Chris & Kay birds ringed on Landsort w/e 23rd April 2017

A very quiet week for birds, with fewer than 10 per day for the first six days (including a zero bird day on the 22nd) with only today producing double figures, with 20 caught.

Spring migration is getting off to a faltering start though a few Wheatear have been seen in the last few days and three Black Redstart were present in the south of the island this morning, including a singing male.

We'll hope for better next week, but at the moment April is proving to be well below the average for the last 29 years.

Species	w/e 23rd April  2017
	As at 16th	Kay	Chris	Total
Black Redstart	1			1
Blackbird	19			19
Blue Tit	4	2	1	7
Bullfinch	2		1	3
Chaffinch	22	4	2	28
Chiffchaff	7	1		8
Common Redpoll	2			2
Dunnock	19	1		20
Fieldfare			1	1
Firecrest	1			1
Goldcrest	30		2	32
Goldfinch	1			1
Great Grey Shrike	1			1
Great Tit	5			5
Greenfinch	4	1	2	7
Linnet	4	1	1	6
Long-tailed Tit	8			8
Redwing	8			8
Reed Bunting	3			3
Robin	104	7	3	114
Song Thrush	10	6	1	17
Treecreeper		1		1
Twite	1			1
White Wagtail		2	1	3
Wren	13	3	1	17
Yellowhammer	8	7	1	16
Total	277	36	17	330

Easter Pictures

Spring flowers

Female Firecrest

Happy Easter!

Interesting Easter weather

Sunrise after the snow

Waiting for the tide?

Birds ringed on Landsort by Chris & Kay w/e 16th April 2017

Not a lot to report on this week. There have been very few birds on the island as cold north to north-east winds have been blowing most of the week. This wind direction, along with weather patterns further south have combined to delay a lot of the spring migrants. It needs a change some time soon, but locally the wind looks to remain from the northern quarter for a few more days. Temperatures have not risen much above 0 degrees most days and have started off as low as minus 4, with wind-chill reducing it further. Snow on Good Friday gave a white overcoat to the island on Saturday morning which in bright sunshine looked splendid.

 

Pelle, has been out for a few days doing some ringing, so the table below showing the totals for Chris & Kay are only from the first four days of the week.

 

 

Species	w/e 16th April  2017
	As at 9th	Kay	Chris	Total
Black Redstart	1			1
Blackbird	18	1		19
Blue Tit	3			3
Bullfinch	2			2
Chaffinch	18	3	1	22
Chiffchaff	2	2	3	7
Common Redpoll	2			2
Dunnock	15	3	1	19
Firecrest	1			1
Goldcrest	27	1	2	30
Goldfinch	1			1
Great Grey Shrike	1			1
Great Tit	4		1	5
Greenfinch	3	1		4
Linnet	2	2		4
Long-tailed Tit	3		5	8
Redwing			8	8
Reed Bunting		3		3
Robin	79	10	15	104
Song Thrush	1	4	5	10
Twite		1		1
Wren	7	2	4	13
Yellowhammer	4	2	2	8
Total	194	35	47	276

Summary of birds caught on Landsort - Chris & Kay w/e 9th April 2017

Our first full week completed, with a decent variety of birds ringed, including the 26th Black Redstart for the Observatory and, today, the 6th Firecrest. A satisfying week of settling back into island life, meeting old friends, starting with guided talks and getting up to date with some of the routine maintenance needed to keep the Observatory going.

Species	w/e 9th April  2017
	As at 2nd	Kay	Chris	Total
Black Redstart			1	1
Blackbird	1	12	5	18
Blue Tit		1	2	3
Bullfinch		2		2
Chaffinch		15	3	18
Chiffchaff		1	1	2
Common Redpoll		2		2
Dunnock	1	12	2	15
Firecrest		1		1
Goldcrest		21	6	27
Goldfinch			1	1
Great Grey Shrike		1		1
Great Tit		2	2	4
Greenfinch		2	1	3
Linnet		2		2
Long-tailed Tit		3		3
Robin	3	40	36	79
Song Thrush			1	1
Wren		5	2	7
Yellowhammer		4		4
Total	5	126	63	194