BOC News – Edition 7

Hilbre good year for this species at Hilbre (possibly in part due
Steve Williams to coverage in Spring – see below).
It was another good spring for Stonechats on the
2020 began as normal as any islands with birds appearing from early March and also
other year on the island … if a couple being caught and ringed.
only we knew then what we
know now! Pale-bellied Brent
Geese flock peaked at 310 birds
in January(2nd and 21st) and this included colour ringed
birds from Canada, Ireland and Iceland.

Stonechat – © Steve Williams

Brent Goose – © Brian Tollitt A Rock Pipit showing characteristics of the
Scandinavian race was seen on 14th and this was the
The most unusual sighting at the start of the year was forerunner of a few sightings and eventual capture of a
that of the Magpie that had taken up semi-residence in bird moulting into summer plumage on 23rd. There is
2019 and which stayed into 2020. Fortunately it did not no question that this sub-species passes through Hilbre
stay for the breeding season this year and disappeared in Spring and Autumn (after a previous autumn capture
in February. of a Norwegian ringed bird and several recent spring
A few records of Velvet Scoter amongst other more sightings) but it was nice to capture and ring a bird
regular seaduck made for a nice start to the year. After showing spring plumage features.
a lean period towards the back end of 2019 a male Eider March also heralded the start of the early morning
appeared on 21st January (being seen on and off into movement of Pink-footed Geese leaving the estuary – a
Spring) and a Slavonian Grebe, surprisingly the first for sight and sound that has become synonymous with
five years at Hilbre, appeared off the West Side on 22nd. Hilbre in spring in recent years. One of the positive
Up to five Shags were noted around the island during changes to the ornithological landscape locally.
the first month of the year. The first Wheatears heralded the start of spring proper
on 17th and with small movements of finches, wagtails,
Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs starting after that date the
Obs at Hilbre was looking forward to another great
spring on the island … then LOCKDOWN.

As a consequence of the Covid19 Pandemic and the
need to not stretch resources Wirral BC decided to
close the main Hilbre Island to everyone.

Eider – © Steve Williams Some of our members who live locally were able to
cover the surrounding area (part of our recording area)
during their daily exercise but this was severely
restricted compared to our ‘normal’ coverage. The Obs
remained in close contact with Wirral Borough Council,
who own Hilbre Islands LNR, during this time (both the
Wirral Ranger Service and Wirral BC management
team) and the Obs was subsequently granted
restricted permission to continue our work later on in
the spring (during May), something which we are very
grateful for in order to continue our 63 years of
coverage on the islands.

Storm Ciara in February produced seven Little Gulls on During the spring highlights seen over and around the
12th, a nice winter record, but generally it was not a islands were therefore few and far between but the
main highlight was a rather out of context Red-legged

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 48

Partridge which had taken up residence between the occurrence) and Rock Pipits returned as a breeding
Hilbre and Middle Eye; only our third record ever! All species with at least three pairs.
three records were from April (1996, 2002 and 2020).

Red-legged Partridge – © Andrea Sawiak Rock Pipit – © Steve Williams

A couple of Marsh Harriers were noted flying ‘in off’ or Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper remained scarce
over the recording area (on 24th April and 6th May) and around the islands this year but single of each was
a Hooded Crow was found flying down the west side of noted on 20th August.
Middle and then off towards West Kirby saltmarsh on
25th April; still a scarce bird at Hilbre. A male Blue
headed Wagtail was noted on 6th May.

Little Stint – © Colin Jones

Little Gull sat on the East Hoyle Sandbank in August a
very usual record …

Marsh Harrier – © Steve Williams

Ospreys and Ring Ouzels were notable by their absence
and no doubt more due to lack of coverage than the
species not appearing as they appeared elsewhere with
some regularity.

The breeding season was as unusual as the rest of the Little Gull – © Brian Tollitt
year with the first ever attempt by House Martins to
nest on one of the holiday bungalows. Perhaps it was Bird of the summer was a Yellowhammer found on 15th
lockdown and the lack of people on the island that August which remained, although was distinctly
encouraged them but sadly it did not ultimately come elusive at times, until 1st September. It was trapped and
to fruition. Similarly, a long staying male Whitethroat
took up residence but did was not successful. However,
Pied Wagtails were successful (not an annual

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ringed on 23rd the first to be ringed since a single in Similarly Raven as become a regular visitor to the
April 2003 and only the second seen on the islands islands in spring and autumn and Goosander has
since that date. become as regular as the sadly declining Red-breasted
Merganser, particularly during autumn and winter.
From mid-October to mid-November we had a run of
Short-eared Owl sightings with up to two birds showing
around the islands and no doubt finding the islands
Short-tailed Field Voles to their taste.

Yellowhammer – © Colin Jones Short-eared Owl – © Phil Woollen

The rare status of Yellowhammer at Hilbre was not The Purple Sandpiper flock increased from the first
always the case, One member recalled how 21 were winter period to 15 on 2nd December – the highest
recorded on 15th February 1969 during a cold weather count of the year.
movement of hundreds of birds.
Seawatching was very poor this autumn … with just one
Leach’s Petrel on the very early date of 26th August. It
is unusual to not have any in September or October but
the lack of north westerly gales throughout the rest of
the autumn proved fruitless. The sole record of
Pomarine Skua this year came on the typical date of
13th September but was not seen from the North End
but rather flying along the beach passing between
Hilbre and Red Rocks.
More expected these days are Firecrests that have been
more than annual since 2014 so it was nice to get at
least one again this year on 24th September, which was
caught and ringed in the SK heligoland trap.

Purple Sandpiper – © Phil Woollen

The year ended fabulously with the discovery of four
Snow Buntings at Little Eye on Boxing Day. This species
is certainly no longer guaranteed each year at Hilbre
Islands LNR long gone have the days of triple figure
flocks on the Dee estuary from the 1950s/60s.

Firecrest – © Steve Williams P a g e 50

Other ‘good news’ species that have been increasing in
regularity at Hilbre in recent years include Great
Spotted Woodpecker, which has become annual in
recent years, and this year we had two typically autumn
records on 21st September and 21St October.

Snow Buntings – © Steve Williams

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

Holme week of April. A few Ring Ouzels were present in the
Sophie Barker dunes during the second half of April and Black
Redstart, Common Redstart and Tree Pipit were among
2020 was an extraordinary year the other typical species of note that month, but
everywhere and Holme was nothing else stood out besides the mysterious
impacted by the COVID crisis in appearance of two Black Swans! In May there were no
a number of important ways. great numbers of any particular migrants but a very
The first change came when wide range of migratory species was recorded, and
hides were closed in mid-March as the impact of the besides the usual suspects highlights included 2 Bee-
pandemic spread across the UK. The reserve itself eaters which were tracked along the Golf Course on the
closed on 24th March. 15th and then on the 20th a Golden Oriole was heard
near the paddocks.

The proximity of the beach at Holme proved something The area experienced a tide of additional visitors from
of a temptation during lockdown for those who the lifting of restrictions in mid-May when most
travelled against government guidelines. However, a facilities were still closed, and birds were still breeding.
great many people took real notice of measures taken Holme experienced very high visitor numbers and
to limit the spread of the pandemic, and while risks across the whole coastal area wardens were dealing
were clearly lower in outdoor locations the high with heightened problems of inappropriate access,
proportion of older people who are members and wildlife disturbance, littering and fire risk. There were
visitors to the Observatory reserve meant that the vast fires at nearby sites on the Norfolk coast both at
majority behaved with care and respect for the risks, Holkham and Morston, but despite a number of
even in the presence of some excellent autumn incidents Holme managed to avoid serious damage
migrants. despite tinder dry conditions and high numbers of
visitors not previously familiar with the area, including
As Holme has no onsite accommodation, ringing was those camping and having barbecues on the beach
suspended for the Observatory in spring despite a (against local regulations).
warden being required to continue working on the site
alone. A single member of NOA staff continued to The Observatory reserve remained closed between late
operate the basic recording throughout the four March and mid-July largely owing to the popularity of
months of the first lockdown, prioritising detailed the beach and in line with the strategy of the
updates of wildlife present on the Observatory blog, neighbouring NWT Holme Dunes reserve, which
featuring photographs particularly of moths and other normally experiences the majority of beach visitors
taxa besides birds. This was intended to help those throughout the year. Reserves re-opened in mid-July
stuck at home to experience some of the nature which but hides were not accessible until September. The
they could no longer see in person. As for most reserve installed hand sanitising stations at both
organisations all events were cancelled. It was a strange entrances and on its viewing platform and restricted
existence, as wildlife carried on quite unaffected, or some of its outdoor seating while marking out other
even bolder than usual. The drop in traffic noise and areas with social distancing information. Between the
general disturbance was rather enjoyable at times, and lockdowns face coverings were mandatory in hides,
at others it made the site feel more than usually which had to be closed down again in November when
isolated. With no visitors or volunteers permitted on the the second set of lockdown restrictions came into force.
site, daily census counts only amounted to what a The Observatory building was only open to staff
warden could record themselves, and a number of new throughout, and when ringing finally resumed, was
vantage points for monitoring the grazing marshes restricted to staff also.
were discovered as a result, but there’s no doubt that
observations were seriously curtailed by the Moth trapping was rewarding this year and particularly
circumstances. popular, with many enthusiasts previously unfamiliar
with the activity taking it up during lockdown and
The weather conditions during the spring lockdown encouraged by some regular appearances on the part
were unusually warm and fine, with the grazing of migrants. Dark Crimson Underwing, Dewick’s Plusia
marshes suffering again from drought but many open- and 3 Convolvulus Hawk Moths were among the
nesting species benefiting from the conditions. Spring species of note at Holme, with Tree Lichen Beauties,
migration itself was rather disappointing, and while the Scarce Bordered Straws, Marbled Clovers and other
cessation of ringing was undoubtedly a factor in this former scarcities being increasingly common in 2020.
impression, the lack of unsettled weather produced Though all moth events were cancelled, once visitors
relatively few arrivals on the ground. Wheatear were permitted to return the wearing of masks did
numbers, for example, were very low. There were an allow interested visitors to see inside the moth traps
unusual number of sightings of Common Crane in again, with careful emphasis on maintaining social
March although these didn’t continue beyond the third

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distance. A Great Spotted Cuckoo was reported at Tern records alongside further arrivals of early autumn
Thornham Harbour on 17th July but otherwise the migrants; Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and Whinchats.
summer proceeded relatively uneventful for birds.
In the end Autumn compensated in no small way for all
the uncertainty and disruption COVID brought, with
few years of similar worth for rarities to be remembered.
Following on from August’s Greenish Warbler record,
another in the first few days of September was trapped
and ringed, probably a different individual.

Convolvulus Hawk Moth © Gary Elton Greenish Warbler © Emma Buck

Another Osprey (13th) and a Glossy Ibis (14th) were
sightings of particular note and these were followed
shortly after by a Red-breasted Flycatcher ringed at the
Obs on 17th September, and signalling another modest
wave of migrants. Yellow-browed Warblers began to be
found from 21st, and then on the 28th came the capture
of the Observatory’s first Blyth’s Reed Warbler which
stayed several days and was present until at least 4th
October.

Dark Crimson Underwing © Sophie Barker

However by August things suddenly began to get a
little more interesting, with seawatching picking up
during the month. A Balearic Shearwater was reported
on the 10th, and Long-tailed Skuas were seen 14th and
15th, then an arrival of migrants was noted with
Greenish and Icterine Warblers present (17th) together
with 6 Pied Flycatchers, and hot on their heels came a
Wryneck (19th) and a passing Osprey (20th). By the 26th
further seawatching had produced 4 species of Skuas,
Sooty and Manx Shearwaters and a number of Arctic

Blyth’s Reed Warbler © Sophie Barker

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 52

Red-breasted Flycatcher © Gary Elton Red-flanked Bluetail © Steve Gantlett/Cleybirds.com

A Dusky Warbler followed on the 17th and was trapped
the following morning. This bird stayed for over 3 weeks
and though it remained frustrating to find and gave
scant views, it was often pretty vocal and faithful to a
small area of scrub. This bird finally departed in early
November, only to be followed by another caught on
8th November and which immediately departed
elsewhere.

Red-flanked Bluetail © Geoff Douglas

A steady trickle of birds continued into October Dusky Warbler © Sophie Barker
including many Goldcrests, thrushes and warblers. A
Pallas’ Warbler was trapped on the 14th, and the first The capture of 2 Water Pipits for the new colour-
Red-flanked Bluetail was found on the same day, but marking project taking place across the UK added
numbers probably reached an incredible FIVE for the some excitement to the regular pipit trapping activities,
recording area, with up to FOUR being seen in the area which were down on the previous two years.
of the Golf Course and Beach Car Park, while another
secretive immature female was ringed (16th) and
appeared to remain on the Observatory reserve for
about 10 days.

With weather finally switching to a more unhelpful
direction in the second week of November the level of
migrant activity finally began to subside and coincided
with the onset of the second lockdown.

It was a particularly interesting autumn although
numbers of migrants were more modest than seen in
most of the past 5 years. There was no repeat of last
year’s Long-tailed Tit irruption but the species was
certainly still numerous in October, together with
Goldcrest and Redwing to name but two. In the end
2020 was more than just a year to survive; all said, it was
a much better year than it should have been!

Red-flanked Bluetail © Steve Gantlett/Cleybirds.com

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Isle of May spring),Marsh Warbler (recorded for third consecutive
Brian Minshull year), Icterine Warbler (recorded for third consecutive
year), Common Rosefinch (only one blank year in past
Obviously, bird recording in 30 years), Little Bunting (recorded in four of the last five
2020 was badly impacted by years),
the restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 situation.
As such, 2020 may be remembered for all the wrong There were also a number of unusual Island Oddities,
reasons. Little Grebe (recorded in 17 previous years), Shoveler
(only tenth record since 1981), Moorhen (only second in
The Wardens, David Steel and Bex Outram, were on the past 18 years), Whimbrel (overwintered for the very first-
island for a few days from the 23rd until the 27th March time during winter of 2019-2020), Barn Owl (only
before they too were forced to leave. They then recorded in twelve previous years), Great Spotted
returned on the 8th June and then, in late-July the Low Woodpecker (only recorded in eight previous years),
Light finally re-opened for what proved to be just a few Glaucous Gull (continued the annual theme of recent
weeks until the 27th September. Although the wardens years)
remained on the island from June onwards, the
increasing rigorous Covid-19 regulations from late BIRDS NOT RECORDED IN 2020
summer onwards impacted on the permissible
numbers allowable in the Low Light. After a few weeks As no one was on the island in spring there were no
with reduced crews (relative to the three households Red-backed Shrike or Bluethroat records. It was also
only stage of response to addressing the situation) by another blank year for Wryneck (last recorded in May
late-September it became untenable for there to be 2016) and there were no Olive-backed Pipit records for
anyone in the Low Light. At this stage, fantastically, the the first time since 2014 (we were getting spoilt for
wardens (Steely and Bex, and also Duncan Halpern) them!).
volunteered to undertake the daily census using three
sectors (corresponding to the usual five). YEAR REVIEW AND MONTHLY SUMMARIES

As such, during 2020, despite very difficult The Isle of May Bird Observatory was closed for the
circumstances, bird recording has taken place during entire spring but island staff returned in early June
all of the ‘season’ months except April, May and the first allowing recording to re-commence. As applicable, the
week of June (as David Steel and Bex Outram were prevailing weather conditions which produced good
‘evacuated’ from the island for this time due to the birds are detailed here.
Covid-19 crisis, recording ceased); for the first time in
living memory the island was entirely deserted and A spell of easterly winds and haar in mid-June brought
uninhabited for what proved to be much of spring. Who about some good birds between the 14th and 18th.
knows what turned up! During this spell noteworthy records included two
Marsh Warblers (individuals on between the 14th and
Despite this, the island still produced some very 16th and a different bird ringed on the 15th), Grey-
noticeable records and a very healthy year list headed Wagtail on the 14th, Icterine Warbler and an
considering the issues highlighted; a year list of 164 was immature singing Common Rosefinch between the
achieved, placing 2020 in the top six all-time year lists. 15th and 16th, and a Red-breasted Flycatcher on the
18th (recorded for the fifth consecutive spring). In terms
NOTABLE RECORDS of colour, the star of the show was an impressive adult
male Rose-coloured Starling (part of a national influx)
3rd record of Booted Warbler (previous records in 1975 on the 15th and 16th. This latter bird was the fourth for
and 1992) 4th records of Cory’s Shearwater (previous the Isle of May but closely followed an adult in 2018.
records in 1976, 2000, 2002), Spotted Crake (previous Other birds recorded in this mini-fall included Wood
records in 1967, 1997 and 2000), Dusky Warbler Warbler, Crossbill and a male Black Redstart, whilst
(previous records in 1985, 2011 and 2011), Rose-coloured Mute Swan records on two dates were island scarcities,
Starling (previous records in 1983, 1991 and 2018), the perhaps relating to moult movements. One final
14th Hawfinch (seven in last four years), 15th Nightjar surprise of a good June involved the trapping and
(only recorded in three previous years since 1971), 16th ringing of an adult Greenish Warbler on the 25th,
Sabine’s Gull (recorded in four of the previous six years), comprising only the fifth spring record for the island.
18th and 19th Greenish Warbler (single in spring and
autumn). As usual the start of July heralded the beginning of
wader passage, with the first returning birds being
A good scattering of scarcer migrants were also noted: Turnstone from the 3rd, Purple Sandpiper from the 4th
Long-tailed Skua (only recorded in nine previous years), and Dunlin from the 7th July respectively, with
Red-breasted Flycatcher (recorded for fifth consecutive numbers increasing thereafter. More unusual visitors

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included 10 Black-tailed Godwits on the 17th July and noticeable arrival of common migrants including 250
two on the 22nd August, Bar-tailed Godwits on two Willow Warblers on the 15th and 350 on the 19th with a
dates and Green Sandpiper on nine dates with a peak good scattering of common migrants including Pied
of three on the 13th August. Ruff and Greenshank were Flycatchers, Sedge, Reed and Garden Warblers. As
recorded on a handful of dates. It’s a sad aspect of expected on an east coast island the same weather
modern times that Lapwing records on two dates were system also produced some noteworthy species,
regarded as noteworthy as the species is increasingly including the island’s third ever Booted Warbler on the
rare on the island (less than three records annually). 11th, which showed well all day and could often be seen
Following a national influx of Wood Sandpipers, a single perched on the picnic table near the South Horn! Other
was recorded over the island on the 8th August with rarities included the second Greenish Warbler of the
another which took up temporary residence on a small year between the 13th and the 22nd, Barred Warbler
pool on Rona from the 21st August until the 7th from the 10th until the 21st whilst a Great Spotted
September (an impressive 18 day stay). Woodpecker between the 23rd and the 29th was more
unusual from an island context.

During September sea-watching resulted in record
counts of Red-throated Diver of 82 west on the 17th.
Late in the month, noticeable movements occurred, as
a series of northerlies pushing large numbers of Sooty
Shearwaters into the southern North Sea. As a result,
sea-watching produced daily totals of 503 north on the
25th (the third highest ever island count), 419 north on
the 26th and 126 north on the 27th, whilst a juvenile
Sabine’s Gull was recorded as part of this passage on
the latter date. Good numbers of Pink-footed Geese
were recorded from the 6th (the first records of the
autumn are getting earlier each year) with a peak of
2,054 west on the 23rd whilst other pale-bellied Brent
Geese were recorded on seven further dates.

Knot © David Steel

The Isle of May is starting to become better known for Pink-footed Goose © David Steel
sea-watching with coverage increasing; indeed, it is
gradually becoming part of the mainstream east coast The month also produced two further Great Spotted
sea-watching ‘club’. Three figure counts of Manx Woodpeckers on the 10th and the 15th, a stunning male
Shearwater occurred on several dates with a peak of Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Low Light bushes on
306 north on the 30th July. The star of that day proved the 14th and Little Bunting by the North Horn on the
to be a Cory’s Shearwater moving east out from the 28th. As usual the month brought the first Yellow-
Firth of Forth where it had been seen east of the Forth browed Warblers from 16th with a total of six individuals
Bridge the previous day, representing the just the recorded before the month’s end. Unfortunately, the
fourth record for the island. A series of north and north- national situation regarding Covid-19 resulted in
west winds in late August produced noteworthy east increased restrictions, and as a result the Bird
coast passage with highlights including a single pale Observatory was forced to close again, with the final
juvenile Long-tailed Skua north on the 26th followed by group locking the doors and leaving the island on the
a flock of six including a stunning adult north on the 27th. They proved to be the last group to visit the Low
27th, with another juvenile south on 29th. This busy Light during 2020 (although some bird recording
period also produced peaks of 25 Great Skuas on the
26th, 12 Arctic Skuas on both the 26th and the 28th with
four Pomarine Skuas on the 29th to end a noticeable
spell. In addition, pale-bellied Brent Geese began to be
recorded, with a peak count for the autumn involving
of 27 moving west on the 28th.

Away from the sea, migration through the island
commenced from early-August. August can be
productive if conditions for early falls occur. This proved
to be the case, easterly winds from the 10th produced a

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continued on the island as island reserve staff were island. However, an ‘eastern’ Lesser Whitethroat
present until mid-November). feeding on the bird table behind Fluke Street for two
weeks in October might prove interesting once the
DNA samples have been returned as this will hopefully
reveal its origins.

‘eastern’ Lesser Whitethroat © David Steel

Red-breasted Flycatcher© David Steel Late October and early November were dominated by
westerly winds and passage was quiet although a
Wildfowl passage in early October included a record scattering of Long-eared Owls and Lapland Buntings
movement of Wigeon on the 2nd, with an were typical for the time of year.
accompanying Shoveler the first in three years. The first
week of the month involved a series of direct easterly Finally, the early winter period is a time when the May
winds with the prospect of some rare birds. Although typically receives very little coverage, and both first-
nearby mainland Fife performing very well, the Isle of winter Glaucous Gull on 9th November and a first-
May, unusually, failed to attract a headline grabbing winter Iceland Gull on 2nd December give a hint of
bird, though to its credit it produced a deluge of what must be missed at this time of year.
common migrants including multitudes of Chiffchaffs
(with a peak of 88 on the 4th), Blackcaps (79 on the 5th), BOOTED WARBLER ACCOUNT BY JEN CLARKE.
Robins (peak of 172 on the 4th), Skylark (peak of 61 on
the 6th), Redwing (peak of 300 on the 3rd) and Song Whilst walking the south end of the island birding, I
Thrush (peak of 447 on the 4th). Other influxes included Initially spotted a bird low to the ground, perched in a
Jack Snipe (peak of 19 on the 4th), Short-eared Owl (four short and sparse stand of Ragwort near the South Horn
on the 4th) and Ring Ouzel (peak of nine on the 4th). before it moved to the open ground long enough to
Amongst this major arrival more unusual birds give good views at around 8-9 metres away. This clearer
included: view allowed for enough of the features to be picked
out in order to make an attempt at identification, with
Spotted Crake on the 4th (only fourth ever record and my first instinct being a Booted Warbler, before it
first since 2000); Moorhen on the 6th (caught in a flushed over the cliff. My eye was initially drawn to it due
lobster pot stored behind the visitor centre and only the to its paler greyish-brown colour compared to the
second in eighteen years); Nightjar on the 4th (only many Willow Warblers that had been seen earlier in the
recorded in three previous years since 1971); Hawfinch day.
on the 5th (fourth consecutive year with records, but
only fourteenth in total); Little Grebe from the 8th to the
22nd (less than annual); and, Barn Owl on the 9th and
10th October (only recorded in twelve previous years).

More predictable arrivals included a Barred Warbler on Booted Warbler – © Mike Martin
the 3rd and 4th, with daily Yellow-browed Warblers
peaking with 16 on the 3rd and 15 the next day, and
finally, records of Lapland Bunting over six dates. The
final excitement of the first part of October came in the
form of a Dusky Warbler, part of a wider east coast influx
on 15th, which proved elusive near the dam on the

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I put out a tentative message on the island WhatsApp However, it was a walk towards Rona which made the
group and mentioned that I was confident I had a most interesting of the day’s events. As I was close to
Booted Warbler but needed back-up. Soon after Bex the wall at the Rona crossing, I noticed a small crake
Outram and Duncan Halpin arrived and the bird walking adjacent to me and quickly stopped to watch
showed itself well for around 30-40 minutes. Initially it as it walked along with not a care in the world. Seconds
was moving around within ragwort and nettles and was later it started running but then took flight…but landed
slightly wet from a passing rain shower. We then had almost immediately! In that time, I realised I was
good views of it as it dried and preened itself on a wall watching a Spotted Crake, MEGA!! The bird then
about 15 m away. At this stage, Mike Martin joined and continued to run and eventually went under the old air
after discussions, we were in full agreement it was a compressor pipe where it was somewhat stuck, and as
Booted! Over the following few hours Mike obtained I reached out to remove it, it wriggled free, flew off and
some great photos to put it beyond any doubt. I watched as it flew over Standing Head and out of sight,
Unfortunately, Steely was off island celebrating his never to be seen again. WHAT a crazy five minutes but
birthday (which was the following day) and missed this what a record!
third island record. Happy Birthday Steely! There are
two previous records of Booted Warbler from the Isle of RINGING
May, both at a similar time of year.
Perhaps reflecting the absence of anyone on the island
SPOTTED CRAKE ACCOUNT BY DAVID STEEL until the breeding season was well underway (and
therefore the almost complete absence of spring
The forecast had been building (along with the migrants in the ringing totals) 461 of the adults and
anticipation) and sure enough, in early October the 1,544 of the pulli ringed were seabirds, with Puffins (310)
island and the east coast were hit by easterly winds. and Shags (978) respectively dominating. Staying with
With the added extra of rain, it was game on and sure adult seabirds, 53 Guillemots, 42 Kittiwakes, 26 Storm
enough it delivered. Petrels, 15 Arctic Terns, eleven Razorbills and four Shags
were the next highest totals, whilst in terms of pulli
On the morning of the 4th October the island was seabirds, the same figures were 249 Kittiwakes, 115
carpeted with common migrants with more noticeable Guillemots, 80 Arctic Terns, 56 Puffins, 46 Fulmars, 16
counts including 15 Yellow-browed Warblers, 19 Jack Great Black-backed Gulls and 15 Common Terns.
Snipe (including a group of six at Bishop’s Pool), a Seabird ringing also produced some good
lingering Barred Warbler, and later in the day a Nightjar retrap/recovery numbers, including 122 Great Black-
flushed from the ground near the Arnott Trap. backed Gulls, 58 Kittiwakes, 58 Puffins, 53 Shags and 47
Common migrant totals for the day included 88 Guillemots. Although only one example, the 26 adult
Chiffchaff, two Reed Warbler, 78 Blackcap, five Garden Storm Petrels ringed (and the further 22 retrapped)
Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 101 Goldcrest, a Ring reflected the special effort that was devoted to certain
Ouzel, 446 Song Thrush, 225 Redwing, 7 Spotted seabird species.
Flycatchers, 172 Robin, 24 Redstart, Whinchat,
Stonechat, 28 Chaffinch, 107 Brambling and 25 Siskin Perhaps unsurprisingly, very few breeding landbirds
amongst many more. were ringed in 2020; totals included one adult
Woodpigeon, two adult and ten pulli Swallows, and four
pulli Pied Wagtail.

Spotted Flycatcher © David Steel In terms of passerine / migrants, 346 Willow Warblers
(and a further 68 which were retraps or recoveries)
dominated; the next highest totals were 68 (and one)
Blackbirds, 60 (and 41) Robins, 44 Meadow Pipits, 34
(and twelve) Rock Pipits, 30 (and eight) Pied or White
Wagtails, 21 (and 17) Chiffchaffs, 21 (and seven)
Goldcrests, 15 (and four) Whitethroats, 14 (and two)
Wrens and 13 Blackcaps. No other passerine / migrants
reached double figures. These totals perhaps betray the
lack of spring migrants (only one Redstart was ringed in
2020!); and conversely, they and the small numbers of
other warbler species (e.g., nine (and two) Sedge
Warblers, six (and two) Garden Warblers and three
Reed Warblers), winter thrushes (seven Redwings and
two Fieldfares) and finches (two Bramblings and two
Redpoll species – the only finches ringed in 2020!)
reflect the presence of ringers in the early autumn.

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Bramblings © David Steel dominated by sand eels. Common Tern saw their main
colony at the Beacon decimated during May, when no
Some of the more random species ringed during 2020 reserve staff were present. As a result, only 15 pairs
involved one Sparrowhawk, two Water Rail, 10 Purple (AON) nested with several noted nesting by the jetty, an
Sandpiper, one Woodcock and one Great Spotted unusual location for the species. Overall breeding
Woodpecker. productivity was reasonable. Arctic Tern
Had an excellent season around the jetties, but without
Finally, although a very atypical year in many ways, the protection of the reserve staff, the colony virtually
leading to the depressed ringing totals described, there failed in the Beacon area, due to predation by
were some definite ringing highlights in terms of scarce Oystercatcher, Carrion Crow and large gulls. A total of
migrants. Besides three Yellow-browed Warblers, and 400 pairs (AON) nested, which was a decrease on 2019
one of each of Marsh, Icterine and Barred Warblers, an (486 pairs). Breeding productivity indicated an above
impressive two Greenish Warblers were ringed in 2020. average year. Compared to recent years, 2020 was more
positive, with Guillemot numbers increasing by 5% (up
BREEDING SEASON NEWS to 16,865 estimated pairs). However, Razorbill showed a
slight decrease of 1% (to 4,124 estimated nesting pairs).
SEABIRDS Unfortunately, breeding success appeared lower than
normal. Due to the late start to fieldwork, it was not
It is no understatement to say that life in spring and possible to monitor breeding success of Puffin. Return
summer 2020 was unprecedented for everyone, and rate of colour marked individuals appeared normal.
seabird research on the Isle of May was no different. For Diet was dominated by sand eels. The large gulls were
instance, due to Covid-19, it was mid-June before not counted or monitored in full during 2020,
UKCEH was cleared to send out a very small team to censusing of the gull population is expected in 2021.
undertake seabird fieldwork. As a result, some areas of Initial productivity plot checks for Fulmar were
long-term monitoring could not be conducted while all conducted over a week later than normal but it still
other aspects were affected to varying degrees in appeared to be an above average breeding season for
comparison to the standardised methods employed this species. The estimated population involved a
over the last 35 years. welcome increase of 16%, with 324 nesting pairs on the
As a result of the delayed return to the island it is unwise island. Even accounting for any early season losses that
to formally compare estimates with previous years may have occurred prior to the arrival of staff and
without more detailed analysis, but it is possible to researchers, breeding success for Shag was high and
ascertain the general impression of the performance of above average; continuing the trend for more than a
each species and the breeding populations of most. decade. Diet was dominated by sand eel and
butterfish. The population increased by 25% with 495
Kittiwake had a very productive and positive season. apparently occupied nests (AON). The first ever definite
The population increased by 61; 4,947 AON was the successful breeding record of Cormorant for the Isle of
highest count since 1997. This is the third year the May was recorded; four pairs were discovered
colony has shown a welcome increase, and this is incubating in a small colony on Rona on the 13th June.
starting to reverse the fortunes of this nationally Chicks were noted hatching from the 23rd June and a
declining species, but is still a considerable way short of total of four young successfully fledged from these
the 8,000 pairs which nested on the island in the early nests, with the first fledging on the 1st August.
1990’s. The resultant breeding success was very high,
and well above average. Return rates of colour marked NON-SEABIRDS
individuals was above average, whilst diet was
At least three pairs of Shelduck nested, two
successfully. At least four pairs of Woodpigeon
attempted to nest. Carrion Crow was successful for the
second consecutive year; the resident pair (which
included the identifiable adult ‘Patch’) fledged four
chicks from a nest in the Low Light bushes. Three pairs
of Swallow bred and a pair of Wrens fledged young
from a nest at the Low Light bushes.

Many thanks to all who provided information to
produce this summary: David Steel and Bex Outram of
NatureScot, Mark Newell, Mike Harris, Carrie Gunn, Ella
Benninghaus, Sarah Burthe, Sarah Wanless and Francis
Daunt of UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and
Mark Oksien.

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 58

Spurn almost certainly would see the birds fail to fledge any
Jonnie Fisk and Tim chicks. Fortunately, thanks to some behind-the-scenes
Jones work by the project chair and steering group members,
a risk assessment and working protocol was drawn up
Like most of the Observatory with advice from DeFRA and the RSPB, allowing the
family, 2020 has been testing for us at Spurn Bird usual two paid Little Tern wardens to begin work from
Observatory. A winter of productive work parties mid-May, and one of the Observatory staff was taken
putting the ‘finishing touches’ to our newly acquired out of furlough to run the project and act as a third
Sykes Field and making the Observatory garden and warden. Our spring resident volunteer, Dylan Harvey
land more accessible seemed to set us up for another dived headfirst into volunteer wardening, and We were
great year with our friends and supporters. But come very lucky in that local birders were able to pitch in and
March, we closed up our operations, and by late March, cover shifts within the government guidelines on travel,
were within the government imposed ‘COVID-19 and the project really couldn’t have been the success it
lockdown’, our staff furloughed, and the only was without their help. From mid-June, 24-hour
meaningful recording done by local birders on their wardening took place until the second week of August,
bouts of state sanctioned “daily exercise”… Fortunately, and the constant warden presence, as well as our newly
what could have been a poor year for recording effort configured electric fences, meant that once again
never came to that, as the current year-list now sits terrestrial predators were deterred from having any
ahead of 2019’s total and possibly the fourth highest effect on the colony. During the first stages of egg-
year-list for the Observatory…! We recorded all the usual laying, corvid predation proved problematic, but
spring suspects including Bee-eaters, Golden Orioles, thankfully the crows did not persist and by early August
Red-rumped Swallows, a Richard’s Pipit, Serins, ‘Blue- we had fledged 42 chicks from 27 pairs of Little Terns, a
headed’ and ‘Grey-headed’ Wagtails while more productivity rate of 1.56 – exactly the same as the 2019
notable records concerned a Hoopoe, Red-footed season! Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers were also
Falcon, dregs of the European Rose-coloured Starling successful thanks to the protection given to that
invasion and an Eastern Subalpine Warbler. particular section of beach.

Red-rumped Swallow – © John Hewitt

Watching Terns – © Jonnie Fisk

Grey-headed Wagtail – © John Hewitt Easterlies in June stretched our spring arrivals out
nicely and we enjoyed an unprecedented run of Baltic
One of the more worrying aspects of the lockdown and breeders with multiple Greenish and Blyth’s Reed
the furloughing of Observatory staff was that the Warblers, and astoundingly we were visited once again
Beacon Ponds Little Tern project would not be able to by some mid-summer Long-tailed Skuas, as two
run to its full effect (or at all) during spring 2020 and the different birds were recorded investigating the Spurn
colony maybe left to fend for itself, a prospect which area on two different dates. As ‘lockdown’ eased across
Britain, we were able to open the Observatory
accommodation up to whole households wanting to
book the building for their exclusive use, and by
September we were offering rooms for one household
/ ‘bubble’, with strict social distancing measures in place
across the communal areas of the Observatory,
staggered kitchen-use times for each room and a one-
way in-and-out system. We welcomed two autumn

P a g e 59 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

volunteers, Luke Nash and Toby Phelps, from mid-July. Pectoral Sandpiper – © John Hewitt
They stayed with us into November and contributed to
Observatory life with their daily standardised ‘Point August continued to be a stellar month and took us into
Count’ transects and general birding, led guided walks, a ‘socially distanced’, but still enjoyable, autumn,
checked-in guests and generally assisted in the myriad though October saw only a brief flirtation of easterlies,
tasks we carry out each autumn. not without results however! Highlights of the busy
Our autumn ‘began’ hot and by mid-August we had season included a good arrival of Willow Warblers, a
already recorded a Red-necked Phalarope, a few Wood roaming Bittern, a couple of Nightjars, Ortolans, Little
Warblers, Great White Egrets, Cory’s Shearwaters, Buntings, juv. Rose-coloured Starlings, a Glossy Ibis, and
multiple Icterine Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes, a our first Yellow-browed Warblers of the autumn on the
Common Rosefinch, Pectoral Sandpiper, a White- 16th with the species’ presence continuing well into
winged Black Tern, a Greenish Warbler, Wryneck, November. Two Blyth’s Reed Warblers were caught
Barred Warbler, Black Terns, Hawfinch and Sabine’s and ringed in September, the Mediterranean Gull day
Gull, a great arrival of Pied Flycatchers, some ace skua record was once again broken and other highlights
passage and a Roller! Phew! from the rest of month included a Red-throated Pipit,
our earliest Red-flanked Bluetail, a Cetti’s Warbler and
Roller – © Ian Bollen a Vagrant Emperor dragonfly.

Icterine warbler – © John Hewitt

Red-flanked Bluetail – © Jonnie Fisk

The weekend of 2nd – 4th October saw easterly winds
and drizzle dropping lots of birds in the area in what
was for many their finest birding this year. Counts of 61
Redstarts, 260 Chiffchaffs and 940 Song Thrushes were
impressive, not to mention there was two Red-flanked
Bluetails, another Red-throated Pipit, a Red-breasted
Flycatcher and a blythi Lesser Whitethroat on the 3rd.

Red-backed Shrike – © John Hewitt

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Red-flanked Bluetail – © Justin Carr operations had to close. This was a shame as November
proved to have many pleasant still, sunny days and even
A clear sunny day on the 4th showed many migrants to some easterly arrivals. An ‘Eastern’ Stonechat
still be around in the area, as well as new birds including (presumably Siberian Stonechat on its outward
a Western Bonelli’s Warbler, a Bluethroat, another Red- appearance), was a one-day bird near Sammy’s Point,
breasted Flycatcher and Olive-backed Pipit. while Pink-footed Goose passage continued in strong
form. Snow Buntings and the visit from the odd Tundra
Western Bonelli’s Warbler – © John Hewitt Bean Goose kept the locals occupied, and a brief calling
Hume’s Warbler in the Crown & Anchor carpark just
Treats throughout the rest of October included a before dusk was a cause for squinting as it flitted about
Common Nightingale, some fantastic arrivals of silently with two Yellow-browed Warblers, Chiffchaffs
thrushes, a juv. Dotterel, a Turtle Dove, Long-eared and Goldcrests! A typically late run of Dusky Warblers
Owls, Barnacle Goose passage, some Pallas’s Warblers, was very welcome, with up to five birds found, and two
a Radde’s Warbler ringed in Church Field, Richard’s of these lingered for the next few days, while numbers
Pipits, an Olive-backed Pipit walking around on the of Blackbirds swelled.
Observatory garden compost heap(!!), Tundra Bean
Geese and good numbers of Twite, including some Sadly, the year was not without tragic personal news, as
colour-ringed as part of the ongoing ‘Twite Network’ we lost some of our own. Philip Ridsdale may be a name
research, while more curious records included one of familiar to many of you at observatories across Britain
the Knepp Estate White Stork reintroduction birds, a as he visited various locations with his ringing group. A
female Golden Pheasant in an Easington garden, and a dependable figure at the Obs’ during almost any time
strange run of leucistic or aberrant pale birds of year, Phil was known for his gentle nature,
entertained us over the year, including a white Linnet, encyclopaedic knowledge and for always being the last
leucistic Common Scoter, a white Starling was seen one to stop giggling at a joke or humorous remark
coming ‘ion-off’ the sea, and a ‘latte-coloured’ juv. (dark- made in the Crown & Anchor or at the evening bird log.
bellied…!) Brent Goose. A Short-toed Lark was one of the Phil was always on hand to help around the
highlight birds that saw out a blustery and wet end to Observatory and was a dedicated bird ringer. The news
October. of his passing in March was a huge blow to our
community, and one that was difficult to process
together as lockdown kept us apart. A small informal
memorial event was held in the glorious afternoon sun
in mid-September and we were really touched that
members of his family came to see a place he spent so
much time. We also said goodbye to Spurn stalwart
birder John Wozencroft in September after a brain
tumour escaped any detection until it was already too
late. There was nothing that could be done, and how
sad when having just a few months to live, that a
national lockdown confined him to home for the last
months of his life. John was a regular fixture here for
decades and always good company and fun to be with,
aspects of his personality not lost on his many
acquaintances, who looked forward to travelling with
him each year.

As we look ahead towards another lockdown winter
and, who knows, maybe another disrupted spring, it is
comforting to watch the geese and waders go about
their business as usual and remind ourselves that
however chaotic things feel, we can take some quick
bird therapy and remind ourselves that there are larger
things at play in this world.

As the COVID-19 infection rates spiked across the UK, We hope to be able to welcome many of you back to
and various areas of England were placed in different the Spurn area in 2021, and emerge from this struggle
‘tiers’, we saw numbers of visitors drop off as travel was stronger than before and ready to implement some
once again restricted. By early November we were told positive change.
of another national ‘lockdown’ into December and so
once again the Observatory accommodation and

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Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 62

Landguard Only a single Turtle Dove was seen with just three
Nigel Odin Cuckoo records in spring & early autumn. A Serin put in
an appearance on several days in early July.
Jacques Turner-moss was the observatory’s on site
warden from mid-March to mid-November. In 2021 a Serin – © Landguard BO
Seasonal Warden is required from Mid-March to mid-
November with interested parties asked to email Crossbill passage started in early June & continued until
[email protected] for further details. the end of October with a total of 415 the highest for
many years. Siskin also had a good summer & autumn
A strange year with the long hot drought throughout with 4,903 logged moving through between mid-June
the spring & summer not doing us any favours at all. & November. The Linnet RAS scheme continues to
With the botany stressed the insects also suffered produce a good long running data set.
which, in turn, affects bird breeding success in many
species. Spring passage numbers were poor with our An August highlight was Pied Flycatcher with a fall of
lowest ever April ringing total as traditional summer 22 on the 18th although, surprisingly, a supporting cast
visitors continue their ongoing decline. Despite this of very little else in the bushes on the same day. October
situation it didn’t prevent a good selection of scarcities 3rd brought a good old fashioned fall dominated by 150
including a Melodious Warbler on the last day of April Robin & a fine supporting cast plus our best ringing day
which was unexpected this early on. Other spring of the year with 150 birds ringed (81 Robin). Woodlark
oddities included Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Marsh had another good autumn with 32 noted going over &
Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Rose-coloured Starling, Lesser Redpoll also broke records with 352 ringed out of
Short-toed Lark, Stone Curlew & 2 Common Rosefinch. an autumn total of 2,333 noted. Redpoll’s had their
worst ever autumn in 2019 so it just shows how the
Rosy Starling – © Landguard BO status of eruptive species can change one year to the
next. Autumn scarcities included 4 Pallas’s Warbler, 2
Dartford Warbler, 2 Little Bunting, 2 Red-breasted
Flycatcher, Ortolan, Radde’s Warbler, Richard’s Pipit &
Shorelark. On the doom & gloom side what on earth has
happened to Goldeneye which seems to be going the
same way as Turtle Dove.

Common Rosefinch – © Landguard BO

Pallas’s Warbler © Landguard BO

P a g e 63 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

Red-breasted Flycatcher – © Landguard BO Clifden Nonpareil – © Landguard BO
Pale Eggar – © Landguard BO
A good selection of foreign recoveries and controls
throughout the year included one that left us
absolutely gobsmacked. A Woodpigeon ringed at
Landguard as a pullus in 2013 was retrapped at the
world famous bird observatory at Helgoland on the 1st
August 2019. What on earth is a baby woodie that is
Suffolk born & bred doing on a German island in early
August at six years old at a time of year when it should
be nesting?

The automated MOTUS radio telemetry tower installed
by Wageningen University produced a cracking report
of a Starling ringed and fitted with a tiny nanotag in The
Netherlands in early November providing a hit on the
Landguard tower in early December having been
recorded passing half a dozen towers in Holland on the
same day before arriving.

Insect wise the number of Painted Ladies was pathetic L-Album Wainscot – ©
& only one Clouded Yellow was noted. The moth traps
produced lower numbers of many of the commoner The L-album Wainscot colonised 20 years ago and is
species and some failing to appear at all presumably slowly spreading northwards along the coast. It is a
due to the drought. Despite this the moths were very nationally scarce species with Marram Grass as its food
entertaining with another 16 new species added to the plant at Landguard.
site list (Including Clifden Nonpareil and Pale Eggar)
taking it over the magical milestone of 1,000 species Annual reports for the year and updated species lists
recorded. will appear soon in the archive section of
www.lbo.org.uk

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North Ronaldsay Green Warbler, which stayed until 7th, but remained
Alison Duncan elusive in the field, whilst the 2 Marsh Warblers
continued to sing against each other.
As everywhere, 2020 has been a
challenging year with Covid-19 Green Warbler – © George Gay
restrictions affecting us all, but
also, for us, with the sudden A surprise find during a Fish & Chips delivery run on 5th
passing of our founder and director, Kevin Woodbridge, was a Short-toed Lark at Milldam and interesting
after a short illness. The observatory carries on however, records continued with a smart Grey-headed Wagtail
and our team already on the island before lockdown on Sandsheen on 7th, another Red-backed Shrike on
were joined by others once travel was allowed from 8th and a pod of over 30 Risso’s Dolphins spent the
July, and although many visitors had to cancel or morning in the firth. Common Rosefinches on 10th and
change plans, we were busy with visitors for about two 12th were followed by another record count, this time a
months in the autumn. What a fantastic year it was for flock of 53 Canada Geese on 16th, and with an influx of
birds though, with many highlights to remember. Red Admirals and Painted Ladies, there was a
Hummingbird Hawkmoth. A singing Quail and second
Among wintering birds, the long-staying Green- summer Mediterranean Gull also on 16th were followed
winged Teal was ever present, several Glaucous Gulls by a Crossbill and a late Redstart on 23rd; the first Storm
were recorded, 6 Stonechats were seen in March and a Petrel luring session saw Leach’s Petrel on 25th, 4 more
dog Otter seen on a few occasions this spring was a rare Crossbills and in the evening, a very smart summer
treat. Two Greenland White-fronted Geese were seen adult American Golden Plover. Another 2
from 7th April, with 3 on 12th and 3 Bean Geese on 16th Hummingbird Hawkmoths were notable on 26th, as
and there was a Goosander on 9th. A few arrivals of was a new record of bee for the island, Volucella
migrants during April were interspersed with the bombylans, the most northerly record for the UK.
island’s 4th record of Magpie on 17th, a winter
plumaged White-billed Diver on 19th with a second, in July held a few surprises, with a Great White Egret on
summer plumage, on 29th and our first cetacean 4th at Hooking Loch the fifth island record, a stunning
sighting of the year, a pod of 5 Risso’s Dolphins. female Red-necked Phalarope on Bewan on 11th and a
Pectoral Sandpiper on 12th. An adult Little Gull was seen
Migrants arriving over a few days from 30th April regularly but the highlight was the Long-tailed Skua
included a summer plumaged Ruff, 4 Tree Pipits, 73 event which began with an unusual second calendar
Wheatears, a Black Redstart, 14 Blackcaps, 3 Wood and year bird seen on 14th at Gretchen and again with Arctic
35 Willow Warblers and 14 Pied Flycatchers. As these Skuas on Torness the following day. Over the next 2
migrants moved on, notable birds followed with a weeks some 14 individual Long-tailed Skuas were seen
Nightingale trapped on 6th (just the 9th island record), hunting over fields and grouping on Torness, with a
Shorelark on 8th and Wood Sandpiper on 9th. A maximum of 7 in a day including 2 stunning adults.
Common Crane passed through on 11th, wader
numbers increased with 305 Knots and 121 Dunlins on
14th and also the first Little Gull, an adult. Female Marsh
Harrier and 2 Cuckoos were seen on 19th, a Corncrake
was calling from 20th and a flyover Spoonbill on 22nd
was just the second island record. Wader numbers
building up on 23rd included some 208 Knot, 790
Sanderling, 101 Dunlin and 638 Turnstone, with good
numbers of hirundines too, first Spotted Flycatcher and
Red-backed Shrike. The first Bluethroat was a stunning
male on 24th, with a second male on 25th. An
impressive total of 929 Turnstones on 25th was followed
in the next days by the first Curlew Sandpiper and Little
Stint, and a less impressive ‘worst ever record count’ of
16 Canada Geese on 31st!

The first Marsh Warbler of the year, singing at Holland
on 31st May, was later trapped and as easterly winds
continued, the third Red-backed Shrike of the year, a
smart female, appeared the next day. A second Marsh
Warbler was also trapped on the evening of 1st June,
followed by the first island and 7th British record of a

Long-tailed Skuas - © George Gay

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Willow Warbler on 1st August signalled the start of
autumn, though waders had been building up with
over 1200 Golden Plovers that week, first Ruff,
Whimbrels, good numbers of both Black-tailed and
Bar-tailed Godwits. Arctic Terns were increasing too
with a total of 2827 on 5th, one flock of 1300 including
some Common Terns. A Bee-eater was heard on 7th,
and an Osprey passed through, while a probable
juvenile Baltic Gull was present 8th-10th. Up to 4 Short-
eared Owls were present and a Melodious Warbler (9th
island record) found at Westness was followed by a
Barred Warbler at Holland.

Turkestan Shrike – © Dante Shepherd

A very smart juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper found near
Westness on 3rd September spent most of the month
around the lochs at the north end of the island, only the
4th island record. However, this was eclipsed by the
discovery of a Semipalmated Plover on the Links on 7th,
Scotland’s second and Britain’s fifth record, if accepted.

Melodious Warbler – © Dante Shepherd

Scarce migrants continued on 12th with the first of 2 Semi-palmated Plover – © Dante Shepherd
juvenile Red-backed Shrikes and an elusive Wryneck,
and further 2 Barred Warblers on 13th. Seawatching on
14th produced 2 frustratingly distant large shearwaters
but also a pod of 6 White-beaked Dolphins and a
Basking Shark some days later. A trickle of Barred and
Garden Warblers were followed by another Melodious
Warbler on 19th, and as a period of foggy weather was
cleared by north-westerlies on 21st, the first Reed
Warbler and Common Rosefinch of the autumn were
seen and at least 4 Curlew Sandpipers.

The first mega of the autumn however, was a Turkestan Seawatching highlights included Balearic and Great
Shrike around Ancum on 23rd, later trapped and Shearwater with Sooty Shearwater passage on 10th,
confirmed with DNA from dropped feathers and a another Pectoral Sandpiper was seen on 12th, and other
coughed-up pellet. An arrival on 27th of a Reed, more migrants included good numbers of Lapland Buntings.
Barred and 17 Willow Warblers, also included a Hobby A turn to easterly winds on 15th brought a very
and 3 Rosefinches, and a smart adult Sabine’s Gull seen confiding Lanceolated Warbler in quoys near Trollavatn
from a seawatch. Further lucky sea watchers on 30th on 15th, a small arrival included Bluethroat on 17th, 3
were treated to a Pterodroma Petrel tracking north Little Buntings and a Red-throated Pipit on 18th and up
whilst an Eastern Subalpine Warbler was trapped in a to 10 Yellow-browed Warblers on 19th. Though weather
heligoland at the other end of the island. An conditions were somewhat mixed, the first Red-
unexpected find was the earliest ever British autumn breasted Flycatcher of the autumn appeared on 23rd
record of Yellow-browed Warbler in the willows at
Ancum on 31st.

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and a smart Buff-breasted Sandpiper found late Further arrivals followed as easterlies and rain
afternoon. continued, with high counts of 181 Robins on 3rd; 1459
Redwings, 446 Song Thrushes and 17 Ring Ouzels on
4th; 123 Chiffchaffs and 228 Goldcrests on 6th; as well as
Short-toed Lark, 2 Richard’s and at least 3 Red-throated
Pipits, Pallas’s Warbler and 3 different Rustic Buntings.

Lanceolated Warbler – © Dante Shepherd

Red-breasted Flycatcher– © Dante Shepherd Pallas’s Warbler – © Dante Shepherd

Prime sea watching conditions on 27th produced some Some migrants cleared out, but many lingered to give
163 Sooty Shearwaters and a Barolo Shearwater, excellent birding, and the purple patch continued on
together with a sighting of a Fin Whale for one lucky 7th with the island’s second record of Pallas’s
observer. With common migrants there were more Grasshopper Warbler found near the coast below
scarce migrants at the end of the month, including Greenwall. Though there was a mass exodus of
another Little Bunting and American Golden Plover. migrants on 9th, yet another Red-throated Pipit (6th for
the autumn!) was found and the next day an elusive
Buff-bellied Pipit on the Links. Interest continued with
a Pallas’s Warbler in the obs crop field on 14th, and first
Glaucous Gull and Little Auks of the autumn and at
least 18 Siberian Chiffchaffs on 18th.

American Golden Plover – © George Gay Buff-bellied Pipit – © George Gay

Easterlies at the start of October saw an impressive fall More easterlies saw bigger movements peaking with
of mainly thrushes and warblers, and a second Red- over 2000 Fieldfares and 1400 Redwings on 22nd, with
throated Pipit found was followed by a stunning Bluethroat, Rosefinch and Little Bunting also featuring.
White’s Thrush trapped at Holland, where it stayed until More typical late autumn migrants followed but the
the next day, a second record for the island. Numbers of island’s 7th record of Woodlark was a surprise find in an
migrants on 2nd included 57 Robins, 735 Redwings, 186 obs crop field on 3rd November staying for most of the
Song Thrushes, 68 Blackcaps, 21 Yellow-browed month. A fall of over 1000 Blackbirds with triple figure
Warblers and 3 Little Buntings, however the mega rare counts of Fieldfare and Redwing on 9th also saw
highlight was a cracking Eyebrowed Thrush near numbers of Woodcock and 2 Long-eared Owls. The
Greenspot, a third record for the island, which stayed for autumn closed with a few records of Iceland Gull,
around a week. lingering Woodcocks and the long-staying Green-
winged Teal present on Gretchen, now in its 10th year.

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Eyebrowed Thrush © Mark Rayment

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Portland Woodchat Shrike – © Martin Cade
Martin Cade Rosy Starling – © Martin Cade

Sadly, the fact that 2020 will live
long in the memory had rather
less to do with the quality of the
natural history on offer than the
uniquely disruptive circumstances associated with the
ongoing global pandemic. In terms of the effects of this
event on recording, PBO escaped lightly: thanks in no
small measure to the efforts of a hard core of local
residents the daily census was maintained throughout
whilst, during the spring at least, the two staff members
had the rare pleasure of undertaking the entirety of the
ringing programme themselves – every cloud has a
silver lining! The losers were our guests: with the
Observatory entirely closed for the bulk of the spring
migration period and only partially open for the rest of
the year, many of our stalwart regulars had to forgo
their annual visits – we felt for them and can only hope
that some semblance of normality returns as 2021
unfolds.

Bird-wise, an autumn Arctic Redpoll – a wholly
unexpected first for the island – was the year’s highlight,
whilst a wonderful summer influx of Balearic
Shearwaters brought with them the year’s big crowd-
puller in the form of a putative Yelkouan Shearwater. A
varied roll call of lesser rarities included a stunning
dark-morph Montagu’s Harrier, 2 Red-footed Falcons, a
Woodchat Shrike and a Blyth’s Reed Warbler in spring,
half a dozen Rosy Starlings and another Blyth’s Reed
Warbler during the summer and 4 Great Shearwaters,
2 Melodious Warblers and singles of Glossy Ibis, Kentish
Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper, Olive-backed Pipit,
Western Bonelli’s Warbler and Radde’s Warbler
amongst others through the autumn.

Yelkouan and Manx Shearwaters – © Martin Cade Coue’s Arctic Redpoll – © Martin Cade

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It was not a year of excesses on the common migrant The year’s ringing activities progressed steadily if
front. The crystal-clear skies prevailing for the bulk of largely unspectacularly, with only a seriously poor May
the spring saw to it that falls of summer visitors – usually – and that solely a result of weather conditions that
such bread and butter events at Portland at this season never looked likely to be propitious – dragging the
– were almost non-existent, whilst the vagaries of the overall totals of some migrants down to a level a little
weather seemed again to conspire against us through below average. Arctic Redpoll and Great Grey Shrike
the autumn when we missed out on, for example, the were both ringed for the first time, whilst amongst the
large arrivals of thrushes, Goldcrests and the like that recoveries notified during the year news of a Portland-
were a feature elsewhere. All this said, few if any of these ringed Firecrest controlled in Poland – seemingly the
commoner migrants were seriously under-represented first such movement resulting from UK ringing – was
and some of the irruptive woodland finches, in the stand-out highlight.
particular Siskin, Redpoll and Crossbill, were logged in
near record totals. Lepidoptera provided some nice excitements, with the
first British record of Rusty-shouldered Pug a fine
Nocmig sampling continued apace although reward from one of the local birder’s moth-traps; a
frequently fell victim to the peculiar circumstances of Silver Barred from the Obs traps was a new moth for
the year: analysis of the recordings takes quite a time Dorset whilst another strong showing from Large
and with staff engaged in covering activities often Tortoiseshell butterflies included confirmation of
undertaken by our volunteers there often simply breeding on the island – the first such record in Britain
weren’t enough hours in the day to fit everything in and for many decades.
a considerable backlog of recordings from both
migration periods has accrued; nonetheless, loggings Finally, a big thanks to all our members for their
of 3 Stone Curlews, a Dotterel and a Quail from the continuing support: in this most challenging of years
spring and night in the autumn with a tally of 750 Tree there’s nothing like being safe in the knowledge that
Pipit calls were yet more examples of how fruitful this we have such a strong support base.
technique is proving.
Montagu’s Harrier – © Joe Stockwell

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Sandwich Bay another on the 15th. One of these birds came from the
Steffan Walton Isle of Wight release scheme but the others were
presumed continental migrants, and represent the first
2020 was a bizarre year with the records for Sandwich Bay.
words ‘furlough’ and ‘lockdown’
heard more than ever before. White-tailed Eagle – © A.Lipczynski
Thankfully the Observatory
survived ok and its important Everything of course changed with the Coronavirus
monitoring continued uninterrupted. The Restharrow lockdown. The residents on site still managed to
Scrape Project continued throughout and saw the first maintain the continuity of the important SBBOT
signs of success, including a great start to Observatory dataset but the Field Centre was closed, and all events
life from new Assistant Warden Becky Downey. were unfortunately cancelled. Monitoring the recent
In the early winter period there were lots of sightings of developments on the nearby RSPB Lydden Valley
Tundra Bean, White-fronted, Pink-footed, and Pale- produced an excellent variety of waders. Usual spring
bellied Brent Geese. Two Siberian Chiffchaffs, two Cattle fare such as Great White Egret, Osprey, Nightingale,
Egrets, a Slavonian Grebe, and plenty of Water Pipits and Garganey were recorded, but Stone-curlew,
also added to the flavour. New Assistant Warden Becky Hawfinch, Kentish Plover, and Night-heron also
Downey settled in well and hit the ground running with appeared in the Recording Area.
her outreach and interpretation. The Observatory
attended MOTUS and BOC meetings, ran a holiday to
Bulgaria, continued to run Bird Identification and
Disturbance Sessions in conjunction with Kent Wildlife
Trust, performed a Beached Bird Survey, and
completed a full wader survey around the Thanet coast.
The erection of the new MOTUS aerials was an exciting
time and we look forward to the results it will give us.

Restharrow Scrape – © N.Smith

Siberian Chiffchaff – © M.Buckland May saw a slew of rarities with four Honey-buzzards,
Black Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, White Stork, two
The first signs of spring migration occurred in March Temminck’s Stints, four Red-footed Falcons, and a
with Dartford Warbler, a movement of over 1,000 Golden Oriole. Red Kite passage was phenomenal
Chaffinches on the 15th, and White-tailed Eagles on the building to an astonishing 140 north on 2nd June. Early
25th and 31st. The Eagle theme was to continue into June also saw Purple Heron, Bee-eater, Honey-buzzard,
April with records on the 2nd, two on the 4th, and and the continued presence of at least four Red-footed
Falcons. Invertebrate highlights were many with Black
V Moth, Dusky Marbled Brown, Light Crimson
Underwing, and exceptional numbers of Dainty
Damselfly, Southern Emerald Damselfly, and Norfolk
Hawker. Breeding success was good inland on Worth
marshes and Restharrow Scrape but disturbance in
Pegwell Bay and along the beach was a real issue.

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Crossbill – © Steve Ray

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September was fantastic for both quality and quantity.
Two Red-backed Shrikes, two Honey-buzzards, two
Pectoral Sandpipers, White Stork. Corncrake, American
Golden Plover, Cattle Egret, Barred Warbler, and
Ortolan Bunting were the rarity highlights with good
sea passage noted and almost 4,000 Siskins over on the
28th. There were some excellent falls of Chiffchaffs and
Blackcaps again. Assistant Becky ran events at many
local schools and we dipped our first toes into Zoom
waters with a series of online lectures. October
continued the excellent run of rarities with Red-
throated Pipit, Wryneck, Radde’s Warbler, Pallas’s
Warbler, Richard’s Pipit, Dusky Warbler, two Great Grey
Shrikes, five Glossy Ibises, and some huge movements
of Lesser Redpoll and Crossbill. We organised our first
‘Big Bay Birdwatch’ with local schools and Restharrow
Scrape opened (briefly) at end of month.

Dainty Damselfly – © M.Heath

Interesting summer inverts like Large Tortoiseshell and Great Grey Shrike – © S.Reynaert
Small Blue butterflies, Small Purple-barred moth, and
good numbers of Southern Migrant Hawkers Unfortunately, ‘lockdown2’ caused the closure of
dragonflies were seen subsequently. Autumn bird Restharrow Scrape again and hit the pause button on
migration began early with Whinchat, Redstart, and our engagement activities. The presence of a semi-
Spotted Flycatcher all recorded weeks earlier than resident Tree Sparrow flock was one of the brightest
usual. An exceptional Wood Warbler passage began sparks during this early winter period with numbers
and an unseasonal Redwing was trapped and ringed. increasing to at least 53 birds. Another Pallas’s Warbler
In August we ran a special Nature Holiday Club and Dusky Warbler appeared and up to four Cattle
designed to benefit under-privileged children who had Egrets lingered in the area. We produced a fantastic
been adversely affected by the Coronavirus lockdown. ‘Birds of Sandwich Bay’ film to purchase on a USB which
It was a fantastic success and something we hope to was received well.
repeat in future years. With the easing of restrictions we
began phasing some guided walks back, as well as
running our first ever livestream moth night.
Interesting records of Quail, Pied Flycatcher, and
Ortolan Bunting were recorded on ‘nocmig’ and an
Icterine Warbler was trapped and ringed. Two Kentish
Plovers and a Long-tailed Skua were good to see whilst
excellent moth-trapping provided Four-spotted, Dusky
Hook-tip, Pale Shoulder, Clifden Nonpareil, and
Beautiful Marbled, as well as many Golden Twin-spots.

Pale Shoulder – © S.Walton The Great Grey Shrike remained into November, as did
the four Cattle Egrets, plus a handful of Hen Harriers,
Water Pipits, and Bearded Tits. November cemented
2020 as one of the best autumns for Common Redpoll
for a few years. The discovery of an Eastern Yellow
Wagtail on Worth marshes on the 20th was the cherry
on top of an excellent autumn. A first for Kent and
amazingly the same bird seen in Norfolk a few weeks
previously. Hawfinch, Goshawk, Siberian Chiffchaff, and
a small flock of Lapland Buntings also provided variety.

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Pallas’s Warbler – © A.Lipczynski White-fronted and Barnacle Geese – © N.Smith

At the end of the month a significant influx of geese Kumlien’s Gull in Pegwell, constituting a first for the
occurred with up to ten Tundra Bean, 550 White- Recording Area.
fronted, 240 Pink-footed, and 31 Barnacle Geese The only downside to such a great year of Natural
recorded. The White-fronted Geese particularly enjoyed History was the inability to share it with guests.
the area and stayed until the end of the year; just Hopefully, we’ll see some respite from Covid-19 in 2021.
rewards for the hard work the RSPB have done with So why not come for a visit? Whatever you reason for
wetland creation on Lydden Valley. visiting Kent, the Field Centre offers modern and
There was still some good sea-watching to be had with comfortable, self-catering accommodation with a
Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Black- kitchen, library, wi-fi, and free parking, allowing you to
necked and Red-necked Grebe, Little Gulls, Little Auk, be on hand for early morning ringing, late night moth-
and Shag logged. trapping, or just time to explore the local area.
A Woodlark and Waxwing were surprise highlights at
the end of the year, but not more so than an immature

Eastern Yellow Wagtail – © R.Rackliffe

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. Welsh rarities were well represented, with a stunning
male Red-spotted Bluethroat on 20th May,
Skokholm

Richard Brown

and Giselle Eagle

We arrived to Dream Island Bluethroat – © Richard Brown
before the full implications of
COVID-19 were understood. This was fantastic news for Pectoral Sandpiper on 31st May and 15th September, a
both the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (as it female Rosy Starling on 21st June, a Greenish Warbler
meant that we were here to look after the Island on 23rd June, a Citrine Wagtail on 27th August,
infrastructure and monitoring work), and for us (as it
meant that we were here to experience an Island
adventure unprecedented in over 80 years). Not since
the days prior to the creation of Britain’s first Bird
Observatory have two people lived on Skokholm in
such an isolated way. We were supported by an
amazing mainland team who ensured that all the
necessary provisions made it onto regular supply boats.
The Wildlife Trust staff also did a remarkable job
securing funding which went a very long way to
covering the substantial six figure deficit brought about
by the closure of its reserves. We would of course work
here for free, but we were exceptionally fortunate to be
employed throughout the year. The work of Skokholm
Bird Observatory was inevitably impacted, with all of
the pre-August monitoring work covered by two
people who had to prioritise the seabird surveys and
infrastructure maintenance. We were however joined
by three socially distanced House Mouse researchers
from mid-August until the end of September and by
two ringing volunteers for a month from 7th
September. Despite the staffing shortfalls and the
lowest ringing total of the last eight years, the species
total for 2020 was the second highest on record. Indeed
2020 will not just be remembered for the extraordinary
lack of guests, but for some excellent wildlife highlights.

Bird of the year was an Upland Sandpiper seen well but Cirtrine Wagtail – © Richard Brown
briefly on 31st October; this was the second for
Skokholm following one in October 1960. Although we Two Melodious Warblers between the 2nd and 19th
are averaging a Subalpine Warbler a year these days, it September and a Little Bunting on 29th September.
was nice to log a DNA confirmed female Western Pectoral Sandpiper, Greenish Warbler and Melodious
Subalpine Warbler and a smart male Eastern Subalpine Warbler are species logged almost annually here of late,
Warbler on consecutive May dates. the remainder being scarcer and the Citrine Wagtail
being a long overdue first (taking the Island total to 1.2
species per acre, surely one of the highest recorded on
any Island in the British Isles (although we know we’ll
never catch Hilbre)).

Subalpine Warbler – © Richard Brown Island scarcities included singles of Whooper Swan,
Goldeneye (fifth for Skokholm) and Great White Egret
(second for Skok) in October, multiple sightings of
Marsh Harrier, Osprey and Hobby, singles of Curlew
Sandpiper and Dotterel, what was just the fourth spring
record of Coal Tit, a lingering Cetti’s Warbler (third for
Skok), our second DNA confirmed spring Siberian
Chiffchaff, the first Wood Warbler in eight years and a
male Blue-headed Wagtail in May. It was a record year
for Yellow-browed Warbler numbers, there was a good
scattering of Firecrest and two Turtle Dove were seen in
May. In what was the most diverse year for seabirds ever
recorded in Britain and Ireland, there were few
surprises here; counts of Balearic Shearwater, Sooty
Shearwater and Little Gull were rather average, with the

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highlight perhaps being an Arctic Skua chasing an
adult Sabine’s Gull below the Lighthouse cliffs.
Although May storms impacted productivity on some
areas of more exposed cliff, it was a record breaking
year for seabird numbers. The number of Guillemot on
suitable breeding ledges exceeded 5000 for the first
time ever, the number of Razorbill exceeded 3500 for
the first time ever and the peak Puffin count of 8534
was the highest since the population crash of the 1940s
and 50s (despite the lack of humans, they were still as
confiding as ever).

Lunar Hornet Moth © Richard Brown

A Thresher Shark was seen on 24th June, the second
Skokholm record of Lesser Emperor on 9th August, a
record Vestal year which saw almost daily counts
between the 15th and 27th September peak at 15
individuals and multiple records of Sunfish, Risso’s and
Common Dolphins.

Puffins– © Richard Brown Sunfish © Richard Brown

The study plots suggested that the Manx Shearwater
population will still be in the region of 89,000 pairs and
the Storm Petrel population around 2,000 pairs.
Non-avian highlights included the first Island records of
Lunar Hornet Moth (with at least 13 emerging from
Willows at the Well during June).

Sunset © Richard Brown

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Walney and both Merlin and Peregrine continued to be
Colin Raven recorded regularly while a male Marsh Harrier (13th-
15th) was the earliest ever recorded on the island.
January proved to be a generally Passerine highlights involved the long-staying Hooded
unsettled month with 82.9mm of Crow and up to three Water Pipit amongst good
precipitation recorded over 27 numbers of Rock Pipit (31-13th). Small numbers of
days, calm days were at a Fieldfare and Redwing continued to move through and
premium as windy conditions dominated in generally a Waxwing called in (16th). A Blackcap (5th) was
mild month with temperatures falling below freezing perhaps overwintering locally, the Twite flock
on just one day (19th). The usual generally quiet start to contained 20 birds (8th) and a Stock Dove was unusual
the year, offshore highlights involved good numbers of (7th). A total of 104 species were logged on the island
Common Scoter (380-18th), Red-throated Diver (80- through the month.
21st) and Shag (51-19th) – the latter a record count for The weather finally began to settle down in March
the island and the highest congregation in the which proved to be a relatively dry month with a total
northwest of England. The wintering Brent Goose flock of just 45.4mm of rain spread over 13 days.
held 346 light-bellied and 88 dark-bellied birds while Temperatures again remained above freezing
additional wildfowl included eight Shoveler, six Scaup, throughout and winds were generally light to
five Whooper Swan (25th) and a Goosander. Wader moderate mainly from the west, excepting for a period
sightings, amongst good numbers of the commoner of light easterlies towards the months end.
species, involved seven Greenshank, six Black-tailed
Godwit, three Purple Sandpiper and a Jack Snipe. Up
to 61 Little Egret and a Water Rail were logged while
both Peregrine and Merlin put in regular appearances.
Although a few Fieldfare and Redwing were on the
move passerine activity was light, however, lingering
birds included a Water Pipit amongst the flocks of Rock
Pipit, a long-staying Hooded Crow and 30 Twite, in
addition, up to seven Tree Sparrow and a Treecreeper
were found to be wintering on the island. A total of 100
species were recorded on the island during the month.

Great Northern Diver – © Peter Wilde

Red-throated Diver – © Peter Wilde Although the Great Northern Diver remained in
residence, offshore highlights were limited to 22 Red-
An above average total of 209.1mm of rain was recorded throated Diver (23rd), 10 Gannet (15th), five Little Gull
over 27 days in February including totals of 33.1mm on (1st), the first Sandwich Tern (24th) and seven Shag. A
8th, 31.2mm on 15th and 36.3mm on 19th. Strong Short-eared Owl was seen (16th) and the first Osprey
westerly winds totally dominated and storm Ciara moved through next day while Peregrine and Merlin
gusted to 63mph, however, it was mild with still continued to be seen regularly. A Water Rail (9th)
temperatures remaining above zero throughout the was another potential spring migrant. Up to 12 Scaup
month. A Great Northern Diver took up residence on continued in residence along with four Barnacle Goose
the island’s pools while the first Fulmar (1st) and Gannet while totals of 1,635 Pink-footed Goose and 140
(8th) of the year were offshore along with Red-throated Whooper Swan moved through while waders included
Diver (31-5th), Shag (32-13th), Kittiwake (94-16th) and 11 Greenshank and two Purple Sandpiper. At least two
single Little Gulls (17th & 18th). A total of 21 Whooper Water Pipit continued to be flushed from the island’s
Swan headed north although the anticipated Pink- salt marshes at high tide and 30 Twite and the Hooded
footed Goose movement was slow. The Brent Goose Crow continued to linger. Small numbers of Redwing
flock held the returning Black Brant (22nd) amongst and Fieldfare continued to move through and the first
404 light-bellied and 82 dark-bellied birds, also seen hints of spring passage were provided by Goldcrest
were 17 Barnacle Geese, 12 Scaup, six Shoveler and a (9th), Black Redstart (13th), Chiffchaff (14th), Siskin (16th),
Goosander. Waders included an impressive 16,000 Knot Wheatear (18th), Lesser Redpoll (24th) and Tree
(12th), 11 Greenshank, two Purple Sandpiper and a Jack Sparrow (26th) before the observatory closed to
Snipe. Little Egret numbers slowly declined (50-13th) conform to national lockdown restrictions. A total of 105
species were seen on the island in the month.
The observatory reopened in June as lockdown
restrictions began to ease, however operational
functionality remained somewhat reduced. A total of
78.9mm of rain fell over 23 days and light to moderate
easterlies dominated for much of the month with

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temperatures peaking at 28C (25th). Offshore Lesser Whitethroat (from 12th) and Garden Warbler
highlights involved single Goosander (20th & 25th), (from 20th) along with totals of 78 Willow Warbler and
Great Skua (20th), Black Guillemot (21st) and Long- 14 Whinchat. Diurnal passage added 70 Swift (31st) and
tailed Duck (25th) along with totals of 26 Puffin and totals of six Grey Wagtail, five Lesser Redpoll and four
three Arctic Skua. Additional sightings included 215 Tree Sparrow. A total of 108 species were seen on the
Manx Shearwater (20th), 43 Arctic Tern (2nd), 25 Little island in the month.
Tern (18th) and two Common Tern (16th) amongst good August was another damp month; a total of 121.3mm of
numbers of Sandwich Tern. A drake Garganey was seen rain fell over 21 days, including 35.6mm (10th), while
(1st) while single male Wigeon and Shoveler appeared temperatures peaked at 27C during the third week.
to be summering. Waders included a Little Stint (1st- Relatively light and variable winds early in the month
2nd) and the last Whimbrel moved through (9th), were then punctuated by very windy conditions as
however large numbers of Knot were still present Storm Ellen battered the island (21st) with Storm
(10,000-9th) before the first Greenshank (16th) and Francis in hot pursuit (25th) before lighter winds
Black-tailed Godwit (26th) returned. The last few prevailed to see out the month. The sea proved to be
Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Spotted Flycatcher (11th & 13th) generally disappointing with the highlights limited to a
still headed north along with a Cuckoo (8th) while the single Puffin (20th) and totals of nine Arctic Skua (4-
first southbound migrants included Willow Warbler 22nd) and eight Mediterranean Gull (3-15th), however
(16th), Cuckoo (26th) and 80 Swift (26th). The Hooded the first Red-throated Diver reappeared and good
Crow continued to perform, however, single Turtle numbers of Common Scoter (641-22nd), Gannet (410-
Dove (8th) – the first since 2016, Hoopoe (16th-17th) – the 20th), Kittiwake (165-22nd) and Sandwich Tern (150-
first since 2006 and Rose-coloured Starling (10th-25th) – 30th) were logged. A Short-eared Owl hunted the island
the second island record, left observers speculating on (31st), four Osprey flew through and both Merlin and
what had been missed as a result of lockdown during Peregrine were recorded. Teal and Wigeon numbers
the main spring passage period. A total of 104 species began to build and waders included 500 Sanderling
were recorded on the island during the month. (16th), 24 Whimbrel (5th), 21 Greenshank (12th), 19 Black-
tailed Godwit (13th), six Curlew Sandpiper (31st), three
Rosy Starling Diver – © Sarah Darlymple Ruff and single Green Sandpiper (1st & 16th-20th) and
Wood Sandpiper (17th). Juvenile Cuckoos were seen
July produced 99.0mm of rain spread over 30 days with (8th & 18th-26th), the Hooded Crow continued to
average temperatures until a short-lasting heat wave at appear erratically and a family party of five Jay were
the month’s end saw a peak of 28C (31st). Light to indicative of another successful breeding attempt on
moderate westerlies dominated although winds the island. Southbound passerine activity increased
reached gale force at the beginning and end of the with Grasshopper Warbler (15th), Redstart (17th),
month. Seawatching highlights involved Puffin (11th & Goldcrest (from 30th), Chiffchaff (from 31st), Wood
17th), Black Guillemot (16th), Velvet Scoter (17th), Shag Warbler (7th) and totals of 272 Willow Warbler (46-8th),
(19th), two Pomarine Skua (26th) and totals of four 154 Wheatear (35-24th), 30 Whinchat (6-14th), 16
Arctic Skua and three Great Skua. Good numbers of Spotted Flycatcher, six Garden Warbler, four Blackcap,
Manx Shearwater (1,000-26th), Common Scoter (510- and four Lesser Whitethroat. Diurnal migration was
17th) and Little Tern (25-18th) were also seen along with poor through much of the month with 200 Swallow and
135 Gannet (17th) and 122 Sandwich Tern (2nd). Waders 20 Sand Martin (9th), 76 Swift (7th) and five Yellow
included 220 Sanderling (31st), 21 Greenshank (29th), 12 Wagtail (30th) amongst monthly totals of 367 Tree
Black-tailed Godwit (19th & 29th), six Common Sparrow (127-13th), 139 Tree Pipit (34-13th), 31 Grey
Sandpiper (21st), five Whimbrel (24th) and a Little Wagtail (10-31st), 20 House Martin, 19 Siskin and four
Ringed Plover (2nd). The first Merlin reappeared (30th) Lesser Redpoll. A total of 121 species were logged on the
and Little Egret numbers began to increase (27-20th), island through the month.
however, a Kingfisher (24th) was bird of the month. A drier September followed with 72.8mm of
Single Cuckoos were logged (19th & 24th), with two precipitation spread over 18 days with almost half the
Stock Dove (2nd) while the itinerant Hooded Crow put total falling on one day (31.6mm-2nd) and temperatures
in another appearance (20th). Southbound passerine peaked at 23C mid-month. Although westerlies, up to
movement began to build with grounded birds gale force, dominated the first two weeks the
including Yellow Wagtail (from 11th), Blackcap and remainder of the month was typified by generally light
easterly winds. Offshore sightings included 411
Sandwich Tern, 250 Gannet, 212 Manx Shearwater, 38
Arctic Tern and 19 Fulmar (all 3rd) 1,190 Common Scoter
(8th), 10 Shag (19th) and single Black Guillemot (3rd)
and Mediterranean Gull (16th) along with a total of six
Arctic Skua. Little Egret increased (56-17th) and several
Merlin and Peregrine took up residence, The first 50
Brent Geese arrived back (12th) and a total of 125 light-
bellied birds were counted (30th) while a skein of 36
Barnacle Geese appeared (27th). A total of 17,713 Pink-
footed Geese headed south (from 10th) with a record
9,100 counted (23rd) and the first southbound Whooper
Swan flew over (27th). A total of 33 Greenshank was
found (1st), at least five Ruff appeared, up to three
Curlew Sandpiper were present (8th-17th) and the last

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Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel departed (both Last month’s Cetti’s Warbler lingered (to 13th) and at
10th). Although the Hooded Crow was seen regularly, least seven Yellow-browed Warblers were seen (3rd-
single Melodious Warbler (21st) and Cetti’s Warbler 16th). A single Water Pipit was logged (18th & 21st) and
(29th) – the fifth island record were the pick of the the Coal Tit influx gained momentum (100-2nd) while
passerines while a Coal Tit influx was evident (20-28th) the Hooded Crow remained in residence.
and three different Treecreeper were seen. Passerine
departure dates involved Lesser Whitethroat (1st), Coal Tit – © Chris Turner
Sedge Warbler (16th), Yellow Wagtail and Redstart
(19th), Garden Warbler (21st) and Whitethroat, Willow Additional grounded warblers involved totals of 30
Warbler and White Wagtail (all 26th). Monthly totals Goldcrest, 24 Chiffchaff and five Blackcap – it had
included: 90 Wheatear, 60 Chiffchaff, 38 Goldcrest, proven to be a poor autumn passage for both Blackcap
seven Spotted Flycatcher (to 26th), six Blackcap and six and Goldcrest. The remains of diurnal passage added
Whinchat (to 20th) – it had proved to be the best totals of 5,385 Meadow Pipit (4,000-2nd), 506 Chaffinch
autumn passage for Whinchat for many years. Monthly (180-2nd), 305 Tree Sparrow, 200 Swallow, 59 Siskin (23-
passerine diurnal migration totals included: 28,505 2nd), 52 Lesser Redpoll (12-11th), 27 Grey Wagtail and 15
Meadow Pipit (12,800-18th), 4,685 Swallow (2,050-15th), Brambling (10-15th). Departure dates included House
2,658 Skylark (1,260-15th), 464 Siskin (264-18th), 354 Martin (3rd), Wheatear (8th), and Yellow Wagtail (8th)
“alba” Wagtail, 329 Grey Wagtail (64-15th), 323 Chaffinch while winter thrushes included a small Mistle Thrush
(85-28th), 101 House Martin (41-18th), 88 Lesser Redpoll passage (4-5th) amongst low numbers of Redwing
(31-27th), 33 Tree Sparrow and seven Tree Pipit (to 15th). (from 3rd) and Fieldfare (from 13th) while the first Twite
A total of 125 species were identified on the island reappeared (13th). A total of 123 species were logged on
during the month. the island in the month.
A series of depressions sweeping in from the Atlantic The wet and windy theme continued through
during October provided for a generally mild, wet and November with a total of 119.5 mm of rainfall recorded
unsettled month with calm and dry days at a premium over 26 days and 31.7mm of precipitation on 1st,
and temperatures reaching 17C (4th). A total of 149.0 however, it was to prove to be a frost-free month with
mm of rainfall was recorded and only five rain free days temperatures dipping to just 3C (28th). Fresh to strong
were noted during the month. Highlights over the sea westerly winds dominated, interspersed with only a few
in October involved seven Scaup (10th), Arctic Skua (7th days of easterlies and the occasional calm day.
& 10th), Sandwich Tern (3-9th), Little Tern (9th), Great Fortunately the second lockdown rules allowed the
Skua and Fulmar (25th), Great Northern Diver (25th- observatory to still function in its reduced capacity.
28th), Puffin (2-26th) and Long-tailed Duck (2-26th, 1- Offshore highlights involved a Black Guillemot (17th),
31st) along with 460 Common Scoter (1st), 133 Kittiwake
(25th), 127 Razorbill (26th), 80 Gannet (19th), 35 Shag
(18th) and 12 Red-throated Diver (1st). The wintering
Brent Goose flock increased steadily with 347 light-
bellied and 47 dark-bellied birds present and 50
Barnacle Geese flew through (17th) with totals of 3,771
Pink-footed Geese (390-11th), and 123 Whooper Swan
also seen. Wigeon also increased (2,210-17th) amongst
which were 63 Pintail (18th), the first Goldeneye (27th)
and a Goosander (28th). Waders included 10,000
Oystercatcher (2nd), 4,000 Knot (27th), 18 Greenshank
(8th), up to three Ruff and single Jack Snipe (15th &
18th). A Buzzard was unusual (2nd) and both Merlin and
Peregrine were sighted regularly while single Short-
eared Owls appeared (3rd & 30th). A Water Rail called
(4th-21st). A flurry of Great Spotted Woodpecker
sightings were recorded and a further two Treecreeper
were seen.

Cetti’s Warbler – © Sarah Darlymple Black Guillemot – © Rob Pocklington

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Great Northern Diver (to 24th), two Little Gulls (11th &
12th), an adult Mediterranean Gull (22nd-23rd) and at
least five Goosander amongst reasonable numbers of
Razorbill (270-12th), Common Scoter (201-23rd),
Kittiwake (102-13th), Shag (26-8th) and Red-throated
Diver (21-21st). A total of 1,034 Pink-footed Goose and 82
Whooper Swan flew through and additional wildfowl
included: 1,830 Wigeon, 130 Pintail (28th), 11 Barnacle
Goose (22nd) and two Gadwall (28th) while the Brent
Goose flock contained 400 light-bellied and 80 dark-
bellied birds. Wader sightings were led by a Grey
Phalarope (13th) and five Woodcock (7th) along with 12
Greenshank and four Purple Sandpiper.

Grey Phalarope – © Chris Turner Pied-billed Grebe – © Chris Turner

A Pied-billed Grebe – the first for Cumbria (6th-8th) was Several Merlin and Peregrine were still in residence and
the highlight of the year and apparently was the first to at least four Water Rail were logged. Diurnal passerine
be found in an observatory recording area. migration petered out, seemingly blown away by the
conditions, with just 15 Tree Sparrow, 11 Lesser Redpoll,
seven Siskin, six Snow Bunting and three Brambling
amongst a light thrush passage which peaked at 123
Redwing and 71 Fieldfare (6th). The second Cetti’s
Warbler of the autumn (19th-30th), a Black Redstart
(19th), at least three Water Pipit amongst 30 Rock Pipit
(16th), a flock of 50 Twite (19th) and the long-staying
Hooded Crow were the best of the passerines.

Pied-billed Grebe – © Sarah Darlymple Hooded Crow – © Chris Turner

The last few tardy southbound migrants involved
Swallow (3rd), Blackcap (6th) and Chiffchaff (10th). A
total of 118 species were recorded on the island through
the month with several new additions bringing the
annual total to 175 species.

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Tracking our flying visitors with Motus radio telemetry
Lucy Mitchell

2020 has seen much of our birding and research activity cut short, or missed out
altogether. But while we are not able to move around, there is a way for us to
track the creatures that still can, and 2020 has seen more growth and expansion
for the Motus network in the UK.

Motus – latin for movement – started in Canada, and is an automated VHF radio
tracking network. Static base stations or receivers are situated at key locations,
are able to detect – passively, and 24/7 – tagged animals, wearing special
Nanotags. These Nanotags weigh less than 1g in many cases, and are uniquely
encoded so that the receivers can not only detect when they fly past, but which
exact animal it is.

The system is already established widely in the North America and now in a A UNIQUELY-CODED LOTEK
number of European countries. All the receivers work on the same radio NANOTAG USED WITHIN THE
frequency, meaning that as arrays of receivers automatically record tracking
data of flying animals, the data can be viewed and shared amongst many MOTUS SYSTEM
different research groups. It is a wonderfully collaborative, open-access way of
working and helps us to answer questions about continental scale movement of
small species in particular, which have not been able to be tagged before.

In February this year we saw a new
installation at Sandwich Bay bird
observatory, and in early 2021 we
hope to see a new receiver in place at
the Lower Derwent Valley NNR base
in North Yorkshire, a really key
migration stopover site for many
species of wader and waterfowl.
These join the seven receiver stations
installed in Britain in 2019. We are
pleased to have had several other
successes in 2020 as part of trying to
establish a Motus network in the UK.
We are able to use the European
radio frequency, a result of having
been successful in our application to
Ofcom, the UK’s communications
regulator. In the latter part of the year,
we have also received some funding
for a preliminary study of migratory
departure directions of blackcaps in
2021, hopefully deploying tags onto
blackcaps in the spring and autumn
at the bird observatory-based
receivers.

The aim is to extend our burgeoning RECEIVERS PRESENT IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE
network to other areas of the UK, AND THE BRITISH ISLES (AS OF JUNE 2020)

including more bird observatories. As
chair of the UK Motus steering group, I have received enquiries as to how to go about funding and installing receivers
at several bird observatories around the coastline, and I’m keen to support you all in any way I can, and am currently
applying for some large grants to enable us to establish more comprehensive regional networks and start collecting
some data.

The mix of researchers deploying tags, and the involvement of those hosting receiver stations, means this makes for
great citizen science, and other exciting engagement opportunities within the wider community in future. Multiple
crossings from various passerine species show the scope for collaboration between study groups in continental Europe,
and here in Britain, is significant, and the opportunity to share resources, and knowledge, amongst multiple

P a g e 81 Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk

international study groups is invaluable, and we are working with our colleagues in European Universities and bird
observatories to further this.
So far, a number of receivers here in Britain have detected the movements of continental tagged Common
Whitethroat, European Robins, Starling, and Northern Wheatear from Europe. Motus data includes time and direction
of departure from the area close to the receiver (and the same for an arrival at another receiver), helping to build on the
information available from conventional ringing. We know from these data that several of these birds came from the
island of Heligoland - Germany, making the journey from there to the UK in anywhere from 1 days to 2 weeks.

TRACK OF A EUROPEAN ROBIN IN OCTOBER 2019 THAT WAS TAGGED
ON HELIGOLAND (GERMANY) AND ARRIVED IN THE UK JUST 1 DAY LATER.

2020 has been a difficult year for research generally, but it is hoped we can begin in earnest in 2021.
Ringing groups, conservation bodies, private individuals and companies interested in hosting or sponsoring a receiver
are very welcome to contact Dr. Lucy Mitchell for support and advice; [email protected]; twitter: @lucyjayneryan.

The Motus receiver at Landguard Bird Observatory – © Adham Ashton Butt

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Young Birders at Bird Observatories in As always, I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the island,
2020 and this year more than ever I am grateful to have been
able to visit and get my annual seabird fix! Thanks as
Many of the usual opportunites for younysters to visit ever go to Steve, Emma, George and Sam for allowing
observatories had to be abandoned in 2020 due to the me to be part of the Obs team, and I look forward to
Covis-19 pandemic, however, some under 25s still more seabird fun next year, hopefully under more
managed to get to Observatories to either volunteer or normal conditions.
take up roles as Assistants. A selection of their personal
reviews can be found here. ALEX STARACE – BARDSEY AUTUMN
INTERN
JOSIE HEWITT – BARDSEY VOLUNTEER
Visiting Bardsey was even more of a privilege in 2020
Staying on Bardsey in 2020 was a truly bizarre than it is in most years. After a week of isolation at home
experience. Thanks to the ongoing issues and and a week of isolation on Bardsey (during which I was
restrictions necessitated by Covid-19, I wasn’t sure if I’d very well looked after), I was able to fully join the
make it to the island at all this year, as was observatory staff and island community. Having spent
unfortunately the case for so many people. However, I all of lockdown on the mainland, it was a great relief to
was fortunate to be allowed to travel to the island after be there!
the end of the first Welsh lockdown. I had isolated at
home for a week prior to my arrival on Bardsey, but was
also required to isolate in the Trust’s volunteer
accommodation for a further seven days before I was
allowed to interact with any of the Observatory staff or
other islanders. It was a very strange time indeed, but
well worth it!

Josie monitoring shearwater nests – © George Dunbar

Although my visit this year was past the peak time for Alex with a Barn Owl – © Steve Stansfield
seabird ringing, I was still able to spend a lot of time out
ringing Manx Shearwater and Storm Petrels at night, I arrived on the island in mid-August and despite
assisting George with his Manxie nest checks and having to socially distance for the first week, I was able
growth monitoring during the day, and helped to move to get straight into the action. I spent this week
the staff into the North side of the Obs and get the rest measuring Manxie chicks in the growth monitoring
of the building clean and tidy, ready for the arrival of the burrows, monitoring Storm Petrel and Fulmar nests on
first guests of the season. the East side of the island and birding, with the Citrine
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions and the lack of usual Wagtail being the best bird so far. The evenings were
support from visiting ringers and volunteers, 2020 was spent making the most of the “eat out to help out”
a record-breaking year for the number of Storm Petrels scheme down at the farm at Café Enlli!
caught, with over 300 birds ringed (almost a quarter of One of my favourite things about Bardsey is the ringing
the Stormies ever ringed on Bardsey) and a further 91 and after my week of isolation I was able to get fully
recaptures. One of my favourite ringing ‘stories’ from involved in this. Having no previous experience of
this year was a Storm Petrel that George and I caught dazzling, George showed me the ropes and we ended
on 22nd July which had been ringed by Alderney Bird up spending many of our nights out walking the
Observatory in the Channel Islands two days earlier:
travelling a minimum of 382 km in under 48 hours…
pretty epic stuff for a bird that weighs just 29 grams!

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coastline. It was particularly exciting to be out during My responsibilities during my stay at Spurn were broad
the stormiest of nights, with the chance of catching – initially I was mainly concerned with helping to
something that might otherwise be sheltering out of monitor the Little Tern colony but that soon evolved
reach. The highlights from our efforts were seven into habitat management, daily surveys, visitor
stunning Purple Sandpipers and a Grey Heron each, engagement (especially guided walks) and of course
both of which were more than a handful! Other ringing general birding for the daily log. All this in a really scenic
highlights included a Merlin, a Barn Owl and Yellow- part of the Holderness coast and one of the prime
browed Warblers. vagrant hotspots in all of mainland Britain...

I hadn’t previously experienced late autumn on Bardsey The list of birds I saw whilst birding Spurn is long – 204
but it proved to be good fun. The standout bird was the species in four months within a few kilometres of coast!
Eastern Yellow Wagtail, but it was the way that the feel European Roller, Red-throated and Olive-backed Pipits,
of the island could change overnight that I most Siberian Stonechat, White-winged Black Tern, Rose-
enjoyed. This was most evident when the island would coloured Starling, Western Bonelli’s, Arctic, Radde’s,
go from being quiet on one day to being littered with Marsh, Pallas’s and Greenish Warblers, Sabine’s Gull,
thrushes on the next, or whilst herding the sheep down Common Rosefinch, Serin, Short-toed Lark, Little
from the mountain when the circling Chough flock had Bunting and Glossy Ibis, along with no less than two
swollen to over 70 birds. Red-flanked Bluetails, three Wrynecks, six Icterine
Warblers, two Barred Warblers, too many Pectoral
Away from the birds, the island community feel Sandpipers and Roseate Terns to count… simply
remained as strong as ever and it was great to be able amazing! And that’s just talking about quality, quantity
to kayak, fish and swim with the seals together away often played a part too – seeing 3000+ Swifts bomb
from the stresses of the mainland. I look forward to south one July afternoon was quite extraordinary, as
returning at some point in the future! was 4600+ terns in the roost one day, Pied Flycatchers
in every bush, flushing Jack Snipes off the beach in the
LUKE NASH – SPURN VOLUNTEER rain and the carpets of thrushes around in early
October among others.
Whilst planning out my gap year (admittedly pre-
COVID…) I saw that Spurn was looking for volunteers All of that is without mentioning the amazing
and, remembering some of the glorious days of birding community that you become a part of even if you only
I had experienced there in years gone by, I knew I had come for a short visit – it’s impossible to go out at Spurn
to do it. without bumping into someone and stopping for a chat
with them, and though Migfest and weekend nights at
the Crown and Anchor couldn’t happen this year, I got
a flavour of it in the seawatching hide and at Numpties
many-a-time.

I want to extend my thanks at this stage to Jonnie Fisk,
Adam Hutt and Paul Collins at Spurn Observatory for
providing me with this amazing opportunity, as well as
every member of the Spurn community for providing
exorbitant amounts of laughter and fun while out in the
field. I cannot recommend Spurn enough to anyone
looking for a place to spend a weekend, a week, or even
several months like me!

DANIEL OWEN – BARDSEY VOLUNTEER

Luke looking at the Beacon Pond Terns Visiting Bardsey felt like a long time coming, and I was
fortunate enough to spend three weeks helping out at
the bird observatory there during late July/early August
2020. Whilst I was there, I was involved with the team
effort to start the renovation of the garden Heligoland
trap, mowing and strimming the obs garden to keep it
in good nick for visitors and of course daily log. Some
great birding was to be had during my stay; southerly
winds brought an arrival of wandering juvenile Yellow-
legged Gulls and a near-adult put a brief appearance in

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the loafing Kittiwakes, but the large falls of Willow
Warblers was arguably best of all – west coast birding
can be seriously underrated, and Bardsey Island is a
great example of what can be achieved! It was great
fun, good weather was a bonus and I was made to feel
truly welcome by the island community during my stay.

BILLY DYKES – SKOKHOLM VOLUNTEER

The majority of 2020 was for me, and of course many Billy with warden Giselle and a Storm Petrel chick
other people across the country, characterised by
furlough, a lot of uncertainty and limited travel. In April, With no guests to walk them, the island’s small network
the thought of even seeing the sea again during the of paths had become overgrown and barely
year seemed like a far-fetched dream, let alone being recognisable. Everywhere was carpeted in wildflowers,
able to set foot at a bird observatory, but my luck predominantly ragwort and sea mayweed, and it gave
changed in August when I was fortunate enough to be the island a new feeling of wildness that I hadn’t
able to join PhD student Eveliina Hanski on her field trip experienced before. By late August the Puffins had long
to Skokholm Bird Observatory. The observatory was departed out to sea and the Guillemots were no longer
officially closed to guests for the season, but Eveliina jostling for space on precarious cliff ledges, but in their
had been given permission to spend seven weeks on underground burrows thousands of Manx Shearwater
the island to collect important data for her study into nestlings were growing fast, and many species of
the gut microbiome and winter survival rates of the migrant birds were beginning to stop off on their
island’s house mouse population. This involved lots of southbound return journey. Our PhD fieldwork kept us
mouse tagging and plenty of mouse poo sample busy for much of the trip, but a pair of binoculars were
collecting, so naturally myself and my fellow mouse always around my neck, and there was always the sense
assistant Olivia jumped at the opportunity to escape of anticipation that we might bump into something
the situation on the mainland to offer a hand, especially exciting. Finding a Melodious Warbler whilst lugging
since we’d both spent time volunteering on Skokholm several bags of Sherman traps to the other end of the
in the past. island on a stormy evening in mid-September was
pretty special, as was the time we all legged it to a tiny
In typical boat day fashion, the three of us arrived at the pond on a remote clifftop when Rich found the island’s
jetty before dawn, cars full to the brim with all the food first Citrine Wagtail, but it was hard to beat the Osprey
we’d need for the duration of our stay and then some! that surprised us all on a sunny autumnal morning by
After wolfing down a Double Decker for breakfast, it flying right over our heads whilst we were sorting
was onto the task of getting all our luggage and PhD mouse poo samples. It briefly eyeballed us, probably
equipment into the boat. This would usually be done wondering what on earth we were doing, before
effortlessly by everyone forming a human luggage carrying on out across the Irish Sea. I helped run the
chain, but with social distancing in practice and all of us moth trap on suitable evenings and managed to add a
masked up, it was a bit of an improvised ‘help yourself’ few species the ever-increasing island moth list
affair. The 40-minute sea crossing from Dale to alongside a couple of new leafminers and everyone’s
Skokholm was flat calm and we soon approached the favourite, the Convolvulus Hawkmoth.
island to be greeted by our first view of the rugged red
sandstone cliffs and soft green slopes of sea campion
that provide nesting habitat for some of the island’s
most charismatic seabirds. Just as charismatic were the
island’s wardens Richard and Giselle, both waving
excitedly from a distance and with big grins on their
faces – you could they were looking toward to their first
contact with the outside world for half a year! Of course,
we couldn’t just start mingling straight away so we self-
isolated for the first few weeks; team mouse had the
facilities at the observatory itself whilst the wardens had
their lighthouse home at the other end of the island.

It felt like such a privilege to be on the island during
what would otherwise have been a closed season for
the observatory, especially at such a spectacular time of
year for wildlife.

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In September, bird ringers Richard and Wendy joined Going out birding every day on such a special island
us on the island and got straight to work setting up nets monitoring the migrant birds is really rewarding. As
along a couple of rides that we had cut into the island’s well as enjoying watching the common migrants I also
reedbed. Over the course of the month they went on to enjoy watching and especially finding rare vagrant
ring a superb array of species from Lapland Buntings to birds too. I get the feeling sometimes that some people
Bonxies, and it seemed like there was always who haven’t birded on North Ronaldsay think that we
something interesting to see in the ringing hut! By far find most of the rare birds that grace the island but we
the most highly anticipated event though was Storm don’t. In my view to unleash more of the islands
Petrel chick ringing – it’s always a pleasure to see these potential we would need over 10 birders. The peak we
fluffballs up close and it never ceases to amaze knowing had for a small time period this autumn was around 10
the long-lived pelagic life they’re about to embark on. but most of the time there were less than a handful of
By this time all of our quarantine periods had ended, us and not enough to cover half of the island many
and the seven of us celebrated in style with an absolute days. The amount of cover in some areas of the island is
feast of a BBQ and the first log of the season in the daunting if you’ve got to cover it yourself all alone with
cottage. Sitting around the fire with notebooks in hand, huge iris beds that take hours to cover properly just by
sightings being called out, a game of Wingspan on the themselves. My favourite finds on North Ronaldsay last
go and the occasional clattering sound of fledgling autumn were Eyebrowed Thrush, Semipalmated
Manxies learning to fly in the pitch-black outside, it was Plover, Turkestan Shrike and Lanceolated Warbler.
clear that the special bird observatory atmosphere was Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, White’s Thrush and Buff-
back again. I really hope it can return again in 2021 for bellied Pipit were the best out of many amazing
others to enjoy. vagrants I saw too. I cannot recommend North
Ronaldsay enough to someone with a passion about
DANTE SHEPHERD – NORTH birds, especially those interested in migration and
RONALDSAY ASSISTANT WARDEN vagrants. Forget the birds you’ll have a great time on
the island anyway it is a very magical place.
After spending my first season at North Ronaldsay in
the autumn of 2019 I was meant to go back in the GEORGE DUNBAR – BARDSEY
following spring. However due to the first coronavirus ASSISTANT WARDEN
lockdown I had to wait in a pretty birdless London until
early July when Covid-19 restrictions had eased enough I first visited Bardsey back in 2015 on a Next Generation
to eventually go up. Birder’s (NGB) week and returned in 2016 and 2017 on
similar NGB weeks. These really are brilliant weeks, and
I would highly recommend them to any young person
who hasn’t yet been on one. In 2018, I returned to the
Observatory to volunteer for three weeks at the end of
August, into early-September. In 2019 I was accepted as
one of the autumn Interns at the Observatory - this
started at the beginning of August and I left with the
staff at the end of the season on 3 November.

While I was on the island in 2019, I had an interview for
the vacant Assistant Warden’s position in 2020 as Lewis
Hooper wasn’t returning for 2020. I was successful in
this interview and was elated with my appointment
and returned to the island on 18 March with the other
Observatory Staff for the beginning of the 2020 season.

The face of someone who has just found Eye-browed Thrush This really was an unprecedented year, for us all, and I’m
sure I can speak for everyone on the island this year in
saying that we felt extremely privileged to be there.
Lockdown happened five days after our return, and we
rapidly began to feel very grateful to have made it to the
island, and to be able to go wherever we wanted on our
piece of rock in the Irish Sea. However, the flipside was
that there was a part of me that felt very torn about
going to the island and leaving my family in the
uncertain times back on the Mainland; I grew confident
that this was the best decision though, as I was safest

Bird Observatories Council – January 2021 - www.birdobscouncil.org.uk P a g e 86

on the island, and they preferred for me to be there to out to sea which quickly banked and landed in front of
‘wait out the storm’. me right on the southern tip – it was a Shorelark.
Shorelarks are scarce on Bardsey so I quickly radioed it
Working at the Observatory really isn’t just a job, it out, the bird quickly headed north along the coast and
becomes your entire life for the nine months that you Steve and Sam thankfully caught up with it at the South
are there and continuing to help with report writing End gate. Once the Oystercatcher survey was finished,
during the winter too. The staff become almost a I headed back to the Observatory to make tea, while in
second family to you, you live and breathe Observatory the kitchen I heard an Accrocephalus warbler singing
work, working long hours, seven days a week, for long in the garden which turned out to be a Blyth’s Reed
periods with little time off. However, it is incredibly Warbler!! . It also quickly left the garden and headed
rewarding work, and as cliché as it sounds, you really do North, presumably headed towards Carreg Bach.
get out what you put in. As well as undertaking part of
the daily census, and ringing I had a number of projects The autumn saw a mega in the form of an Eastern
to undertake for the Welsh Government’s Countryside Yellow Wagtail, it was perhaps expected, with their
agency, Natural Resources Wales (NRW); these increasing occurrence in Britain, but it brought some
included a full breeding bird survey of the island, excitement, nonetheless and was a good comparison
mapping the territories of every breeding bird on the having seen a Citrine Wagtail which was present on
island, calculating the productivity from a sample of Solfach for over a week earlier in the autumn. It was also
shearwater burrows and monitoring growth rates a good year for scarce breeders on the island with
(where I visited the burrows every week from hatching Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Goldfinches, Song
to fledging. I was also responsible for running the Thrushes and Great Tits enjoying their highest ever
Observatory’s moth traps, monitoring Risso’s Dolphins breeding numbers.
(which we had great views of on an almost daily basis
throughout the summer from the front of the Obs!), Ringing this year was incredibly successful with a total
and generally helping with keeping the Lodge running of 5189 new birds of 81 species being caught and ringed,
with tasks such as cleaning and decorating etc … the list a very respectable total for recent times, and a good
goes on! amount of diversity in there too, starting with Barn Owl
only minutes after we stepped off the boat, and species
Then when all the fieldwork is finished we all have to like Jack Snipe, Firecrest, Yellow-browed Warblers,
crack on with entering ringing data on to DemOn, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlins etc.
entering your census data into log every night, and I also trapped a Marsh Warbler in the withies in October
then towards the end of the season it’s time to start and we ringed lots of Seabirds including Kittiwakes and
writing sections for the Observatories report ‘Bardsey’s Shags, Guillemots and Razorbills.
Wildlife’. You just have to remember to find time to
check in with yourself, amongst your busy schedule. All in all, a great year hiding away from Covid!
Bardsey is one of my favourite places and it really does
now feel like a second home to me, it comes with its
challenges, but where doesn’t?

The year was a good one, we had comparatively good
numbers of common migrants for recent times, and a
few scarcities to keep us going, too. I had a bit of a
purple patch in late spring and found a good number
of good birds. In late-May I had a few good days in
particular: On 29th I got up in the morning and there
was a Greenish Warbler singing in the garden at Cristin,
it was caught and ringed soon afterwards. I then
headed up to Nant to see if there was anything about
and also to call my mum as there’s phone signal up
there – after about ten minutes on the phone I noticed
a family of Stonechats mobbing something on the
fence-line about thirty metres away, I lifted my
binoculars and quickly realised it was a Woodchat
Shrike, brilliant! We spent the rest of the day watching
the bird in Mediterranean-like heat.

The following day was good too, I headed out on an George with a Manx Shearwater chick
Oystercatcher survey to the South End when I heard an
oddly-familiar call overhead, I picked up a lark heading

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Risso’s Dolphin off Bardsey – © Jeff Wargg

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Kevin Francis Woodbridge (1948 – 2020)

By Mike Archer, Alison Woodbridge & Steven Kevin and Alison on Bardsey – © Steve Stansfield
Stansfield
Intent on practising medicine in a natural environment, a memorial fund contributing significantly to future
Kevin Woodbridge went on to found the North developments. But despite these setbacks, the project
Ronaldsay Bird Observatory, Orkney, insisting on the was seen through to completion by Kevin’s patience
highest standards for recording and record-keeping, and determination. It was a long and tortuous journey
whilst bringing foresight, visitors and much-needed from accreditation in January 1987 to Chris Mead’s
employment to the island, affectionately known as formal opening ceremony in June 1995. The present,
‘North Ron’. Kevin also chaired the Bird Observatories purpose-built, low energy buildings at Twingness with
Council for many years, steering the observatories into sweeping views over the Firth to Sanday have delighted
the digital age. He died on 19th April 2020 after a short its many visitors, as has the hospitality, the cuisine in
and unexpected illness. general and the speciality mutton in particular, beach-
Kevin was born in London in 1948, to a research raised on local seaweed. Open all year round, nearly a
physicist father who worked on radar during the war. thousand folk stay annually, in one of the seven rooms
He was schooled at the Royal Grammar in High or the 10-bedded hostel accommodation, fulfilling
Wycombe, an early interest in natural history leading more of Kevin’s vision for the island and employment.
him to pond-dipping and fishing, cycling out with the One of the early visitors was Alison Duncan, who stayed
family dog on his back in a rucksack. But it was on on, becoming observatory warden a year later, in 1988.
Bardsey that his interest in birds developed. There he Kevin and Alison duly married and she has continued as
met the warden, George Evans, a formative influence, warden and custodian of Kevin’s ideals throughout.
saw a Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla in the hand, was Fully appreciating the great advantage of digitisation in
marooned by bad weather, missed Freshers’ Week and analysing data, Kevin’s approach was to enable the
came close to running out of food! After taking an MB daily records to be saved to the computer during call
ChB at Manchester University and working long hours over, procedures being refined as technology
(120 a week) in subsequent hospital training, he improved. Records were also digitised back to the first
decided on a change of path. The first step, in 1976, days, so giving the lead to our other observatories.
involved a summer job as Little Tern Warden at Kevin was elected chair at the Bird Observatories
Gibraltar Point for £5 a week, where he underwent Council AGM in 1994. Subsequent minutes reflected his
ringing training with Dick Lambert, quickly gaining his continuing concern with standardised written
C permit. His father’s influence to the fore, he pioneered recording protocols, computerisation of both todays’
the use of an electric fence to keep foxes out of the and historic records and their submission to BTO
colony. After the terns (Sternula albifrons) went south, BirdTrack. Bardsey was the first to upload their entire
he headed north for general practice training in the digitised dataset, and many others have followed,
Outer Hebrides, from where a lucky tip-off saw him reflecting the BOC’s strong association with the BTO,
bound for interview on North Ronaldsay. which Kevin was always keen to foster.
The job was offered, the die cast and he started six Softly spoken, well-known but not always known well,
weeks later, in February 1977, remaining the island’s GP Kevin’s concerns for the island, its islanders and its
until 2011, with the care of 100 islanders. Orkney matters visitors were clear. But equally important was his
became a way of life. He served on the North Ronaldsay encouragement of the youngsters who came to work
Community Council and latterly a councillor for the or volunteer for a spell at somewhere as magical as an
North Isles Ward of Orkney Islands Council and he also island observatory in the far north, two of whom have
served as Clerk of the Sheep Court and auxiliary commented:
coastguard, and with the local fire team. Kevin is survived by his wife Alison and their children
Seeing an opportunity to improve employment in the Heather and Gavin, and by his first wife Heinke Groth
island, Kevin suggested developing a small-volume, and their children Meike, Spike and Luke.
high-value, mist-net-making industry, as successor to
Gundry, Knox Nets and the Japanese nets. This obituary for Kevin Woodbridge also appears in British Birds.
Enthusiastically taken up by the BTO, Chris Mead and
Adrian Cawthorne visited in 1981 to train the islanders in
net-making. Thanks to Kevin’s foresight there can’t be
many British ringers who haven’t used at least one of
the 27,000 made there since.
Rarities were found in his early years and duly appeared
in the British Birds Rare Birds Reports. So, the migration
potential justified an observatory, as did the need for
more visitors. This ‘potential’ renews itself each year and
produced a ‘first’ for the Western Palearctic, the Red-
winged Blackbird in 2017. By 1984, Kevin and Adrian
were to develop the idea together, Kevin locally and
Adrian with the BTO. Sadly, Adrian died in early 1985,

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Peter J Dunn 1955 - 2020 During this period, he ringed some incredibly rare birds
including Yorkshire’s first Collared Flycatcher in 1985
By T. Ian Corbett and who can forget that magical period in October 1994
Pete was one of the original thirteen members of Filey when, on successive days, he ringed Yorkshire’s second
Brigg Ornithological Group as it was known back then Pechora Pipit and the County’s first Lanceolated
in 1977 when it was formed. However, his association Warbler. However, he will probably be best
with Filey started long before that. Reminiscing in the remembered (rather ironically!} for the trapping of
2006 Report, he said that his first trip to Filey Brigg on Britain’s first Spectacled Warbler in 1992 and then, in
1st November 1970 had left him feeling that “he knew the midst of the ensuing excitement, forgetting to
that Filey was a magical place to visit.” (No wonder, he’d actually put a ring on the bird! True to the man he was,
just had, in his own words, “excellent” views of Velvet Pete saw the funny side of the whole escapade, despite
Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Grey Phalarope!) the inevitable leg pulling that followed.
It was no surprise therefore, that when the opportunity He also took with good humour another ironic moment
came to move from York to Scarborough with his job in associated with ringing in his beloved Country Park,
the Police Force, he readily took it and even ended up when he was actually informed by phone that one of his
with Filey as part of the area he had to patrol! dream Filey birds, a Red-flanked Bluetail, had been
Pete was an active field worker in those early days and trapped, ringed and photographed during the 2019
in the first year of the Group’s formation, he personally October Ringing Week. Where was Pete when all this
added Long-tailed Skua, Black Guillemot and Roseate was happening? He was actually several thousand
Tern to the embryonic FBOG list. miles away in Brazil leading a tour for Naturetrek!
His contribution to the development of the Group In 1998, Pete was instrumental in the preparation of a
wasn’t just limited to his field work however, and in 1980 successful application for FBOG to become an
he took over the position of Recorder from Andy accredited Bird Observatory. This must rank as one of
Patterson and held the post throughout the decade his most significant contributions to the Group’s
and again, briefly, at a later date. During this time Pete development and one which gave him a great deal of
began the process of expanding the recording area, personal satisfaction, judging by his comments in the
something that continued gradually over the years and 2006 Report. Having achieved “his dream for Filey”, he
also laid the foundations for a more modern recording took the conscious decision to take a back seat in
system that could cope with the year on year increase FBOG’s involvement, instead, handing over, as he said,
in the number of submitted records. to “the new order”. As a founder member and lately
Pete had always had an interest in ringing and after Chairman, he could now look back with a great deal of
completing his training, he started organising the satisfaction on how he had played a major part in
activity at Filey, Mist nets soon became a familiar sight helping FBOG evolve from its humble beginnings with
in the Top Scrub of the Country Park as the annual just a handful of birders to a now fully accredited Bird
number of birds ringed steadily increased. Pete held Observatory.
the position of Ringing Officer for 33 years and during Pete’s contribution to FBOG was immense and for this
that time he expanded and developed the whole he was rightly recognised in the 2018 Report with
concept of ringing within the Group. The now familiar Honorary Life Membership. A fitting tribute to someone
October Ringing Week was started in 1986 as one of his who will greatly missed!
initiatives and his introduction of Storm Petrel ringing
down on the Brigg in 1990 transformed the records of
this hither-to illusive species at Filey.

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