Wildlife Sightings 2010

April
March went out like a Lion so a couple of disrupted days at the start of the Easter weekend after that, despite it being cold, the conditions improved and allowed sailings every day.

Seal numbers are high as the spring moult takes place. All the island beaches and some rock ledges have seals hauled out enjoying the sunshine - up to 100 on one beach alone, and one trip at low water on a spring tide was treated to a seal perched some 5m above them!
We have also had some good sightings of our resident porpoise in the sound.

Ramsey Bird Sightings - March/April (Greg Morgan RSPB Warden)
7 pairs of chough confirmed as breeding. An 8th pair was settling down when a 3rd bird intervened and put everyone off! Only 2 pairs of lapwing made it back this year unfortunately, presumably not helped by the cold winter. There are 3 peregrine territories this and a pair of kestrel. 4 pairs of raven are on the verge of fledging young while the whitethroats are only just arriving back.

Highlights included hoopoe (2+3/4), a female yellowhammer on 10/4 (4th record since RSPB records began), snow bunting (21/4 to end month), 5 ring ouzels through April, Cetti's warbler (25/4), bullfinch (16/4), black redstart (7/4), 4 common redstarts in April, barn owl (16/4), grasshopper warbler (23+30/4), green sandpiper (12/4), hooded crow (21/4), jack snipe (24/4), white wagtail (14/4), redpoll (15/4), hobby (24/4), yellow wagtail (21/4), 5 red kites in the period plus a female/juvenile merlin through March and April, joined by a male at times.

First returning dates: wheatear (7/3) plus Greenland race on 3 dates in April, sand martin (19/3), chiffchaff (25/3) swallow and house martin (3/4), blackcap (4/4), willow warbler (7/4), whitethroat (18/4) and swift (22/4)

An otter was seen on the west coast of the island by boat staff on 17/4 and a fresh spraint was found on the harbour steps on 22/4. Grey seal haul outs peaked at 150+.

Wildlife Sighting 2010 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2009 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2008 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2007 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2006 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2005 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2004 - Click Here