10th-16th July

A late report from last week of 2 Siskin in Barrackmasters Lane on the 9th.

The week has seen a steady increase in Black headed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls. Swallows are fledging from bunkers across the island and one of the pairs of Stonechats we are monitoring are rearing thier 3rd clutch ! Our passerine ringing sessions are beginning to provide us with evidence that our songbirds have so far had a good breeding season. With no historical data available, we can now begin to form comparisons against our first year and start to form ideas on how common or otherwise our local and garden birds are. I am delighted to report that our songbirds are having a very good year, in particular we are seeing good numbers of fledged Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Great Tits and Chiffchaffs. Last year was surprisingly good for Song Thrushes, this year is equal to it. While young Blue Tits were thin on the ground last year we are already well ahead of last years total. Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds are all holding their own. At the end of the season our first year to year comparisons will be available, and a more accurate status of many of our breeding birds better established. No sign of the Fan-tailed Warblers at Longis or at Telegraph.

10th, A third calendar yr Yellow Legged Gull and Crabby Bay. Also a Swift over Barrackmasters Lane.

11th, 7 Mediterranean Gulls Corbletts Bay

12th, A single Swift over Longis common.

14th, At first light a Bull seal was close in to shore at high tide in Longis bay observed from the Obs ringing room.A young Cuckoo showed well sitting on a footpath sign post for a bus load of tourists at Giffione. Today another chance to fit the rest of the Geo-tags to adult Gannets. Though conditions appeared favourable on a sunny day with low winds and a calm sea, the swell around Ortac was far from ideal. Our advanced party chanced a landing and just got on the rock before conditions got even worse. About an hour later we managed to get one more researcher landed. The tagging team got the job done and a further 50 chicks were ringed. We’ve not been very fortunate with conditions for seabird ringing teams this year, just the Storm Petrels to go now, we are due a break…

15th – An adult Yellow Legged Gull in Crabby Bay. North-West and West winds warranted a Sea watch producing; 11 Common Scoters, 3 Kittiwakes, 1 Manx Shearwater, 24 Balearic Shearwater and 4 Mediterranean Gull.

16th – 3 Balearic Shearwaters from Mannez lighthouse.

This chap was in the Obs garden this morning ! I only saw one of these magnificent creatures last year and was delighted to come across another. They are a good indicator of a diverse local ecosystem and flourishing natural habitat.