was on the 9th. A
Dusky Warblers ringed this autumn preceding a survey of our wintering Dartford Warblers on the 10th
Radde’s Warbler on the 16th. A Short-eared Owl was confirmed at least 10 birds present at our most
seen on the south cliffs area on the 15th and 17th. Three productive site, 4 of which we caught and ringed along
Great Egrets were recorded 17th and 19th. A female with a Siberian Lesser Whitethroat and Tristis
Great Spotted Woodpecker discovered at Rose Farm on subspecies of Chiffchaff.
the 16th was last seen on 16th November. A movement Latest-migrant-date records continued to fall with a
of several hundred hirundines on the 22nd included a House Martin on the 15th. A Cattle Egret flew over
Pallid Swift which showed well from mid-afternoon to Longis reserve on the 20th and between ringing rounds
dusk for all four of the birders present on the island! The a first-class male Cirl Bunting was located.
following morning a Common Redstart ringed became
the latest autumn record for this species to date. A
male Snow Bunting was found on the 25th.

Snow Bunting –John Horton

October also saw 7 Yellow-browed Warblers (6 ringed)
recorded and a possible Hume’s Leaf Warbler currently
awaiting DNA results. The sixth Cisticola of the year was
ringed on the 27th and that afternoon a Lapland
Bunting was seen near the target wall.

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Dusky Warbler ringed this year – © John Horton A local rarity further boosted the annual species total by
way of a male Red-breasted Merganser on the 24th.
Our third Dusky Warbler of the autumn was trapped Finally, at the end of another exciting year we are
and ringed on the 21st. delighted to announce in this report that Alderney had
a second pair of Zitting Cisticolas breeding successfully
during 2020 at a second location. No information has
been released about this fantastic event due to the
possibility of human disturbance. Several reports of
‘possible’ breeding Zitting Cisticolas have been
submitted to previous bird recorders, including a
couple by ABO committee member Tim Earl, but none
were never followed up on. It is quite possible that the
species has previously bred in Alderney for 20 years!

October’s Purple Heron – © David Child

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk Page 8

Bardsey
Steve Stansfield

Early spring saw
Emma , Connor and I
departing our winter
residence at Owlwood Cottage in Kelling, North Norfolk
and making our way back to North Wales via our
parents in Rotherham and Southport.

Each spring we make the longitudinal migration from A small amount of luggage for five people! – © Steve Stansfield
as far east as we can go in England to as far west as we
can get in Wales on the same latitude, buying up six We began monitoring the island’s wildlife, and at that
months’ supply of food on the way. However, early point preparing for a season with strict social distancing
March saw total pandemonium as the global pandemic measures in place and buying gallons of bleach in
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes the disease readiness for a daily dose in communal areas. However,
COVID-19 was spreading rapidly. People around the the UK was put into lockdown on 23 March, just five
world were panic buying, collecting food, toilet paper days after our return to the island, in an unprecedented
and supplies in vast quantities in the event of a national step to attempt to limit the spread of the virus. This
lockdown had already taken place in Spain and Italy. meant that for the next three weeks at least there
Early March usually sees island Observatory staff from would be no one allowed on or off the island. After our
all over the UK dashing from one supermarket to first two weeks in quarantine, and we were all symptom
another buying up enough food to last for many free, we began to work with the other island residents,
months. Our shopping list for three of us includes 60+ Gareth and Meriel Roberts and their 6-year-old
litres of UHT milk, 40+ tins of beans, same number of granddaughter Ela at the farm, Tŷ Pellaf, and Mari Huws
tins of tomatoes, and sweetcorn etc. and then once we and Emyr Owen the Island Wardens for Bardsey Island
know that the boat is definitely sailing, a last minute Trust. We had effectively become a single isolated
dash to buy a month’s worth of fresh and frozen food. ‘bubble’ on 444 acres of rock in the Irish sea. Essential
This year, as the panic buying due to the unfolding deliveries to the island of food (if we were able to get a
Covid-19 situation took hold, we began to struggle (and supermarket slot!!), mail and other supplies were still
continued to throughout the season) to be able to find being brought on by the boatman Colin, but we were
food on supermarket shelves, and when there was food all exercising good social distancing practices with him
there, we were limited to the amount we could buy… and any crew that came with him, along with good
this did not bode well for survival offshore for the hygiene when handling parcels etc.
coming months!
Eventually, we rustled up enough food for a few months
and the three of us, along with our two assistants, Sam
Prettyman and George Dunbar headed to Bardsey.

As lockdown continued, BBFO and Bardsey Island Trust
had regular video meetings to keep abreast of the
developing situation and to make decisions as we had
to soon start cancelling guests and refunding the
monies that had been paid for their stays on the island.
Some were very generous and allowed us to keep the
deposits, and in some instances their full payments.

So we were straight back into monitoring and
undertaking some remedial work that could not be
carried out on the lodge whilst guests were present like
removing the lime render from the common room wall
for example.

George and Sam leaving the mainland– © Steve Stansfield Our daily census of the migrant birds and ringing
programme continued where we left off in early winter
Upon arrival on 18 March we found that summer 2019. As spring progressed our other monitoring
migrants, like Chiffchaffs, had beaten us there, but we projects we undertake as part of our management
were all glad to be home and away from the madness agreement with the Welsh Country-side agency (NRW)
that was ensuing on the mainland. continued. We had to change somewhat our main
plans, as we were reliant for some of our works, on
additional staff and volunteers, so we had to reduce
some of our workload and change others to suit a
smaller staff base. However, our priority work, the
monitoring of the migrants and breeding land birds
and seabirds, could continue. We had been in contact

P a g e 9 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

with the BTO to clarify the situation with regards the South-East which helped to produce a reasonable
ringing and were given the OK as the whole island was number of common migrants.
effectively the boundary of our property and there was Willow Warblers are the most numerous spring
no chance of contact with the public. migrants on Bardsey, with Blackcaps probably being
As the month continued and birders and ringers across second-most. The first notable arrival of Willow
the whole of the UK were limited to the length of time Warblers was on 9 April when 101 were recorded, prior
they were allowed out of their gardens, we began to feel to this there had only been low double figures. The 11th
more and more privileged that we were being able to produced 226 but the highest count of the spring was
wander around the island as normal, and go out birding had on 16th when 455 were counted across the island,
as and when we wanted!! We had 2 miles of open ocean this also coincided with the largest count of Blackcaps
between us and the nearest possible bit of Coronavirus. – 209. Both are very respectable counts for recent times
We were also being blessed with some good calm with last year peak counts for Willow Warblers and
weather allowing good numbers of common migrants Blackcaps only reaching 163 and 44 respectively.
to arrive onto the island. Grasshopper Warblers saw 27 birds during the month
We had in general a great spring in lockdown. It was not and they peaked on 16th with 10 seen.
easy, but what better place to have to be in isolation!!!!!! Redstarts were in reasonable numbers too, the first
Due to the virus outbreak BBFO was unable to operate record was on 10th when a female was in the garden at
its main revenue stream (The Lodge). The observatory’s the Observatory; there were 10 bird-days this month
estimated loss of revenue will be about £20,000. If you with two counts of three birds. It was also a good spring
can, please consider making a donation, however small for Black Redstart records, after 21 bird-days in March,
and help the great work continue to 2021 and beyond. there were then a further 10 in April.
A GoFundMe page has been set up on our blog
www.bbfo.blogspot.com Black Redstart – © Steve Stansfield

SPRING PASSAGE – GEORGE DUNBAR, SAM PRETTYMAN & Pied Flycatchers are never numerous on Bardsey these
STEVE STANSFIELD days, so it was nice to see nine individuals from 17th to
the month’s end.
On arrival on 18 March, we found that a Barn Owl had
spent the winter roosting and making a mess in the
Cristin Tractor Shed, and to our surprise, it was still in
there. It was quickly trapped and ringed… a great start
to the season. Jack Snipe, Firecrest and a few Chiffchaffs
got us off to a good start thereafter.

Barn Owl – © Steve Stansfield Pied Flycatcher – © Steve Stansfield

There were only a couple of days of prolonged rain at Scarcities were in short supply in April. A Wryneck on
the end of April, which were much needed after a very 15th was one of the first in the UK this year. A Siberian
dry start to the month. Winds were predominantly from Chiffchaff was seen on 20th Two Red Kites were seen,
one on 14th and another on 21st, with a Black Kite being

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 10

seen on 24th. A Lapland bunting was present from 21st On the rare and scarce bird front a singing male Blyth’s
to 30th, and Yellowhammers were seen on 16th, with Reed Warbler, singing Greenish Warbler, Turtle Dove a
two on 22nd. very late Shore Lark (on 31st!) and very obliging
Woodchat Shrike which gave great views were the
standout highlights this month.

Lapland Bunting – © Steve Stansfield Greenish Warbler– © Steve Stansfield

The sea also held some interest this month, singles of Shore Lark – © Steve Stansfield
both Great Northern and Red-throated Diver were had,
along with the spring’s only Osprey which flew North. June saw passage slowing down, and so migrants were
May was exceedingly dry, with southerly winds for the present in smaller numbers this month, however ‘June
most part, occasionally very strong at 40mph or so. rarities’ are renowned, so we always live in hope! A few
Many resident birds around the island were food Garden Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers continued
carrying and nest building from the start of the month, moving through up until the middle of the month, but
but we were still in the late throes of spring migration. the first scarcity arrived on 4th in the form of a singing
Sedge Warblers were moving through in good male Common Rosefinch which was caught the next
numbers, with a peak count of 27 on the 6th. Spotted day, this was the first of three singing males this month.
Flycatchers were first recorded in Cristin garden on the
2nd and had 21 bird-days in the month, the highest day
count was 30 on the 27th. As expected, May brought the
first Cuckoo, a male singing at Tŷ Bach on the 10th; a
male bird was then present for the following two days,
and a male and female were present on the 16th.
Dunlins and Purple Sandpipers were moving through,
with peaks of 70 and 32 respectively on the 6th. A Knot
was on the 12th, a brick-red adult which then stayed for
a further seven days. As well as this, a second-year, leg-
flagged Knot was seen on the South End, it was later
found to have been ringed in Northern Ireland in
January this year.

Red Knot – © Steve Stansfield Common Rosefinch – © Steve Stansfield

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Woodchat Shrike – © Steve Stansfield

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The first rarity of the month was had on 8th when a BREEDING BIRDS – SAM PRETTYMAN & GEORGE DUNBAR
second Blyth’s Reed Warbler was heard singing from SEABIRDS
dense cover in the Observatory Garden, the sixth record
for Bardsey. A few Crossbills were had the following day, Starting with some unfortunate seabird news, Razorbill
with some Siskins also joining them. Breeding bird productivity plummeted this year due to the strong
activity started picking up mid-month too, with three south-westerly winds that swept through the Irish Sea
broods of Whitethroats appearing around Nant, and in late-May. This could barely have come at a worse
Willow Warblers and Blackcaps carrying food too, the time, as this was when many of the adults either had
latter being a rare breeder on Bardsey with this being well-developed eggs or small chicks. On Bardsey,
the eighth breeding record. practically the entire population of Razorbills nest low
A Rose-coloured Starling on 13th was perhaps to the sea in the boulder scree, and any waves over 5 or
anticipated, though stunning nonetheless, this was the so metres are able reach most of the colony and wash
11th island record, and the first for over a decade. Some away eggs and chicks. The total number of eggs and
wader passage was had later in the month too, the best young was a meagre 111, a 67.83% decrease compared
of which being a full summer-plumaged male Ruff, a to last year (311 eggs and young) and 61.03% lower than
scarce migrant here, and infrequently seen in this the ten-year mean (284.80±s.d.78.30).
breeding finery. Guillemots did better, with the breeding population
experiencing only a slight decline of Adults on Ledges
(AOLs). 1232 were counted this year during a boat-based
colony count, which is 12.8% less than the count in 2019.
But last year was one of the highest on record, second
only to 2017 when 1574 AOLs were present. This means
the upward trend that has been experienced since the
late 1990s is still clear to see. 22 Chicks in sample plot of
50 AOL gives a productivity of 0.44, 22.81% lower than
2019, but 32.13% higher than the ten-year-mean
(0.33±s.e.0.04). The Puffin colony continues to grow on
Bardsey, the count of AOBs increased to 164, 21 more
than last year and 103.73% above the ten-year-mean
(80.50±s.d.53.33). Productivity was not calculated for
this species, unfortunately.

Rosy Starling – © Steve Stansfield The only other species that nests on the sheer cliffs of
Bardsey is Kittiwake. The population of Kittiwakes on
The rest of the month saw the start of gull ringing in the Bardsey in the past 20 years has been highly variable. In
North End colony, with 48 having lettered plastic rings 2005, the population reached its peak of 365 pairs, then
fitted and Storm Petrel ringing through the month it plummeted in 2008 down to 212, this rapid decline
produced 19 new birds, with a few birds that had been continued until 2013 by which point the population had
ringed elsewhere in UK being caught too. dropped to 62 pairs. Since this low count, the
The first half of July was generally quiet for migrants, so population has been steadily increasing and this year
time was spent ringing Storm Petrels at the North End. was at 143 pairs, which is 18.2% more than last year (121
It turned out that this was definitely time well spent, as pairs). Across these 143 nests, 119 juveniles were counted
during July, 255 new birds were ringed. Previous to this giving a productivity of 0.83, very similar to last year
year, the highest total ringed in a year was 126, so we (0.86) and 40.0% higher than the ten-year-mean
more than doubled that in July alone – incredible! We (0.59±s.e.0.09). This year, only Shag counts and
also controlled two foreign-ringed birds, one from productivity could be taken from Bardsey, rather than
Alderney and one from Brittany, this was the first Bardsey/Gwylan Islands. The Gwylan Islands are home
French-ringed Stormie to have been handled on to a large Shag colony, but a trip was not possible this
Bardsey! year. Therefore, colour-ringing was less productive, 16
darvics were fitted to Shag chicks this year, far fewer
than 2019 (101 fitted). 39 Nests were counted on Bardsey,
a decrease of 13.33% from 45 in 2019, and 41 Chicks
fledged, giving a productivity of 1.10, 38.38% below the
ten-year-mean (1.79±s.e.0.14). The largest Herring Gull
colony was at the North End, as usual. As with Shags, we
are colour ringing Herring Gulls this year, and 43 chicks
were fitted with darvic rings. In total, 423 nests were
counted, this is 22.6% more than the 345 counted in
2019, although 2019 was a low count as the ten-year-
mean is 380.80±s.d.35.60. 2020 therefore, represents an
increase of 11.1% compared to the ten year mean.
Productivity was taken from the North End Colony, of
109 nest, 59 juveniles fledged giving a productivity of
0.54, 16.3% less than the ten-year-mean (0.65±s.e.0.04).
Lesser Black-backed Gulls are less easy to monitor as
they nest in the long grass at the top of the East Side

P a g e 13 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Kittiwake – © Steve Stansfield

slopes. Regardless, 169 AONs were counted, this is 3.05% greater than the total for the same areas in the last
more than last year, but 12.98% below the ten-year census. Likewise, the total number of AOBs increased
mean (194.20±s.d.45.90). Productivity from a colony of by 48.22%, from 7453 in the 2014-2016 census to 11,047
36 nests, 18 juveniles fledged giving a productivity of 0.5, in the current census. Assuming the East Side
this is 32.74% higher than the ten-year mean populations have remained unchanged since last
(0.38±s.e.0.06). The vast majority of Great Black-backed censuses, Bardsey now has a minimum of 26,083 total
Gulls nest on the Gwylan Islands. Bardsey itself only had burrows and 24,269 AOBs. If we assume the rate of
2 pairs this year which is 55.56% below the ten-year- increase is the same on the East Side to the rest of the
mean (4.50±s.d.1.90), but equal to 2019. Two juveniles island and apply a 46% increase in total burrows and a
were counted on the East Side in June giving a 48% increase in AOBs, projected numbers of total
minimum productivity of 1.00, 24.53% above the ten- burrows are 38,081 and AOBs are 35,918. The
year-mean (0.80±s.e.0.15). productivity rate for 2020 was 77% which means there
16 pairs of Fulmars nested this year, which is 11.60% could have been as many as 27,656 chicks. If we add this
lower than the ten year mean (18.10±s.d.5.70). However, to the 71,836 breeding adults we get 99,492 shearwaters
this is two pairs more than both 2019 and 2018. that would have been on Bardsey during 2020. .
Productivity is not often calculated for this species on
Bardsey, but this year in mid/late August, two trips LANDBIRDS
spaced a week apart were undertaken to count Fulmar
chicks and yielded a total of four, giving a productivity A pair of Cuckoos were present on the island for a week
figure of 0.25. in mid-May and breeding was confirmed when two
The Manx Shearwater burrow census produced the juveniles appeared in early July. The parents of the
most interesting change in any of the seabird youngster at Cristin were Meadow Pipits, however the
populations. During May and June, roughly a third of parents of the other juvenile from Tŷ Pellaf were
the islands area was covered, and each burrow in the unknown.
area had a dual sex recording played at the entrance for Oystercatchers increased by five pairs on last year,
25 seconds, followed by 25 seconds of silence for giving a total of 77 pairs around the island, this however
delayed responses. The last time a census was is still 9.94% below the ten-year mean (85.50±s.d.8.63).
conducted in this area was 2016, when 4937 Apparently Little Owls held five territories and breeding was
Occupied Burrows (AOBs) were counted, this year, 7969 confirmed for a second consecutive year when a
AOBs were counted, an increase of 61.41%. A total of juvenile was seen on 19 July.
2496 responses were recorded giving a call-back rate of On the whole, passerine breeders enjoyed a wealth of
31.32%. With a correction factor of 2.39 applied to this success stories on the island. Great Tits bred for the first
total of call-backs, the calculated number of pairs is time since 2014 and had their best year ever on the
5965. island with three pairs breeding – this beats the
If we combine the 2019 and 2020 results, the total previous highest total of two, which was set back in
number of burrows counted is 12,082, which is 46.11% 1985. Only one pair of Chiffchaffs bred this year, but
Willow Warblers enjoyed an excellent year with four

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 14

pairs breeding across the island, the joint highest Yellow-legged Gull –© Dan Owen
number for Bardsey. Sedge Warblers were slightly
down on last year’s numbers, however Whitethroat The first week of August saw the influx of Yellow-legged
numbers remained constant while Blackcaps had their Gulls to the island continue, these were also
best year ever with three pairs breeding on Bardsey. interspersed by the ever earliest autumn Sabine’s Gull
Wrens increased significantly on last year’s numbers for the island which was off the South End with
and are now almost back in-line with the ten-year Kittiwakes on 3rd.
average. Having only returned to Bardsey as a breeding
species two years ago, Song Thrushes had their best Sabine’s Gull –© Dan Owen
year ever on Bardsey with three pairs breeding,
following their 57-year absence as a breeding species. Passage picked up at the end of the first week, when
Robins held two territories this year, with one pair Spotted Flycatchers, Grey Wagtails and Tree Pipits
fledging four young up at Nant; Stonechats had an started to be recorded on most days. On 15th, the first
increase of five pairs on last year and fifteen pairs bred, White Wagtail of the autumn was recorded, along with
92.31% above the ten-year mean (7.80±s.d.3.55). an Icterine Warbler which appeared at Nant in the
Wheatear numbers also increased this year, nine more evening, along with a Wryneck, which was the first of
pairs than last year gave a total of 32 pairs across four in August. The next day saw a decent arrival of
Bardsey, 29.55% above the ten-year mean Willow Warblers with 407 being recorded across the
(24.70±s.d.10.09). Dunnocks too increased in numbers island, along with five Pied Flycatchers. The next rarity
with an extra five territories, totalling fifteen males of the month arrived on 16th when a first-winter Citrine
holding territories this year. Pied Wagtails were up by Wagtail was heard calling near the Narrows and then
one pair this year, making a total of seven, however this found on Solfach on 20th to 28th.
is still low compared to the 14 pairs present back in 2015.
Rock Pipits increased by two pairs on last year, totalling
44 pairs and keeping the population steadily in-line
with the ten-year mean: (44.70±s.d.7.60). Meadow Pipits
however, experienced a dramatic bounce-back in
numbers with 102 pairs apparently breeding, compared
to last year’s total of 46, a 121.74% increase. Goldfinches
had their joint-highest number of breeding pairs this
year too, with four pairs fledging young across the
island.

AUTUMN PASSAGE GEORGE DUNBAR & STEVE STANSFIELD

Wader numbers began to build towards the end of July,
and two Common Sandpipers were caught while out
dazzling; these were the first to be ringed here in 15
years, with another being caught in the beach
Heligoland a couple of days later. Some passerines
began to move too, with hirundines passing overhead,
joined by the first Grey Wagtails and a few finches, too.
Meanwhile, warblers started arriving and a count of 203
Willow Warblers was had on 24th. The bird of the
month was found on 30th in the form of a Melodious
Warbler up at Tŷ Capel, this is the first record for four
years of what was an almost annual bird on the island..
Strong winds at the end of the month also sparked the
beginnings of some movement at sea with four Arctic
Skuas, two Great Skuas and 117 Common Scoter passing
the island. These Southerly winds also produced a
remarkable run of Yellow-legged Gull records with over
ten individuals being recorded during the month, more
than doubling the previous number of island records.

Yellow-legged Gull –© Dan Owen Cirtine Wagtail – © Steve Stansfield

P a g e 15 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Sea passage started to pick up towards the end of the An Osprey was only the second of the year on 16th, and
month, and Grey Phalaropes, Long-tailed Skuas, a Long-eared Owl from 11th-15th was the first record of
Roseate Terns, Little Terns, Black Terns and Sooty the year. A further two Yellow-browed Warblers and
Shearwaters were all recorded on multiple dates. A seven Lapland Buntings were recorded in the month,
Mako Shark on 27th was only the second record for the and the first Firecrest of the autumn appeared on 20th
island, and it was again seen the next day from the on Pen Cristin.
North End. Despite a distinct lack of Easterly winds throughout,
A few Ruffs were recorded towards the end of the October turned out to be very productive on the island.
month and the month came to a close with the first Chaffinch passage did not properly get going, but
Skylarks of the autumn beginning to pass through on numbers in the low hundreds were recorded on a few
31st. days, along with those of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.
September began well, with overhead passage of Besides the commoner migrants, Crossbills, Lapland
Siskins, Redpolls, Grey Wagtails and Skylarks beginning Buntings, and Woodlarks were recorded in low single
to pick up, while White Wagtails and Greenland figures, while Redpolls moved through in their
Wheatears became a common sight along the hundreds - a few suspected North-Western Common
coastline. Meadow Pipit and Tree Pipits also continued Redpoll-type birds among them.
to move through in good numbers in the first half of the We had only one good day of thrush movement, with
month, tailing off towards the end. c.500 Redwings and 150 Blackbirds on the 14th, but a
Wrynecks were a large feature of the month, with six steady trickle was seen after this. Two Ring Ouzels were
individuals being recorded across eight days. The first recorded and, on the 22nd, two Icelandic ‘coburni’
Lapland Bunting of the autumn was recorded on 5th, Redwings were caught and ringed at Nant.
the second earliest record for the island, followed by the The only mega rarity of the year - an Eastern Yellow
second earliest record of Yellow-browed Warbler on Wagtail - came on the 3rd. Found in the Lowlands
18th, which was joined by a Wood Warbler at Tŷ Pellaf. feeding with the cattle, it remained there until the 6th;
this was a new bird for the island and the second for
Wales.

Yellow-browed Warbler – © Steve Stansfield Eastern Yellow Wagtail – © Steve Stansfield

Wryneck – © Steve Stansfield A Marsh Warbler was caught and ringed in the Withies
on the 15th but was not seen subsequently. Other
Seawatching in the first half of the month was relatively scarcities this month included two Whooper Swans,
unproductive, with two Sooty Shearwaters, two Grey one Hen Harrier, three Jack Snipe, two ‘Eastern’ Lesser
Phalaropes, one Long-tailed Skua and two Roseate Whitethroats, at least ten Yellow-browed Warblers,
Terns being the pick of the bunch. Late September was three Firecrests, two Black Redstarts, one Richard’s
better, with the highlights being three Curlew Pipit, both Short-eared and Long-eared Owls, one
Sandpipers, two Little Stints, two Sooty Shearwaters, 21 Hooded Crow, and a late passage of Hirundines came
Balearic Shearwaters, one Black-throated Diver, one on the 21st with 389 Swallows and 53 House Martins.
Great Crested Grebe, one Sabine’s Gull and one Great Seawatching was also productive, with several days
White Egret. having prolonged Westerly gales. Cumulative totals
include one Red-throated Diver, three Black-throated
Divers, one Great Northern Diver, one Great Crested
Grebe, one Balearic Shearwater, four Sooty
Shearwaters, one Leach’s Petrel, five Pale-bellied Brent
Geese, six Pintail, a Goldeneye, four Eider, seven Red-
breasted Mergansers, one Grey Phalarope, two
Pomarine Skuas, five Arctic Skuas, 23 Great Skuas, one
Little Gull, one Sabine’s Gull and one Puffin. The most
unusual seawatching record of the year, though, must
have been the Nightjar which flew south along the
West Coast on the 7th.

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 16

Calf of Man with two Sand Martin on 25th and a male Ring Ouzel at
Aron Sapsford the Observatory on the morning of the 26th March.
Once off the Calf, Dan Woollard made his way back to
The season began when Dan his family home in Essex, whilst Rob Fisher along with
Woollard (Estate Warden) and I myself and Karen remained on the Isle of Man. Rob was
arrived at South Harbour at 10am on 6th March, we able to stay with his in-laws in Laxey, whilst Karen and I
were accompanied by Rob Fisher who joined us as were very kindly offered a property to live in in
Assistant Volunteer Warden for the season and my wife, Castletown for the time that we were in ‘lockdown’.
Karen. Frustratingly, we then experienced one of the best
We quickly settled into the process of opening the periods of spring weather in recent years, just at a time
Observatory after its winter hibernation and beginning when we could not really get out and enjoy it – other
the array of tasks that lay ahead for us during 2020. The than sitting in the back garden. However, we were able
first couple of weeks were dominated by a series of to use this period of confinement constructively and I
storms, as Ciara, Dennis and Ellen swept across the Irish set about creating a photographic copy of the
Sea and one of our first tasks was clearing the track to Observatories historical ringing schedules. Once this
Cow Harbour, of two large conifers that had been blown task of taking 6516 photographs was achieved and
down during the winter. having recruited and trained a small team of
volunteers, we set about adding these records into our
dataset. By the end of June, we had achieved the input
of over 35,000 individual records covering some 85
species. There is still a long way to go before we can
upload all the data into the BTO database, but at least
the possibility of losing the data has now been avoided.

Fallen trees – © Rob Fisher Data sheet – © Aron Sapsford

Despite the challenging weather, there were several Although Coronavirus had already reached the Isle of
good birds seen during the first few days, with two Man in March, the strict lockdown procedures and
Canada Geese (16th Calf record) at the Dubh on 7th and closure of borders instigated by the Manx Government
a Black Redstart at the Lighthouses which stayed to the meant that the situation was brought under control
8th. Perhaps because of the strong winds, there were relatively quickly and by the end of May, life on the Isle
large numbers of Gannets offshore with 250 feeding in of Man was beginning to return to some form of
the Sound on 12th, when the first Manx Shearwater and normality. In early June we were allowed to make the
Great Skua of the year were seen. Weather conditions first of several day trips to undertake seabird breeding
improved from mid-month and the first summer counts around the Calf coastline, as well as making a
migrants began to arrive with Chiffchaff on 17th and start on monitoring some of the Shag and Razorbill
Wheatear on 20th. A Blue Tit at the Observatory on 19th nests at our two main colonies, Kione ny Halby and
was the first spring record since 2016 and was the Gibdale. Finally, on the 18th June both Rob Fisher and I
forerunner of a movement of tits recorded across the returned to the Calf to re-start the season.
west coast this spring, which included further Calf Unfortunately, due to on-going border restrictions, it
records of a Long-tailed Tit on 23rd and another Blue Tit was not possible for Dan Woollard to return with us:
on 26th. Unfortunately, we were not able to fully record however, Rob Fisher stepped up and took on the Estate
what happened at the Calf this spring, as after just 20 Warden duties until Dan was able to re-join us on 13th
days on the Calf we were required to leave again, owing August. Our return was just in time to be able to assess
to the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic and movement some of the breeding seabird populations, but
restrictions that were being enforced on the main- unfortunately much of the spring had been lost and
Island. with-it valuable data on migration and breeding
Not knowing if we would be able to return for any of the numbers for many species.
remainder of the season we were collected and
transported back to the main Island, following a couple
of hectic days of re-packing and dismantling
everything we had done over the past few weeks.
Before we left, more summer migrants were recorded

P a g e 17 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Red-breasted Flycatcher – © Rob Fisher Rosy Starling – © Rob Fisher

One consolation was the capture of a Red-breasted trapped on 12th & 21st, whilst Tree Pipit and Garden
Flycatcher on 19th June – just the second bird caught Warbler were added to the year list on 19th & 26th July
after putting the mist nets back up around the respectively.
Observatory. For the fourth consecutive year the islet Overall, seabirds appeared to be having a relatively
hosted a summering Great Skua, however this year successful breeding season with Shag numbers
there was more than one. At least two un-ringed birds remaining stable following several years of decline and
were regularly seen together, often harassing the gulls Razorbill and Guillemot numbers rising slightly.
breeding on Caigher and along the East Coast. However, productivity of the three large gulls was
Additionally, birds were often seen visiting Kitterland, particularly low, with the prolonged periods of warm
one of which was a colour-ringed bird, photographed and dry weather during lockdown thought to have
on 16th June, which had been ringed as a nestling on caused high mortality rates in small chicks. This was
the Isle of Canna in July 2015. The species is gradually particularly evident in coastal colonies, where there is
expanding its breeding range southwards from its little shade compared to the inland colonies where
stronghold in the north of Scotland and colonised chicks could find shade amongst vegetation. We are
several un-inhabited islands off the west coast of particularly grateful to the skippers and crew of Scraayl
Ireland in the early 1990’s. More recently the species has and Vagabond for their assistance in undertaking boat-
bred, since 2010, on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland and based seabird surveys and landing us safely on
it would seem possible that the Calf may be the next Kitterland.
place for them to colonise. Our annual monitoring of the Manx Shearwater
As recently as 2015, the Common Buzzard was classed breeding numbers was another casualty of the
as a scarce vagrant to the Calf, however since the coronavirus restrictions, however night-time visits to
species’ colonisation of the main island it has increased the colonies during the summer months would seem
in its frequency of occurrence on the Calf. Following a to indicate that the population is continuing to thrive.
group of five seen around the Withy in March, there Good numbers of adults were trapped during summer
were odd records of singles seen soaring over the Calf nights and this was bolstered by one of the best years
during lockdown and on our return in June, it became for ringing chicks, resulting in the 2nd highest ringing
evident that at least three birds were likely to have been total for the species ever.
present through the spring. Although no breeding A number of accommodation improvements to the
attempt was found this year, it would seem likely that farmhouse had been planned to start before lockdown
this species is also a contender to breed in future years. interrupted our schedule and as these included
Autumn migration was evident from 1st July with the essential improvements to the fire safety standards, the
first Blackcaps of autumn being recorded along with opening of the guest accommodation was delayed
marauding flocks of juvenile Starlings and a light until late July, allowing work to be carried out once we
passage of dispersing Grey Wagtails. A, probable had returned to the Calf. Several weeks of complete
female, Rosy Starling was found near to the upheaval ensued as a new bathroom suite was fitted,
Observatory just before dusk on 6th July and was gas pipes and electrical systems were removed and
watched briefly before it flew off west – just the 4th Calf replaced, whilst numerous ceilings and walls were
record. Small numbers of juvenile Willow Warblers reboarded and skimmed. Whilst the schedule was
began moving through from 8th, with passage quite tight, all was achieved thanks to the hard work of
becoming more constant from mid-month. A record- those involved and we were back to normal in time for
breaking year for Treecreepers began with juveniles

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 18

Family with Manxie – © Rob Fisher

Summer is relatively short-lived on the Calf and with
most breeding birds now giving way to autumn
migration, we began to see an increase in the numbers
and variety of returning migrants, including a stunning
Wood Warbler and a juvenile Long-eared Owl during
the first week of August. However, the wind then settled
in the north-east and supressed movement somewhat,
although a light passage of Willow Warbler and Tree
Pipits continued, two more Treecreepers were trapped,
and an above average autumn passage of Spotted
Flycatcher and Crossbill began.

Re-decoration – © Dan Woollard At this time, we also learnt of the passing of Juan
Clague, skipper of the Calf’s supply boat ‘Scraayl’. Juan
us to welcome the Bowers family, as our first guests of was a stalwart supporter of the Calf, bringing supplies,
the 2020 season and for their 22nd consecutive year of guests, and day visitors to the Calf for over 40 years. He
staying with us on the Calf. was often the only contact with the outside world for
On our return, it was noted that the invasive Horsetail many wardens and will be greatly missed by many.
in the Millpond had taken advantage of our absence
and had completely overtaken the surface water. A “Scraayl” & Juan Clague – © Mike Radcliffe
huge effort was needed to remove the Horsetail and on
15th August, a team of six volunteers from local A brief period of seawatching weather on 22nd August
company, JTC, helped kickstart this project. brought Dunlin and the first two Arctic Skua of the year
Throughout August and September, we gradually and passage of White Wagtails began with 30 on 23rd,
continued to clear the offending vegetation from the increasing quickly to 85 on 24th. Despite a near gale
pond by digging out the roots/rhizomes of the plant force easterly wind and heavy rain for much of the day
and dumping it away from the pond. Hopefully by on 25th two new species were added to the year list
digging out the roots, next year should see a reduction with Cow Harbour hosting a Green Sandpiper and two
in the density and numbers of these plants. We also Ringed Plover, along with 29 Oystercatcher, two
attempted to dig out some of the silt that has accreted Common Sandpiper and three Teal that flew south
over the years and reduced the size of the water area towards Gibdale. Wagtails were again on the move on
since it was last dug out in 1989. Although a good start 27th, with 24 Grey, 90 White, 13 Pied and 11 Alba’s.
was made this will require either a huge team of However, bird of the day was an Osprey seen flying
volunteers or machinery capable of moving tonnes of south off the Lighthouses.
material if we are to return the pond to its former size.
We quickly settled into the routine of hosting different
groups staying at the Observatory and August proved
to be a busy month as many islanders chose to visit the
Calf, given that travel further afield was not permitted.
Storm Petrels and Manx Shearwaters are very much a
feature of summer nights on the Calf and numbers of
the former gradually increased through July into
August resulting in one of the best ringing totals in
recent years. It is a particular pleasure to be able to
share the nocturnal activities of these two enigmatic
species with those guest’s hardy enough to venture out
with us during the wee small hours.

P a g e 19 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

over many years, and which is thought may be a
deterrent to birds nesting in these areas. A mosaic
pattern of cutting was used to clear areas but also leave
patches of Bracken that are known to be favoured
habitat for Eiders to nest.

Osprey – © Dan Woollard One hundred Robin on 10th September saw the first
‘fall’ of the autumn, whilst diurnal migration saw
Each year the Calf’s Loaghtan flock are gathered and Meadow Pipit numbers increase to over 500 moving
this year most animals were brought into the fields west. An increase in wind strength meant that
during mid-July. This took several attempts, owing to seawatching was most fruitful on 11th, with a sea watch
some very stubborn ewes and a group of ten sheep from Culbery producing seven ‘Pale-bellied’ Brent
which frequent the west cliffs evaded all attempts at Geese, two Arctic Skua and a Great Skua. A Whinchat at
gathering. Owing to several external events it was not the Smithy was a rather late addition to the year list on
possible for the shepherd to get back out until 21st 15th, whilst continuing light easterly winds brought
September to complete shearing and sorting, with 56 further birds our way on 16th with a flock of 50 Pink-
lambs and ewes taken off on 23rd, leaving around 70 footed Geese flying south and a Black-tailed Godwit
animals on for the winter. which circled the Puddle being the highlights. Other
observations included 167 Skylark heading west, 77
Robin and a female Redstart at the Triangle. More Pink-
footed Geese were recorded on 23rd with flocks of 10 &
26 and two Great Northern Diver flew south past
Burroo. A small arrival of 25 Goldcrest occurred on 24th
and as has become more expected in recent years, the
first Yellow-browed Warbler of autumn was trapped at
the Observatory, remaining until 25th, with additional
birds on 28th and 29th September.

Early September saw the continuation of wagtail
passage, as well as several days of reasonable hirundine
passage and the arrival of the Manx Wildlife Trust seal
volunteers, Mollie Kirk and Breeshey Harkin. They
worked tirelessly over the next couple of months
checking out all the coves around the islet, often
requiring commando-style belly crawling through the
bracken and heather, to record an excellent 61 pups and
identify almost 50 adults.

We were also joined by Christa Worth, as a long-term Yellow-browed Warblers – © Rob Fisher
volunteer for the autumn and with her assistance,
along with shorter terms of help from Sandra Kaighin
and Di Swayne, we were able to tackle a large number
of tasks, including extensive drainage ditching and
track repairs, with quantities of stone transported from
South Harbour and used to reinstate and improve
vehicle tracks through the Glen and at the Triangle.
Bracken control and Heather management was
ongoing with further work undertaken to clear the Twin
Fields, as well as several new firebreaks being created
from the Quarry to the Central Wall and from the corner
junction down to the Cletts, with another track leading
towards Big Head to aid access to the north-east coast
in the event of an emergency. These and other existing
paths were flailed often throughout the summer to
keep vegetation down. Flailing of Bracken was also
carried out along the East Coast to clear areas that
might then be colonised by Manx Shearwaters. The
cutting of Bracken in these areas, helps to remove the
dense layers of Bracken litter that have accumulated

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 20

Calm conditions on 27th September brought a large strengthening northwest wind on 22nd a Black
arrival of birds around the Observatory with four Coal Tit Redstart was at the Observatory and two Coal Tits of the
being the start of an autumn invasion, the last Willow Irish subspecies ‘hibernicus’ were trapped in the back
Warbler of the year and a female House Sparrow being garden, one of which remained until 7th November.
the highlights. Three Whooper Swan on the sea near Classic autumn seawatching conditions finally arrived
Chicken Rock were also new for the year. on 26th October with the southwest gale quickly
Non-toxic bait monitoring is one of the major tasks switching northwest during the early hours of the
undertaken throughout the season with approximately morning and producing 13 Red-throated Diver, two
300 bait points, located around the island, being Black-throated Diver, three Great Northern Diver, a late
checked every month for evidence of Brown Rats. Manx Shearwater, 400 Kittiwake and an immature
Maintenance was required throughout the season, Little Gull. The wind had backed south-west the
replacing plastic tubes that have been lost due to following day and torrential rain hampered most
weather as well as putting out new marker canes. A trip attempts at birdwatching but a slight change to the
to Kitterland in September was made to monitor the west on 28th brought another two each of Red-
bait points there and for a second season, no evidence throated and Great Northern Divers whilst passerines
of ‘Longtails’, as they are known on the island, were clearly decided that despite the strong winds that they
found. We were feeling hopeful that we would be able needed to move and visual migration included four
to go a whole season without signs of any Longtails Swallow, 252 Starling, 375 Chaffinch, three Brambling
when one was recorded by the compost camera trap and six Crossbill. A significant reduction in wind
on 25th October. Efforts to trap the animal before we strength on 30th saw diurnal movements of 87 Skylark,
left were unsuccessful, so this will be a high priority to nine Swallow, 1435 Starling, 450 Chaffinch, 107 Linnet, a
deal with when we return next spring. Crossbill and 204 Goldfinch. Despite horrendous
October started where September left off - with three weather conditions again on 31st, a further 375 Starling
more Yellow-browed Warblers and a good passage of flew west and a male Firecrest was a surprise capture at
diurnal migrants. Autumn thrushes began to arrive the Observatory.
from 7th and the beginnings of a large Chaffinch Strong winds and often rainy conditions largely
movement began with 650 on 8th. Another 518 supressed migration during the first couple of days of
Chaffinch flew through on 11th when the first two November, although the ‘hibernicus’ Coal Tit and male
Brambling of autumn were recorded. A moderate to Firecrest remained to 3rd and 7th respectively.
light northerly wind on 13th encouraged more visible Conditions improved on 3rd and allowed 808 Starling,
migration with 180 Jackdaw and 46 Rook making the 253 Chaffinch, three Brambling & 91 Goldfinch to move
trip across the water, whilst the ‘tit invasion’ gathered through. Most surprising however, was a ‘redhead’
pace with 30 Coal Tit, four Blue Tit and 45 Great Tit Goosander initially seen flying over the back field, which
arriving at the Observatory along with 230 Chaffinch, then flew low over the courtyard before heading west
the only record of Tree Sparrow for the year and the 2nd over the Twinfields – just the 9th Calf record.
Calf record of Great White Egret that was
photographed by the local boatman as it flew north
towards the Isle of Man.

Great White Egret – © Steve Clague

A 6th Treecreeper for the season was the highlight at Irish Coal Tit – © Aron Sapsford
the Observatory on 14th amongst an arrival of 100
Blackbird, 110 Redwing, 47 Song Thrush, 26 Mistle
Thrush and 447 Chaffinch, with similar numbers of
thrushes present again on 15th. Strong southerly winds
curtailed things a bit until 22nd with another four Coal
Tit arrived at the Observatory, along with a Reed
Warbler trapped in the front hedge nets. Despite a

P a g e 21 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Chaffinch dominated the 4th with an impressive 976 and six Mistle Thrush plus eight Blackcap, 280
birds recorded mostly moving west, as well as another Chaffinch and 55 Goldfinch. Two Lapwing were calling
four Swallow, 1941 Starling, two Brambling and 133 from the Front Field just before dawn and the only
Goldfinch. Thrushes were again in evidence with an Woodcock of the autumn was trapped in the back-field
arrival of 35 Blackbird, 36 Fieldfare, six Redwing, 35 Song mist nets. Elsewhere, two adult Lesser Black-backed
Thrush and 37 Mistle Thrush around the Observatory – Gulls were at Cow Harbour and a male Teal was caught
the latter being the 4th highest count for the Calf. on the trail camera at the Dubh. Thrush numbers
decreased on 7th with just 55 Blackbird, 56 Fieldfare, 21
‘tristis’ Chiffchaff – © Rob Fisher Redwing and 22 Song Thrush, although a new
‘nominate’ race Coal Tit arrived at the Observatory and
More Starling were on the move on 5th with a season small passage of Dunnock & Robins were noted along
high count of 3543 heading west, whilst a ‘tristis’ with 66 Woodpigeon and a further 129 Chaffinch and a
Chiffchaff was trapped at the Observatory and thrushes female Brambling. Periods of fog and rain over the last
were again present in good numbers, with 47 couple of days meant passage was relatively quiet,
Blackbird, 57 Fieldfare, 50 Song Thrush and 22 Mistle however a lone Long-tailed Tit arrived at the
Thrush. Light easterly winds on 6th with light drizzle Observatory on 8th when four Blackcap were recorded,
before dawn brought a large arrival of thrushes, with whilst five were present on the 9th when the season
120 Blackbird, 71 Fieldfare, 45 Redwing, 26 Song Thrush drew to a close.
There are many people involved in making life on the
Calf as enjoyable as it is. The amazing volunteers and
visitors make the Calf a great place to work and without
them we would not be able achieve as much as we
have. 2020 has been a particularly challenging year and
the turmoil created by Covid-19 brought about many
challenges, not least the need for somewhere to stay
during lockdown. Both Karen and I are extremely
grateful to Tim Earl and Liz Charter who stepped up and
allowed us to stay at ‘Whitburn’ during our exile from
the Calf.
As ever we are indebted to Steve Clague who has
continued in his father’s footsteps of delivering our
weekly supplies on ‘Scraayl’, as well as safely
transporting various contractors, visitors, and sheep to
and from the islet. The need for support and essential
provisions is a must on the Calf and as such, we are
particularly grateful to Lara Howe (MWT) and Shaun
Murphy (MNH) for doing their utmost to ensure we
have everything we require.

Sunset over Cow Harbour – © Steve Clague

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 22

Cape Clear my opinions on this to him! However, there were far
Steve Wing bigger problems in the world…
The only positive outcome of the Obs shutdown was
Well, that was a year to forget, that the spare time enabled me to complete the book I
very quickly. Steve and Alison have been working on for the last 12 years! The Natural
have been politely chasing me History of Cape Clear 1959-2019 is now finished and
to write this account of the year printed! https://puma-flatworm-42cf.squarespace.com/
but I have found it extremely It was supposed to be ready for the 50th Anniversary
difficult to find anything to put but for various reasons, it wasn’t and has now been
in it! The various restrictions put in place by both the updated and celebrates the 60th birthday of the CCBO.
Irish government and the BTO caused absolute havoc The intention of the book was to be an easy read, not
with pretty well every aspect of our work here at the too scientific but showing what the island has to offer
Obs, to the extent that we couldn’t operate in any in the way of flora and fauna. Early comments indicate
meaningful manner. that the intentions have been met! There are, of course,
We decided at a fairly early stage, that there was no a few errors – all mine – but isn’t that what the second
possibility of keeping the Observatory building open, as edition is for?
we could not adhere to the social distancing So, here’s to looking forward with optimism, not just for
regulations within the property. As you will all be aware, us but for all of the Obs in the BOC. I hope 2021 brings
accommodation forms a huge part of the income of the us all something a little better than 2020 did.
CCBO and nearly covers the cost of the Wardens wages.
That loss meant that it wasn’t possible to employ me in Crimson Speckled – © Steve Wing
2020 – and it’s not looking particularly optimistic for Looking towards the mainland © Steve Wing
2021 at the moment – but I was allowed to stay in the
Building as a kind of volunteer caretaker. The plus side
of that is that I had the Obs to myself all year, which was,
to be honest, very pleasant!
One of the many restrictions imposed was the
curtailment of any survey work. This put a stop to the
Daily Log, obviously, as well as the projected Breeding
Seabird survey that we were planning on doing in
May/June. The BTO ban on ringing outside of your
garden led to the cancellation of the CES this year,
sadly. We missed the first two visits, managed a couple
in the middle and then the ban returned and that was
it! Although numbers were generally down in the visits
we managed to complete, it was nice to see some of our
long staying Sedge Warblers returning yet again. A
particular gripe of mine was that I could walk through
our two main ringing sites but could not operate the
nets that were there! My apologies to Steve for venting

P a g e 23 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Copeland that first weekend until mid-July, so that virtually the
Chris Acheson whole Spring
migration was missed. The other main casualty was the
The 2020 season opened with a annual Eider Duck ringing programme.
pre-Covid daytrip on Saturday, After a couple of socially-distanced habitat
22nd January, the main focus of which was the management daytrips on 27th June and 4th July,
refurbishment of Manx Shearwater observation residential manning resumed on 10th July and
burrows and Bio-security checks. Best birds seen were continued until the Committee was forced to
Hen Harrier, 2 Little Egrets and 2 Red-throated Divers. announce closure again from 22nd September,
At the beginning of the season, on paper, initial resulting in the loss of a significant part of late Autumn
provision had been made for manning of the manning as well – at a time when good numbers of
Observatory to take place over 26 weekends and 6 rarities were turning up all around the Irish Sea coasts!
intervening Monday-Friday sessions – one each in July However, it was not all doom and gloom. By the time of
and August, with a further 2 in September and then 2 the second closure in late September – effectively the
in October. Further manning would normally fall into end of the 2020 season on the island – we had ringed
place as the season progressed, so cover was looking 2,048 birds, of which 1,368 were pulli and we had
quite good for 2020. sighted some amazing birds. Apart from the loss of the
The first residential weekend took place, as planned, Eider Duck “window”, our seabird ringing programme
between 13th-15th March, when small numbers of early was virtually unaffected by the Covid 19 closures and
season migrants were ringed and the first 2 Manx over 75% of the ringing total for 2020 was made up of
Shearwaters of the season re-trapped, having just non-passerines. Although we would normally have
returned from the Southern Hemisphere. ringed perhaps up to 100 additional prospecting (non-
With increasing incidence of Covid 19 at this time and breeding) Manx Shearwaters in the period between
the announcement of the initial lockdown here to early June and mid-July, this was more than off-set by
begin on 24th March, the Observatory was closed after work of a team from Oxford University who spent 8
nights from 6th September ringing Manx Shearwaters
at this peak time for chick emergence. The Oxnav team,
led by Ollie Padget, have been visiting Copeland twice

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 24

annually since 2007, mainly to monitor and record Despite lower than usual ringing totals for many
Shearwater movements by satellite tracking the birds species, there were several notable events associated
during the incubation period and then later during with our passerine ringing in 2020. Three Stonechats
chick feeding. This year the team put a lot of effort into arrived on the island on the evening of 17th September.
ringing Manx Shearwaters as well and over those 8 Next morning, however, it was clear that there were, in
nights accounted for 1014 pulli, 7 adults and 3 unaged fact, 4 present – 3 were caught in Potter traps over the
birds. This effort contributed very significantly to a course of 20 minutes and these were only 25-27th
record total in 2020 of 1278 pulli, easily beating the ringing records for Stonechat on the island in 66 years!
existing record of 1217 chicks set in 2011. Although the Formerly a more frequent visitor to the island, sightings
premature closure of the Observatory on 22nd (and ringing) of Stonechats dropped sharply in line with
September will have deprived us of perhaps another a major decline along the East coast of Northern Ireland
60-70 chicks, all-in-all and in spite of the pandemic due to habitat loss. This has been a good year for the
restrictions, 2020 was a very successful year for our on- species on Copeland, as 3 were also on the island
going study of the colony. When we add in all of the (together and uncaught) on 14th March. Most records
other adults ringed, the annual total for new Manx are in mid-late Autumn and it is likely that these birds
Shearwaters was 1,403. (and any recorded between February and April) are
After the resumption of manning on 10th July, much migrants from Scotland, possibly Scandinavia, heading
delayed effort went into finding Larus gull chicks, for Iberia or returning.
resulting in 32 Lesser Black-backed and 18 Herring Gulls Another very scarce species on the island is Treecreeper
being ringed. Many of the birds were already on the – 2 were ringed this year, 1 in mid-September, the other
wing by this stage. On this same weekend, we ringed in October. Their status is less clear, but a sea crossing
25 Black Guillemot chicks - interestingly, out of a total of almost 5 kms for a distinctly sedentary bird is still
of 17 nests, only 6 pairs used natural sites. The remaining impressive. These were 28th and 29th to be ringed at
11 pairs chose nest-boxes. the Observatory.

The Crow Trap performed well on occasions, catching 2
Magpies, 2 Hooded Crows and 54 Jackdaws. Finally,
when a juvenile Lesser Redpoll was trapped on 15th
August, it was thought possible that the species had
bred undisturbed during our absence. Capture of a
second one next day confirmed this.

Black Guillemot – © Richard Donaghey Seabirds also made up the bulk of interesting sightings
this year. A summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver
Storm Petrel netting also began this weekend with 59 was seen on 9th September, with 9 Red-throated Divers
birds caught over 6 sessions up to mid-August, along a few days later. Two Sooty Shearwaters and a Black-
with 3 controls. Two Fulmar chicks and 2 each of full- browed Albatross were also seen on 9th September.
grown Cormorant and Shag were caught at the roost to The Albatross was watched flying South for 4 minutes
provide experience of large, infrequently ringed by 2 observers and appropriate descriptive and ”jizz”
species. notes were made. Presumably the same bird was seen
earlier in the day off Malin Head in North Co. Donegal –
it seems to be “doing the rounds” around the British
Isles as it has been reported from several other sea-
watching points. Shags are common around the
islands, but the presence of a completely albino bird –
which was first seen at the Observatory on 3rd April by
our boatman, Philip MacNamara as he made one of his
routine monitoring visits to the lighthouse on
neighbouring Mew Island – was of interest. The bird has
been seen on several occasions subsequently around
the 3 islands. Little Egrets were present on 11th July (2)
and 5th September. Autumn maxima for Greylag
Geese were 110 in August and 150 in September. Three
Autumn Bonxies were seen and a Long-tailed Skua
appeared on 12th September, while a Sabine’s Gull was
recorded on 8th along with a scarce Roseate Tern.
Among the auks, maxima were 144 for Puffin (after 2 on
15th March) and 76 for Black Guillemot, on the 10th//11th
July. The peak counts for Black Guillemot (often well
over 100 daily) occur in April and were missed this year
due to lockdown. Puffin burrows were checked (under
licence) during the daytrip on 4th July, but no Pufflings
were located although we know that breeding was
successful again this year in our fledgling colony.

Storm Petrel – © Richard Donaghey Birds of prey were well represented – single Hen
Harriers were recorded on 22nd January, 13/14th March

P a g e 25 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

and again on 17th September, along with a Merlin; Stock Doves were fairly numerous throughout the early
single Kestrels (always scarce on CBO) on 14th March Autumn, with maximum counts of 20 on 9th and 10th
and 25th July; Sparrowhawks, Buzzards (often a pair September, outnumbering Woodpigeons 2 to 1. The
together, once 3) and Peregrine Falcons were seen short season finished with 97 bird species recorded.
regularly throughout the manned period. Sightings of
good passerines were scarce. Best of all were Lapland
Buntings – one was recorded on 8th September but,
although looked for, couldn’t be found on 9th.

Lapland Bunting – © Richard Donaghey Grey Seal – © Richard Donaghey

However, this or a different bird was located on 10th and As usual, when birds were scarce, there was always
then soon after, two were found together. A few hours plenty to be distracted by, ranging from the Grey and
later, calling drew attention to a flock of 5 flying South, less numerous Common Seals to occasional
so potentially 8 separate birds were seen over these few encounters with Porpoises and Bottle-nosed Dolphins.
days. Mid- September flocks of Goldfinch (200), Lesser The Otters were seen from time to time and Rabbits –
Redpoll (180), Linnet (70) and Siskin (35) - just before usually so common – were almost as scarce this year,
final lockdown on 22nd – tantalizingly hinted that but the prize for the most unusual beast must go to a
October could have been a good finch month once magnificent Convolvulus Hawk Moth - larger than a
again. Wren - which found itself caught in a mist net that had
been set for a nocturnal Redshank on 11th September!

Shearwater sunset – © Ronald Surgenor

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 26

Dungeness shutdown which we do not need to go into here suffice
David Walker to say it has made for a challenging year.
Although it is tempting to say that coverage was much
As in most recent times the year reduced and no doubt numbers were affected it is not
started fairly quietly with very little a simple picture. It was clear that not just here but
in the way of cold weather along the south coast generally that there were very
movement and Brent Geese few birds arriving and the same applies to sea passage.
already moving up-channel by The weather did not help with almost constant strong
early February. Good numbers of Red-throated Divers, NE winds and clear skies.
Gannets and auks were wintering offshore and the There was just a steady trickle of some commoner
recent increase in Cormorant was maintained with a migrants rather than any large arrivals. Two Wood
peak count of 5000 in February. For most of the year Warblers and three Turtle Doves were of note but very
there was no Patch so gulls were often fairly low in few Cuckoos, Swifts, Sand Martins and Swallows (the
number but a series of violent storms in February lack of these was noted across Romney Marsh as well)
resulted in a massive shellfish wreck which in turn and Willow Warblers and only seven Spotted
attracted huge numbers of gulls including Iceland and Flycatchers, no Pied Flycatchers, two Redstarts, no
Glaucous Gulls and about 30 Caspian Gulls. There were Whinchats and five Tree Pipits.
also regular sightings of Great Skuas and a couple of The spring seawatching was at best average (although
Firecrests over-wintered in the area. coverage was reduced compared to normal years) with
a decent passage of Common Scoters in April, good
numbers of Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwits and
Sandwich and Common Terns but for the second
spring in succession the Pomarine Skua numbers were
disappointing with only 40 birds seen.
Despite low numbers of birds it actually proved to be a
pretty decent spring for rarities with a remarkable three
Short-toed Treecreeper being found along with three
Black Kites, a Glossy Ibis, two Bee-eaters, a Red-rumped
Swallow and a Melodious Warbler.

Iceland Gull – © David Walker

Black Kite April 10th – © David Walker

the gull scene in February – © David Walker Short-toed Treecreeper April 2nd © David Walker

Samuel Perfect arrived at the end of February to take
up his position of Assistant Warden for the season
which was well-timed as shortly afterwards the
seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic began to hit hard
with the Observatory effectively closing down to guests,
the seawatch hides shut and hugely reduced numbers
of visiting birders. Coupled with the virus restrictions
the trapping area was also under deep water for most
of the spring so that the ringing operations were greatly
curtailed. With just a few local birders keeping the
recording going we were nevertheless able to achieve
pretty reasonable coverage. There were a number of
other wide-ranging consequences of the Covid-19

P a g e 27 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Red-flanked Bluetail – © David Walker

Short-toed Treecreeper 14th – © David Walker Pallas’s Warbler – © David Walker

The small breeding population of Wheatears had a Dusky Warbler – © David Walker
more productive season than is now usual due to less
disturbance during the spring and Stonechats seemed The back end of the year saw huge numbers of
to be everywhere with at least nine pairs present (many Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks passing through and up
of the males at least appearing to be ssp rubicola) and to five Firecrests attempting to winter and good
lots of young being fledged. The now resident pair of numbers of auks offshore. The winter feeding station
Ravens successfully fledged four young but despite was re-established in the trapping area.
being present throughout the regular pair of Peregrine
Falcons failed to produce any young. Perhaps of more OTHER WILDLIFE
significance a “booming” Bittern was heard in the Long
Pits reed bed on several occasions. As well as birds the Observatory records a wide range of
The autumn was slow to get going with very few Willow fauna and flora and is well placed to receive species
Warblers in August although there was a nice run of from the continent. Moth traps are operated on most
Pied Flycatchers in the middle of the month but nights and butterflies, dragonflies, shieldbugs and
September to late November was much better with crickets and grasshoppers are constantly monitored.
good numbers of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Meadow Butterflies had a decent season with good numbers of
Pipits and huge numbers of Redpolls, Siskins and Grizzled Skippers, Essex Skippers and Brown Argus
Goldfinches. The sea was very slow for the most part although Clouded Yellows and Painted Ladies were
but there was an outstanding movement in August generally scarce. Of greater note were two Large
with record numbers of waders and good numbers of Tortoiseshells seen in the spring.
Balearic Shearwaters with a peak of 46 on August 21st.
Towards the end of the season numbers of Kittiwakes
increased and thousands of Gannets and Sandwich
Terns passed through. On the minus side Arctic Terns
were virtually non-existent and Little Gulls numbers
were disappointing. Rarities included two Leach’s
Petrels, another Black Kite, two Dotterels, two Grey
Phalaropes, a Nightjar, the fourth Short-toed
Treecreeper of the year, a superb Red-flanked Bluetail
(a new species for the Observatory), two Pallas’s
Warblers and Dusky and Hume’s Warblers.

Short-toed Treecreeper #4– © David Walker P a g e 28

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Large Tortoiseshell April 22nd – © David Walker

After a very slow start to the mothing season things
picked up from early July with a steady supply of
scarcer species with good numbers of Oak
Processionary, Tree-lichen Beauty and Golden Twin-
spot of note while rarer species included two Dark
Crimson Underwings, a Clifden Nonpareil, a Bedstraw
Hawkmoth, three Jersey Tigers, two Pale Shoulders,
three Beautiful Marbled and a Radford’s Flame
Shoulder. One species, The Gothic, was added to the
macrolist whilst the pyralid Box Moth was also added to
the Observatory list.

Left Column Bedstraw Hawkmoth (top), Pale Shoulder,. Right It was an exciting year for some other insects groups.
column from top - Clifden Nonpareil, Golden Twin-spot, The Having discovered a population of the shieldbug
Gothic, and Beautiful Marbled – © David Walker Geotomus petiti at the ARC Pit last year it was
something of a surprise to discover a new colony in the

P a g e 29 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

moat and then a massive influx into the Observatory
Garden. Mottled Shieldbug was also added to the list
and has already become a numerous insect in an at
least one garden on the Point and the final notable
shieldbug was an example of the rare Ornate Shieldbug
on June 25th.

Mottled Shieldbugs – © David Walker Large Conehead – © David Walker

High numbers of Porpoises were seen again during the
year with highest counts with a peak count of 39 on
September 11th. Various attempts to record bats were
also made with Bat Detectors with several records of
Nathusius’s Pipitstrelle along with Common Pipistrelle.
A sickly Whiskered Bat was also found but the star of
the show was a female Kuhl’s Pipistrelle picked up off
the beach near the Patch Hide on June 13th. It was
clearly weak so was taken into care but the story did not
end there as shortly afterwards it gave birth to a pup.
Both are still in care and doing well and it is hoped to
release them this spring.

Ornate Shieldbugs – © David Walker

Tree Cricket numbers were huge and late in the season
numbers had spread into the Trapping Area and
beyond. Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket numbers
improved and it turned into the best year for this
species. But these were all upstaged by the discovery
of substantial numbers of Large Conehead in the
Trapping Area and also in the Moat. They were difficult
to find by day so most of the survey work involved
nocturnal visits and by the end of the season it was
estimated that at least 32 individuals had been found.
There was also confirmation after five years of trying
that a cockroach that had seen on several occasions in
previous years was in fact something very unusual. It
turns out that it is a new species, Ectobius montanus,
for Britain and previously known only from Italy. This
year I found nymphs thus also confirming their status
as breeding.

Lesser Emperor and Small Red-eyed Damselfly Kuhl’s Pipistrelle June 13th – © David Walker
continue to breed at the Long Pits and two Willow
Emeralds have been seen.

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 30

OTHER PROJECTS NOCTURNAL MIGRATION RECORDING

Over recent years, stimulated by talks at the We have also been recording nocturnal migrants
International Bird Observatory Conferences and with (NOCMIG) using an Audiomoth device. This is a small
increasing use of radio tracking to monitor migration and relatively inexpensive device which is easy to use
patterns we installed our own MOTUS receiver in 2019. and seems to produce decent results. The only
Sadly there were no contacts this year but it is still drawback with the system is that it can be quite time-
operating and will hopefully pick up some tagged birds consuming but we will be continuing next year.
or bats next year. It's an exciting time in the Work continues on one of our long term goals to get all
development of technology to further ongoing of the original paper log data computerized and we are
scientific research. very pleased that it has now been completed with all
our daily logs since 1956 now entered.
The Motus receivers – © David Walker So, all-in-all, and despite all the difficulties that this year
has presented, it was another very successful one and a
big thank-you to everyone who has helped to make it
so.

POSTS

Samuel will be moving on after his season at
Dungeness so we will be hoping to appoint a new
Assistant Warden for the 2021 season although the
Covid-19 restrictions may complicate things. For
further details please contact the warden as detailed
below.
As you can see from the above the work of the Bird
Observatory covers much more than just birds. The
Observatory provides inexpensive accommodation for
anyone wishing to see for themselves the natural
history riches that the area has to offer. For further
information you can check out our website at
www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk or contact David
Walker by email at [email protected] or post
to Dungeness Bird Observatory, 11 RNSSS Cottages,
Dungeness, Kent TN299NA.

The ‘patch’ on Christmas eve – © David Walker

P a g e 31 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Fair Isle most staff meetings were conducted remotely and
David and contact with the island community limited. Although
Susannah Parnaby they will surely not miss those garden bench work
meetings (it was not a warm summer in the north!) the
Another year and another new team carried on without complaint, proving a very
set of challenges! effective and pleasant team. We’re delighted that they
will all be returning in 2021.
Definitely a year for choosing to We’re also very grateful to NatureScot for continuing to
count our blessings here at Fair support the Fair Isle Ranger Service, although it was a
Isle Bird Observatory. Despite our title as Britain’s most somewhat adapted programme of events given the
remote inhabited island, Fair Isle has not escaped the lack of visitors. There was still habitat work, a series of
impacts of coronavirus. Thankfully, at the time of school events and a variety of online and interpretation
writing, Fair Isle has remained coronavirus-free, but the tasks, along with guided walks when restrictions
situation has affected the Isle in many ways. It has been allowed (this year no doubt saw the highest percentage
a tough year for accommodation providers and those of visitors ever taken on guided walks!) amongst the
households whose income relies on tourism. The isle work undertaken.
community has shared in home schooling, restricted Onto the bird sightings and the year list finished on a
travel and plenty of windswept outdoor meetings when healthy 212 species (assuming all descriptions are
seeing each other indoors has not been possible. There accepted and nothing new turns up in the last few
are times when it has felt difficult that our major weeks between the print deadline and the end of the
achievement of last year, keeping the long, unbroken year); curiously, this is exactly the same as the average
run of data collection going throughout 2019, despite from the previous five years! It could be added to once
the fire which destroyed the Obs just before the season the analysis of our first season of nocturnal sound
was due to start, could not be maintained in the way we recording is completed – so far the highlight has been
wanted. Yet this season has also seen the launch of the an unidentified bat species (bats are only thought to be
Observatory Rebuild Appeal and another wave of rare visitors to Fair Isle, with records less than annual).
support for the progress towards a new Observatory The list of good birds seen was pretty extensive,
building on Fair Isle. We are immensely grateful, not although for the first time since 2010 there were no
just for the financial donations, but the many personal additions to the Fair Isle list. Rarity and scarcity
messages of support. highlights throughout the year included: Green
Warbler, Song Sparrow and two White’s Thrushes.

FIBO team – © Susannah Parnaby

For the Observatory, the major challenges we faced Green Warbler – © Alex Penn
were the restrictions on outdoor work during the first Song Sparrow – © Alex Penn
lockdown, seasonal staff being unable to travel to the
Isle until the second week in June, and social distancing
measures limiting the tasks that could be undertaken
during the season. The lack of staff did mean we were
unable to undertake full census through the spring, but
records were still gathered during permitted daily
exercise, with several islanders contributing sightings,
helping to improve coverage. Seabird monitoring could
not be as extensive as would usually be the case; whole-
island Tystie counts for example normally get underway
in early April. Nevertheless, a robust redesigned
monitoring system developed with the Observatory
research committee and some incredibly busy weeks of
work put in once the Assistant Wardens and Ranger
arrived on site meant that useful data were collected for
most species. It may not have been the ideal first season
for Ranger Georgia and Assistant Wardens Alex and
Dan, with social distancing rules meaning that Log and

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 32

Calandra Lark – © David Parnaby (moving 435km to the ESE eight days after being
ringed on the Isle in October), a Dunnock in Belgium, a
In Addition to that there was a Calandra Lark, a Brown Black-tailed Godwit (just the second to be ringed on
Shrike, Buff-bellied Pipit, River Warbler, Booted Warbler Fair Isle) to Lancashire, an Icelandic Redwing on the
(2), Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Siberian Stonechat, Western Isles and Bonxies to Norway, The Netherlands,
Thrush Nightingale (3), Rustic Bunting (3), Two-barred Orkney and Shetland. Interestingly, a Mealy Redpoll
Crossbill, Western Subalpine Warbler, Hornemann’s and Redwing both moved to Brae in Shetland (96km to
Arctic Redpoll (2), Red-throated Pipit (2), Arctic Warbler the north) within a few days of being ringed in the
(2), Citrine Wagtail (3, including a singing male for three autumn (showing that not everything continues
weeks), Red-flanked Bluetail (2), Red-rumped Swallow, relentlessly south during the autumn). A ringed
Blyth’s Reed Warbler (4), Olive-backed Pipit (3), Dusky Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll on Unst was not trapped
Warbler (2), Rose-coloured Starling (6), Short-toed Lark there, but the plumage details matched the one ringed
(2), Greenish Warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted earlier in the autumn on Fair Isle, suggesting it too had
Crake, Mediterranean Gull, Nightingale, Shorelark, headed north after leaving the Isle. Perhaps the most
Golden Oriole, Stone Curlew, Hobby (2), Barred Warbler fascinating ringing recovery was of an Arctic Tern
(14, including a spring male), Bluethroat (8), Common ringed as a chick on Buness on 1st July. Just over two
Rosefinch (16), Icterine Warbler (8), Little Bunting (16), months later it was being fed fish by hand offshore from
Marsh Warbler (15), Red-backed Shrike (16), Red- Nigeria and was caught to read the ring details before
breasted Flycatcher (10), Richard’s Pipit, Wryneck (3), being released!
White-tailed Eagle, Crane, Osprey (2), Northern
Bullfinch and Long-tailed Skua. Arctic Tern chick– © David Parnaby

Seabird populations appeared relatively stable, with
Gannets a positive exception, rising to 4683 apparently
occupied nests, the highest ever count. It was, by and
large, a very successful breeding season in productivity
terms though, with all monitored species apart from
Gannet (which decreased from 0.64 to 0.63 chicks per
AON) recording increases compared to 2019. Some
particularly notable successes were Shag (1.78 chicks
fledged per AON, the highest since 2014), Kittiwake (1.1
chicks fledged per AON, the highest since 2000), Arctic
Tern (0.51 chicks fledged per AON, the highest since
2000) and Arctic Skua (0.96 chicks fledged per AON, the
highest since 1992).

Stone Curlew – © David Parnaby

The number of birds ringed might have been less than Arctic Skua – © David Parnaby
usual, as use of the traps was curtailed in the spring, but
nevertheless a good variety of species was caught
during the year, with dazzling and the use of a range of
trapping methods enabling the ringing of a greater
diversity of waders and wildfowl. There were ringing
records set for two species, Little Bunting (5) and Great
Tit (4), reflecting a good autumn passage for both
species. A Dutch-ringed Sparrowhawk, Norwegian-
ringed Blackcap, Icelandic-ringed Greylag Goose,
Sanderling ringed in Norfolk, a 25 year old Bonxie from
Papa Stour and a Guillemot from Canna were amongst
the more interesting movements recorded to the Isle.
Several Fair Isle ringed birds were recovered from
elsewhere during the year including a Robin in Norway

P a g e 33 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll– © Dan Gornall

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 34

It wasn’t just the seabird breeding season that was Other species included Red-necked Phalarope, Linnet
notable, with a number of rarer or irregular breeders (which is just starting to colonise the Isle), Blackbird
recorded, resulting in what is likely to be the largest (first breeding record since 2014), Swallow, Pied Wagtail
number of species to ever nest on the Isle. Highlights and Dunlin.
were Icelandic Redwings fledging three young (just the
second ever breeding record)

Juvenile Redwing – © David Parnaby Red-necked Phalarope – © David Parnaby

and Mealy Redpoll fledging four young (the first Amongst the other wildlife, Killer Whales were again
breeding record for the Isle). the most popular, especially the two groups that came
in to South Harbour then lingered for a few hours not
Juvenile Mealy Redpoll – © David Parnaby long after the Green Warbler was found.
The rebuild work was largely taking place behind the
scenes, with several of the directors kept very busy with
meetings, planning and fundraising. Thankfully, most
of the rebuild process was not affected by the COVID-19
restrictions and it is still hoped that the Obs will be up
and running and accepting guests in spring 2022. In the
meantime, we’re very grateful for the tremendous
support form so many people and we’d encourage you
all to spread the word about the FIBO rebuild appeal,
which is at a crucial stage.

Orcas – © David Parnaby

P a g e 35 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Filey
Dan Lombard

2020 was a year unlike any
other, with both recording and
ringing disrupted by
lockdowns and the
unfortunate but inevitable
cancellation of the annual
ringing and migration week in October. 2020 also saw
the untimely passing of FBOG Chairman and co-
founder Peter Dunn. Peter will be sadly missed by the
whole Filey and indeed wider birding community.
Peter’s legacy lives on and upon writing planning
approval has just been granted for the construction of
a Heligoland trap on the Old Tip nature reserve, in
Peter’s memory. An Obituary can be found on page 90..

RECORDING

Winter in Filey can often be quiet in terms of passerine Nightjar – © Dan Lombard
interest, but a wintering Yellow-browed Warbler at YWT
Filey Dams and two Firecrests in Church Ravine
provided some early cheer and a nice start to the year.
A flock of White-fronted Geese spent most of January
in fields adjacent to the East Lea Reserve, with a
Greenshank recorded from the adjacent Dams reserve
in February, an unusual occurrence here in Winter. Filey
Bay produced a Glaucous Gull, Black-throated Diver
and a large flock of 260 Red-throated Divers over the
late winter period.

Honey Buzzard – © Mark Pearson

Firecrest – © Mark Pearson July provided a Black-browed Albatross on 2nd, the
observatoy’s first ever Scopoli’s Shearwater on the 9th,
Good bird records started to gather pace in March with a Cory’s Shearwater on the 14th and a day-record of 64
Iceland Gull on the 10th, two Common Cranes on the Black-tailed Godwits on the 18th concluded an
11th, a Hooded Crow on the 16th and Woodlark on the entertaining mid-summer period.
19th. April saw Common Cranes on the 4th, 15th and Autumn was relatively slow to get going with August
21st. A Red-rumped Swallow south on the 6th. Hooded providing a Temminck’s Stint on the 2nd.
Crows were seen on 7th, 15th and 29th. May highlights
included Hooded Crows on the 2nd and 9th. Another Temminck’s Stint – © Mark Pearson
Crane on the 3rd, three Dotterel on the 8th. A Nuthatch
(a local rarity) was seen the same day, and another on This was followed by a Cory’s Shearwater on the 10th,
30th, a Black Guillemot on the 11th and a Cetti’s Warbler Great White Egret on the 20th. Another Great White
was a new species for the Bird Observatory later on in Egret was seen on 2nd September, with Cory’s
the month, May was ended with two Bee-eaters on the Shearwater on 9th, a Turtle Dove on the 12th, Glossy Ibis
31st. on the 16th and Sabine’s Gull on the 24th. October
Mid-summer was surprisingly good in 2020, starting produced its usual mix of migrants with highlights
with a Nightjar on the 12th June, a singing Blyth’s Reed being Hawfinch on the 5th, Barred Warblers on the 13th
Warbler the next day on the 13th, along with year’s third and 17th, a Rustic Bunting and Red-breasted Flycatcher
Nuthatch record. 304 Crossbills south was a good count
on the 24th, with a Honey Buzzard on the 27th as well
as 16,000 Swifts (a new bird observatory day-record) on
the same day.

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Iceland Gull – © Mark Pearson

P a g e 37 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

on the 14th, Pallas’s Warblers on the 16th and 22nd, a Gadwall and Tufted Duck were new species ringed
Great White Egret on the 24th and a White-billed Diver within the observatory in 2020. Storm Petrel ringing
on the 29th. was once again poor as with recent years despite good
conditions, as surprisingly was passerine ringing with
Rustic Bunting – © Mark Pearson migrant numbers appearing to be lower than average
despite regular effort, during the autumn. Notable
The winter period between November and December recoveries included Willow Warbler from Scotland,
was productive and included maximum day counts of Blackbird to Germany, Lesser Redpoll to Belgium,
six Grey Phalaropes and seven Great Northern Divers, as Goldfinch to France, Song Thrush and Storm Petrel to
well as impressive pink footed geese movements with Portugal and Redwing to Spain.
c.6,000 recorded in early December. Additional small
numbers of Iceland Gulls, Glaucous Gulls, Long-tailed OTHER WILDLIFE
Ducks, Scaup, Great White Egret, Red-necked Grebe,
Tundra Bean Geese, Black Redstarts, Black-throated Non avian highlights were once again dominated by
Divers, Snow Buntings and Twite finished off a Bottle-nosed Dolphins which regularly performed in
disruptive year. the bay, continuing their increasing trend within the
area. Occasional Minke Whales were recorded as well,
RINGING during the late summer. The first Common Lizard was
recorded in over a decade giving hope the colony is still
Ringing was particularly disrupted in 2020, with the hanging on. The observatory’s second ever White-letter
lockdown severely restricting spring ringing, the Hairstreak was a nice butterfly record, moth highlights
closure of the Old Tip for flood alleviation works included Bedstraw Hawkmoth, Convolvulus
restricting autumn ringing and the closure of the East Hawkmoth, Webb’s Wainscot, Red-necked Footman,
Lea reserve due to Covid-19 in winter preventing Dingy Shears, Sprawler, Leopard Moth and Least
wildfowl ringing resuming. However, the team did a Carpet, along with the observatory’s third Deaths-head
sterling job despite the various adversities facing them Hawkmoth. The sawfly Arge ochropus a new species on
in 2020. Wader ringing was incredibly productive with the observatory list, was also new to the vice county.
10 species ringed, the colour ringing gathered
momentum with Dunlin subsequently generating NOCTURNAL MIGRATION
records in France, Ireland and across the UK.
With lockdown limiting birding opportunities in 2020,
Noc-Mig become more popular with one member
running recorders at two sites from April onwards. This
produced a fascinating insight into the previously
under studied nocturnal movements of birds within the
recording area. Highlights and records which would
otherwise have been missed included Tundra Bean
Geese, 2 Common Quails, 3 Ring Ouzels, 3 Tree Pipits,
Bittern, Dotterel, Yellow-browed Warbler and Short-
eared Owl. It will be exciting to see what records this
produces over the coming years.

Filey Brigg – © Mark Pearson

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 38

Flamborough discovery of a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly on 12th and
Craig Thomas a Richard's Pipit on 25th. Traditionally spring's best
month May's notable records were a Bee-eater on 8th,
Our lack of a building and its a Serin the next day, a Brown Shrike that lingered from
associated revenue costs 12th-14th.
allowed us to ride out the
Covid-Year better than many. Two Red-backed Shrikes were seen on 15th (the first of
Of course, the shutdown was 15 individuals recorded over the course of the year), a
still keenly felt and engagement events were either Red-rumped Swallow on 19th, another Bee-eater on
cancelled or substantially modified. After much 20th, a Temminck's Stint the following day, a singing
deliberation, we decided to hold our annual 'Migweek', Blyth's Reed Warbler on 28th, an Icterine Warbler on
albeit all events were hosted online. This proved highly 30th and a Red-breasted Flycatcher on 31st. A Rosy
successful and, with the help of friends from RSPB Starling added colour on 2nd June, 1828 Manx
Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire Coast Nature and the Shearwaters headed north on 8th, a singing Greenish
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, a series of presentations Warbler on 12th and two Marsh Warblers the next day
reached a record audience. Particular highlights were were seasonal. The spring's second singing Blyth's Reed
popular talks by Sorrel Lyall addressing the lack of Warbler at Old Fall and another Rosy Starling appeared
diversity in birding and Stu Mackenzie's excellent on 19th, whilst Golden Oriole and Common Rosefinch
migration lecture focusing on the use of new made landfall on 22nd. Spring passage ended with two
technologies such as MOTUS. Honey Buzzards flying in off the sea on 28th and we
were all set for the summer doldrums, or so we thought
Perhaps the most important initiative over the last 12
months was the establishment of the observatory as a
company limited by guarantee and subsequently
registered with the Charity Commission. This action will
help us meet our future ambitions of securing land,
property and other assets in the company's name and
potentially employing people in the future; albeit the
fact that the observatory is currently run exclusively by
volunteers has helped us ride the Covid storm.

So what were the avian highlights of 2020? The year Red-backed Shrike – © Alan Walkington
opened with 95 species being recorded on New Year's
Day including Russian White-fronted Goose, Scaup, The highlight of many a year, an adult Black-browed
Velvet Scoter, 35 Lapland Buntings and 28 Snow Albatross made sporadic appearances along the cliffs
Buntings. January ended with a confiding Grey between the Lighthouse and RSPB Bempton Cliffs on
Phalarope taking up residence on Thornwick Pools for 2nd/3rd July; a lucky few were even able to watch the
two weeks. bird on the cliffs amongst a group of non-breeding
Gannets on the former date. Unsurprisingly the rest of
Grey Phalarope – © Craig Thomas the month was quiter, although the year's third Rosy
Starling frequented village gardens on 13th and a Wood
A Richard's Pipit was an unseasonal discovery in the Warbler at RSPB Bempton Cliffs heralded the start of
first week of March, with two Cranes on 11th signs of autumn passerine migration. A Great Shearwater on
spring. A singing Cetti's Warbler on 20th March 29th July represented the first of an above average six
continued the recent annual run of a species very much records. Light north-east winds on 10th August
on the up locally. Notable April's sightings included the prompted the arrival of single Greenish Warbler,
Icterine Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, with yet
another Greenish Warbler appearing the next day.
Thirty Long-tailed Skuas that flew past the headland on
15th August was the highest daily count for 25 years.
Four juvenile Caspian Gulls on 18th August were part of
the best post-breeding arrival to date. The month
ended with northerly winds that prompted the arrival
of two Wrynecks and a Greenish Warbler. Light easterly
winds in mid-September were rewarded with the

P a g e 39 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

arrival of multiple Red-backed Shrikes, Yellow-browed However, a more sustained spell of easterly winds from
Warblers, Barred Warblers and Red-breasted 13th October proved more productive: the arrival of
Flycatchers. 32,080 Redwings on that date provided an avian
spectacle, whilst the following days brought a Pallas's
Warbler, five Dusky Warblers, a Radde's Warbler, a Red-
flanked Bluetail, two Olive-backed Pipits and three
Little Buntings. Passerine migration ebbed during
November, with a Woodlark on 8th and a Pallas's
Warbler two days later bringing closure.

Barred Warbler – © Craig Thomas Dusky Warbler © John Beaumont

Two Humpback Whales stole the headlines on 20th Despite Covid-restrictions precluding ringing activity
September and contributed to another good year of for the majority of spring migration, fantastic collective
cetacean sightings that also involved record numbers effort by the ringing team resulted in a record year: no
of Bottlenose and White-beaked Dolphins. The fewer than 1214 birds were ringed during Migweek
headland's second ever Glossy Ibis overflew the outer alone, including a Norweigan-ringed Goldcrest at RSPB
head on 21st September which also featured the arrival Bempton Cliffs, two Siberian Chiffchaffs and 220
of the year's fifth Greenish Warbler. A Little Bunting Redwings; the latter double the previous record annual
graced Thornwick on 24th September and heralded a total.
spell of northerly gales which prompted the movement
of 1078 Sooty Shearwaters on 26th September and
another Little Bunting the next day. The month ended
with the surprise discovery of an Arctic Warbler in a
village garden on 28th, when 36 Yellow-browed
Warblers were also in residence. Easterly winds during
October's first week induced the arrival of the year's
only Nightjar and Great Grey Shrike along with a Red-
flanked Bluetail and range of scarce migrants.

Brown Shrike – © Craig Thomas

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Black-browed Albatross– © Tom Hines

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Gibraltar Point “Lockdown” saw staff and volunteers stood down,
Kevin Wilson furloughed or working from home where possible. The
Visitor Centre, facilities and car parks were closed and
2020 had a lot to live up to if it there followed a lean period for recording. A quiet time
was to offer similar birding quality as 2019. However, the for visitors was envisaged on the Reserve which had the
Covid pandemic and necessary restrictions were set to potential to be very productive for feeding, roosting and
impact on all management and monitoring operations breeding birds. Unfortunately, this hope was not
from early on in the year. realised as the Reserve became inundated by people
A mild start to the year with only three frosts in January taking a liberal approach to the Government’s advice
was reflected in generally low numbers of some on travel and exercise.
wildfowl, particularly Brent Geese – although the small A promising start to April came in the form of a White-
flock did harbour an adult Black Brant and a Waxwing spotted Bluethroat at the North End (rarely visited
maintained the winter flavour. section of the Reserve). There followed a typical
Again, the local Pink-footed Goose flock of up to 3000 occurrence of Woodlark, Black Redstart. Ring Ouzel
was a winter highlight particularly when arriving at and and Firecrest. A Red-rumped Swallow passed through
exiting the roost; with them occasional Barnacle, along with two Cranes, regular Great White Egrets (up
White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese. to 3), 2 Ravens, 2 Hooded Crow, a Dotterel, a Wood
The mild conditions suited two wintering Chiffchaff and Warbler and Serin on three dates.
up to five Blackcap, but a Richard’s Pipit on Feb 7th was
our first winter record.
Following heavy rainfall during the latter part of 2019,
the grazing marsh and Freshwater Marsh were well
flooded and this suited good flocks of Wigeon and
Lapwing. Water had to be drained off the Freshwater
Marsh though when the Mill Pond Road was becoming
flooded in February after levels were raised again
during successive storms.
Movements and numbers of Water Pipits locally have
always proved somewhat of a mystery but a pre-roost
gathering of over 40 was discovered on the northern
slacks, with birds then moving to the Old Saltmarsh to
roost. Numbers gradually built up to 90 birds before
early spring dispersal.

Water Pipits – © Kevin Wilson Bluethroat – © Ben Ward

Offshore, Eider were noted in nearly record numbers Disorientated Jays were a regular sight, with flocks
1629 but, as with elsewhere, coverage became moving up and down the dunes – the largest of which
somewhat limited as Covid restrictions came into effect involved an impressive 90 birds.
from mid-March. Raptor passage provided much interest during early
spring with good numbers of Common Buzzards, Red
Kites, Marsh Harriers, Goshawk on two dates, Rough-
legged Buzzard twice and a male Montagu’s Harrier.
However, one of the April highlights was an influx of
Jack Snipe with 17 on 15th April around saltmarsh ponds
and freshwater marsh where both habitats provided
optimum water levels. This could have been an
exceptional influx or an indication of a standard spring
passage that usually goes undetected.

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Jack Snipe – © Kevin Wilson A turnover of north-bound waders was apparent on a
daily basis, with one of the highlights being a roost of
A long period of dry, cold easterlies during late April saw over 5200 Sanderling on 9th May
water levels drop rapidly and there were few days of It was not possible to carry out any Common Bird
southerly airflow for visible migration. Census or wetland bird monitoring – the hides were
May continued with slightly lower volumes and variety closed and unsurprisingly there were no spring records
of birds than usual, but a range of rare and scarce birds of Garganey.
were detected; Black Kite, Osprey (2), Montagu’s However, after missing the first session it was possible
Harrier, Quail (2), Golden Oriole, Bee-eater, Temminck’s to resume CES in May and at this time I must say a
Stint, Common Rosefinch, Wood Warbler and Serin and massive thank-you to George Gregory for maintaining
into June, an Icterine Warbler and a Red-backed Shrike. the ringing effort all round for the remainder of the year.
The shorebird protection scheme got underway in May
Black Kite– © Kevin Wilson with the establishment of the shorebird sanctuary and
several pairs of Ringed Plover laying clutches – these
were immediately threatened by a very high spring tide
sequence. Most of the nests were saved from the tide
only to be predated by foxes. Enhanced protective
guards were designed and put in place for the
subsequent nesting attempts.
Up to eleven pairs of Little Terns then made nesting
attempts on the limited patches of quality shingle
habitat that remain. As with the Plovers, interventions
were necessary to protect against tide and predation.
Immense time and effort were put into the scheme by
the Shorebird Wardening team, Ben Ward and Sarah
Hunter. Rob Watson played a vital role as Night
Warden and we are grateful to Lincolnshire Bird Club
for generously funding this work; but it was the weather
that was to thwart the success of the season when 13
chicks perished during three days of storms. Five went
on to fledge along with twenty juvenile Ringed Plover.
Elsewhere, breeding Black-headed Gulls, Avocets and
Common Tern were decimated by fox predation on the
lagoons, but a pair of Little Egrets successfully raised
two juveniles from the first nesting attempt on an LWT
Reserve.
Other breeding highlights were the first ever breeding
attempt by Great Crested Grebes, the first breeding
Cetti’s Warbler and a successful pair of Stonechats on
the northern dunes. Reed and Sedge warblers were
again on territory in good numbers, there was another
increase in Chiffchaffs and there were up to five
Grasshopper Warbler territories. Willow warblers were
represented by only two pairs, but a good number of
juveniles arrived from elsewhere later in the season.
Cuckoo numbers were encouraging but sadly, Turtle
Dove sightings were limited to a very few migrants.

Black Kite and Common Buzzard – © Nigel Lound Cetti’s Warbler – © Nigel Lound

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One of the highlights of summer birding is the large The arrival of arctic breeding waders was well underway
Swift movements that can occur and the 2019 total of by this time with summer plumaged Knot, Dunlin,
over 31,000 on 31st July was thought to have been a UK Sanderling, Turnstone etc moving into the wash, often
record count. A very strong passage was noted here on along the tideline. The small wader roost already
28th June, but the following day a remarkable 46,000 holding up to 4000 Dunlin and 2200 Sanderling by the
had moved south during the day! (see Birdguides end of the month, whilst on the lagoons Sandpipers
article https://www.birdguides.com/articles/general- and Black-tailed Godwits were returning.
birding/a-british-record-day-for-common-swift- Starlings built up to 7000 on the New Saltmarsh into
passage/) August whilst the annual late summer build-up of
The annual Butterfly Transect survey was carried out Sandwich Terns in feeding swarms offshore and at
again this year – with more species exhibiting a roost was very impressive with a peak count of 10,400
downward trend than increase and this was the first mid-month. Comparatively good counts of Common
year that Wall Brown was noted absent. and Arctic Tern were involved in the roost too with
several Black and Roseate Terns. A Gull-billed Tern on
18th August was most unexpected - a second record for
the Reserve – (the previous bird was in 1968), albeit
briefly in the evening roost and present at dawn the
next day before departing – thought to have been the
same as that seen in Suffolk earlier.

Common Swifts – © Kevin Wilson

Moth trapping by Rebecca Hardwick gathered data for
a study on migrant species – with highlights being
seven Tree Lichen Beauties on 31st July, followed by a
Marbled Clover on 2nd August.

Chris and Sue Bottomer completed another season of Gull-billed Tern – © Kevin Wilson
Dragonfly recording, confirming a total of 18 breeding
species, with an extra five migrants this year, including Following the two birds in July, another five Wood
the reserve’s first Lesser Emperor in July, the first Warblers occurred through August during a series of
Southern Migrant Hawker in August and a nice male minor falls, from as early as 7th, which also involved at
Black Darter in September. Further excitement came in least three Barred Warblers, up to 30 Pied Flycatchers
the form of two spiders not seen in the county for (seen daily from 7th) Whinchats, Wheatears, Redstarts
decades; Philodromus fallax and Marpissa nivoyi– re- and Tree Pipits and an arrival of 525 Willow Warbler on
discovered by Jim Shaw. 23rd.
Post-breeding dispersal from late July saw the annual Following an Osprey on 9th, raptor passage occurred
arrival of Spoonbills (up to 19) with juveniles fresh in on several dates in August with a peak of 68 Buzzard,
from Norfolk. A family party of four Cattle Egret on 26th four Red Kite and 16 Kestrel through on 23rd.
may also have originated in Norfolk. That date also saw
two Wood Warblers new in.

Sea passage got under way with an early juvenile Long-
tailed Skuas on 14th August. The species was then well
represented on seawatches during the month with a
minimum of 42 juveniles including seven on 16th when
a Pomarine Skua, Roseate Tern and an early Black-
throated Diver were also seen.

Cattle Egret –© James Siddle The end of the month brought wet and cold northerlies,
including the Bank Holiday. More excellent
seawatching witnessed 19 Long-tailed Skuas, 96 Arctic

P a g e 45 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Skuas, six Pomarine Skuas, three Sooty Shearwaters There was a significant arrival of thrushes during the
and four Black Terns on 29th. mid-October. 2760 Redwings arrived on 10th and
Wader numbers continued to build with, 55000 Knot, moved quickly west, with many Song Thrushes and 12
9300 Dunlin and 6080 Sanderling at roost on the Ring Ouzel. Scarce migrants included; Yellow-browed
recently formed outer bar at Greenshank’s Creek on Warblers up to 12 in a day), two Red-breasted
22nd. The roost is quite vulnerable in this public area Flycatchers, Siberian Chiffchaff, seven Hawfinch, a
and difficult to protect from disturbance by walkers, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Woodlark, Raven and a
dog walkers, joggers, drones, jet-skis and speedboats Dusky Warbler. There was a scattering or Firecrests,
and even twin-beam trawlers operating close inshore. Water Pipits, Lapland Buntings and Black Redstarts, 46
Site staff contributed to the review of the Special Stonechat on 7th and an arrival of Crossbills involved 80
Protection Area (SPA) and the England Coast Path on 4th and 102 on 12th. The Starling roost built up to
consultations during this time. 60,000 birds at the Mere, where up to eight Bearded
Tits could be seen.

Red-breasted Flycatcher – © Owen Beaumont

Wader roost – © James Siddle Dusky Warbler – © James Siddle

A good variety of waders were seen on the lagoons, The October high tides again provided a fantastic
including Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshanks, wader roost spectacle with; 80,000 Knot, 9,000
Greenshanks, Ruff, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints and Oystercatcher, 8,000 Dunlin, 8,400 Bar-tailed Godwit,
a Pectoral Sandpiper on 12th/13th Sept. An arrival of 1,300 Sanderling and 5280 Grey Plover. Arriving wildfowl
Wheatears on 4th saw 34 on the beach and in the provided great interest during the month, with some
dunes, there followed single Barred and Wood good movements of Teal and Wigeon and encouraging
Warblers, three Hawfinch and a turnover of Yellow- numbers of Pintail (max 90). Whooper Swans were
browed Warblers with up to three per day. arriving in groups of up to 100 – a Spoonbill
Visible migration was well underway in September with accompanying one group moving south at sea was
some heavy Siskin and Meadow Pipit passage and most unusual!
suitable winds for ‘vis mig’ continued through October
into early November, with hundreds of Pipits, Whooper Swans – © Nigel Lound
Hirundines, Skylark, Starlings Buntings, Wagtails,
Sparrows, Corvids etc. Raptor highlights were provided
by good numbers of Common Buzzard, three Osprey
and two Honey Buzzard – one of which thought to
account for sightings on 28th Sept and 4th Oct.
Seawatching was again on the agenda with mid-
month highlights being Sabine’s Gull, Long-tailed Skua,
Black-throated and Great Northern Divers (2). There
was excellent coverage, particularly from Nige Lound.
Truly horrendous conditions were braved on 25th in
order to secure a record count of 246 Great Skuas, with
213 Arctic Skuas, 14 Pomarine Skuas, and 6 Long-tailed
Skuas. There were also many terns including two
Roseates. Gulls included a Sabine’s and several Little
Gulls. Grey Phalarope, Velvet Scoter, Goosander, Scaup
and Purple Sandpiper were also seen during this period
along with a marked arrival of Teal and Wigeon. A
wader roost in excess of 120,000 birds comprised of
81,000 Knot, 14,470 Dunlin, 11,150 Oystercatcher, 6,200
Bar-tailed Godwit, 5,200 Sanderling and 4,200 Grey
Plover.

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Late in the month, an influx of Pink-footed Geese
resulted in a local flock of c 2000 – amongst them: four
Tundra Bean Geese, eight Barnacle Geese and three
Russian White-fronted geese.

Bean Goose – © Ben Ward Raven – © Kevin Wilson

Pink-footed Geese continued to build up during Offshore, with the exception of a week of fog in
November, with up to 7000 in to roost. Visible migration December, the last few weeks of the year provided
of Pipits, Corvids, Skylarks and Finches continued well regular sightings of Great Northern Diver – (with ones
into the month with highlights being three Raven and and twos moving south on several dates), Black-
two Hawfinch. There was a large arrival of Blackbirds throated Diver (up to six), single Grey Phalarope,
with day counts exceeding 600. Caspian Gull, Pomarine Skua, Iceland Gull and over 1100
Eider, while around the beach and marshes regular
sightings of Lapland (up to 3) and Snow Bunting (up to
17). A Glossy Ibis that paused briefly on 15th December
was a good local rarity to round off the year.
In addition to those mentioned previously in the text, I
would like to thank all staff, volunteers, members and
contributors for all the help and support received in
2020.

Whooper Swans – © Kevin Wilson

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