Birding St Mary's
Island
JULY
2/7/09 Fair 23c Wind SE 8 Mph
Not much on the Wetland apart from a pair of Whinchat, a pair of Mute Swan,
Moorhens, 3 Black Headed Gulls and Swallows hawking for insects.
An adult Roseate Tern was sitting near12 Sandwich Terns and 50+ mixed Gulls
on the Point, my first Roseate of the year here.
St Mary's used to be a great place to see these birds, but numbers have dropped
here in the last few years.
Loads of Swallows and House Martins were over the cut grass in the west field
and Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Skylark an Meadow Pipits all in song.
Some Burnet Moths, Painted Lady, Wall and Large White Butterfly's about today.
25/6/09 Mostly Cloudy 16c Wind ENE 9 Mph
This time of year is always quiet here and I usually spend it
chasing beasties trying to get some photos. But as the Wetland
is vastly overgrown and has been left to rack and ruin. Ive started to
not enjoy my visits here, hence the reduced updates.
I will still be running this site but not updating it as much as I used to.
It's hard trying to make it look interesting when you've seen bugger all.
11/6/09 Partly Cloudy 13c Wind NNW 5 Mph
Not much about bird wise yesterday but thanks to two of the local
birders ( M&N) I got two new moth species for St Mary's
Balsam Carpet ( Xanthorhoe birirviata )
Silver Ground Carpet ( Xanthorhoe montanata )
also a few Wall and Painted Lady Butterfly's about.
It just goes to show St Mary's has more than birds to offer.
8/6/09 Partly Cloudy 14c Wind E 8 Mph
Caught up with the Marsh Warbler here today, it was singing and showing
briefly in the top willows. Just walk down the winding view point track, it was
in the willows at the bottom of the track.
Yesterday I saw my first Manx Shearwater of 2009 along with a steady
trickle of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks,
Also saw my first large Skipper of the year today. Which was nice........
30/5/09 Partly Cloudy 19c Wind SE 12 Mph
A pair of Tufted Ducks, Teal and Mute Swan on the wetland
and a Canada Goose dropped in briefly before the Swan chased it off.
Loads of Hirundines were hawking here too.
The top willows held, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroats, Willow Warbler,
Wren, Blackbirds, Reed Buntings, Linnets, pretty much what you'd
expect on a May morning.
13 drake Eiders near the Lighthouse and a few Sandwich Terns fishing,
but the busy beach wasn't a haven for any waders.
25/5/09 Fair 16c Wind Var 3 Mph
This weekend's visits produced...
2-3 Sedge Warblers
3 Whitethroats
2 Mute Swan
Moorhen
Skylarks
Meadow Pipits
House Sparrows
Swifts
Swallows
Sand Martins
Reed Buntings
Wren
Blackbirds
Magpies
Carrion Crows
Rooks
Jackdaws
Starlings
Wood Pigeons
Sandwich Terns
Black Headed Gulls
Fulmars
GBB Gulls
Herring Gulls
Eiders
Pheasant
House Sparrow.
14/5/09 Partly Cloudy 13c Wind ESE 14 Mph
Update from yesterdays visit which was a wander around the Wetland,
2 Mute Swan, Moorhens and loads of Sand Martins, Swallows and
a year tick of Sedge Warbler here.
The surrounding scrub + willows held.....
Whitethroat 2,(showed very well at times) Wren, Reed Buntings, Blackbirds, Linnets, Magpie
whilst overhead were Rooks, Jackdaws, GBB Gulls, BH Gulls,
more Swallows and a couple of Fulmars.
A few Sandwich Terns were roosting on the rocks, along with the
usual mix of Gull Sp.
It's good to be back..
Reed Bunting M
Whitethroat
11/5/09 Partly Cloudy 11c Wind E 12 Mph
A quick visit early afternoon gave me sightings of
Whitethroat 2 displaying
Reed Buntings
Wren
Blackbirds
Magpie
Meadow Pipits
Skylarks
Linnets
House Sparrows
Rooks
Carrion Crows
Jackdaws
Wood Pigeons
House Martins
Sand Martins
Swifts
Starlings
G BB Gulls
Herring Gulls
Black Headed Gulls
Fulmar
Sandwich Terns
Oystercatchers
Moorhens
Mute Swan 2
Shame my photos didnt come out....
8/5/09 Partly Cloudy 12c Wind W 29 Mph
And so I'm back from outer space.............
A quick visit this morning produced my first Swift of the year,
Whitethroat singing in the top scrub bushes, Swallows,
House Martin, Skylarks and Meadow pipits, Reed Buntings noted.
On the Wetland were a pair of Shelduck, a pair of Mute Swans
2 Herring gulls and Moorhens.
2/5/09 Partly Cloudy 11c Wind WNW 13 Mph
Well my dummy is firmly placed back in my mouth...
Family don't you just love em, parking ticket been paid
and new parking pass coming in a week. Magic!!!
A visit to the Briardene yesterday produced
Blackcap M
Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
Blue Tits
Great Tits
Chafffinches
Wood Pigeons
Blackbirds
Wren
Grey Wagtail
Long Tailed Tits
Song Thrush
Goldfinches
Swallows
Starlings
