Early Autumn Migration Round-up

Top (left) Wryneck, Top (right) Treecreeper (both David Steel)

Middle (left) Common Rosefinch, Middle (right) Radde’s Warbler (James Silvey)

Bottom (left) Yellow-browed Warbler, Bottom (right) Hen Harrier (David Steel)

Monday 21st November comments: By late-June day visitors and visitors to the bird observatory ceased due to HPAI guidance and this remained the case until late-August, bird sightings from those allowed to remain on the island were slim pickings, typical of late summer.

However the highlights during the first two week of September included four Common Rosefinches (two trapped and ringed), Icterine Warbler on 4^th and the islands first Wryneck since 2016 from 3^rd-6^th September (so long overdue!). The best bird during this spell proved to be a Greenish Warbler present in the Top Trap on 3^rd September (21^st record for the island) although a male Bluethroat trapped and ringed on 11^th September was the first autumn record in nine years.

Large raptor migration occurred mid-month with a Honey Buzzard south on 13^th followed by a Marsh Harrier on 14^th September whilst the same day produced a Barn Owl (a scarce island visitor) in the bushes near the Bird Observatory which was seen on four subsequent days. Wader passage produced the typical spread of common waders with noticeable records including two Curlew Sandpipers south on 13^th September (the first island records since 1998!) whilst a Black-tailed Godwit flew south the same day.   

Seawatching has increased in recent seasons and it came as no surprise that rarer seabirds were noted on passage. The North Sea had witnessed an influx of large shearwaters in late August/early September and on the morning of 17^th September a Cory’s Shearwater was picked out flying north at 09:06 and just 25 minutes later an even closer Great Shearwater was seen heading in the same direction (the double!) The same seawatchers then had double delight the following morning as two Great Shearwaters seen flying north at 07:43 and 09:56, to complete a memorable 24 hours especially considering that these were 5^th island record of Cory’s and 5^th-7^th for Great. Later in the month another Great Shearwater was recorded flying north on 26^th September whilst a juvenile Sabine’s Gull in a mixed feeding flock of Kittiwakes and Little Gulls on 2^nd October was the 17^th island record (involving 18 birds).

The month finished like it had started with a flurry of birds including a lingering Yellow-browed Warbler, two Treecreepers and a scattering of migrants including the autumns first Woodcock and Jack Snipe. The pick of the bunch was a Radde’s Warbler discovered in the Top Trap on 29^th September before being trapped and ringed. The bird was only present for the day but represented the 12^th for the island although fourth in last four years.

So the action packed autumn had produced but then there was a small matter of October and November to follow… more soon.

Spring bird migration review

Rustic Bunting (left Chris Cachia-zammit) (right Andy Williams)

Bluethroat (right David Steel), Hawfinch (left David Steel)

Ring-necked Parakeet (left) Icterine Warbler (top), red-backed Shrike (bottom) all David Steel

Friday 18^th November comments: Spring migration was generally quiet through the Isle of May as weather patterns from early April followed those of the previous spring, with cool northerly airflows dominating. This resulted in a disappointingly slow migration for many common birds and this trend continued throughout most of the spring. Overall most common migrants appeared in low numbers and some even failed to appear at all, including Grasshopper Warbler.

April was generally quiet with the typical arrival of the first summer migrants of the year although a male Hawfinch was found on the Fluke Street bird table and remained for two days on 13^th-14^th. Although this was the 15^th island record, it was the eighth in the last six years and a trend mirrored at other east coast migration stations in recent years. The month of May is the month in the spring migration calendar, but like all migration, it relies on the right weather. After a mundane opening two weeks with the only highlight being a heavily moulting Hooded Crow for two days, the island eventually witnessed an easterly airflow which started mid-Month and did not disappoint. The start of this purple patch saw an adult Honey Buzzard drift west, only the 11^th island record and first spring bird since 1993. A few days later the jackpot came with good numbers of common migrants with a stonking male Rustic Bunting the highlight, discovered near the water tank bushes at the low light. The bird was the 15^th island record (involving 18 individuals) and comes hot on the heels of the previous bird seen on 21^st-22^nd May 2021. The other noteworthy bird during this spell was a female Bluethroat favouring a gully near Altarstanes, on 16^th May.

However the excitement of this spell of easterly winds was short lived, the weather patterns returned to a more westerly dominated flow and quieter times. Arguably, the most bizarre event of the avian year occurred in late May though, as an adult Ring-necked Parakeet was discovered coming in-off the sea on 21^st. The bird was still present the next day but was discovered sitting on a wall at Fluke Street and took a liking to being hand-fed grapes, eventually preferring to sit on the shoulders of the bemused residents on the island, pirate style! As later discovered, the bird had escaped from captivity from Glenrothes and was soon reunited with its rightful owner, ending a very bemusing and bizarre record for the Island.

As early June arrived, it appeared the end of spring passage was in sight and that the island had experienced another slow spring. However, you can never underestimate or write off the Isle of May, and early June provided a final spring in the tail. Winds switched to the south-east on the 8^th and a small flurry of migrants arrived late that day. A fine Icterine Warbler found the Top trap and soon after a belting male Bluethroat was at the base of the main lighthouse. The following day provided arguably the best birding day of the spring as the male Bluethroat was still present but was singing from nearby Elder bushes. Whilst this spectacle drew the crowds, the Icterine Warbler was present for a second day, a female Red-backed Shrike was found by the Low Light and a Cuckoo flew north. It proved to be the last hurrah of the spring, but was certainly well enjoyed by those present. The rest of June fell into a typical mid-summer slumber with a Quail on 5^th July the only noteworthy species during the seabird breeding season.

The spring was over and generally disappointing but there was all to play for as autumn approached…   

Migration through the May

Thursday 17^th November comments: Bird migration is a wondrous thing and the Isle of May is one of the best places to witness it in the UK. The island sits six miles out in the North Sea and thousands of birds utilise the place over the course of the year. Birds migrating in and out of the country, whether they are heading north or south use the island as a service station to refuel and rest before moving on. With the general lack of predators, especially ground predators, tired migrants can rest and feed without too much hassle.

As part of this the island is ideally situated to welcome short-distant migrants but as a prominent island, we have had some really rare birds over the course of time and the bird observatory on the island was founded back in 1934 to study such movements and arrivals. This year has been no different as it is been a good year overall with a total of 175 species recorded, the fourth highest annual total and just five short of the record of 180 set in 2016.

As with any year, the weather patterns are significant as if it is good (easterly winds during the spring and autumn periods) then the number and variety of birds can be interesting and significant. However the opposite is said if we are dominated by westerly winds, as very few birds turn up (it’s not as simple as that but you get the idea). This year we witnessed both as the spring was poor but in complete contrast to autumn which was epic. Over the next few days we’ll look at the highlights of the season and pick out some of the very best which turned up on the Isle of May during 2022 so stay tuned. 

Bird Obs closes for the winter

Photos from David Steel, Ciaran Hatsell and Bex Outram

Tuesday 15^th November comments: It that time of year when the Isle of May starts closing down and we will leave the island to sleep in its winter slumber. On Saturday it was the turn of the bird observatory to close its doors as another season drew to a close.  

The Isle of May is home to Scotland’s oldest bird observatory having been founded in 1934 and is administered by a charitable trust (The Isle of May Bird Observatory and Field Station Trust). During the year it is manned by visiting volunteer observers between March and November having been founded by a group of young Scottish ornithologist. The bird observatory continues to depend on the enthusiasm of amateurs who come to the island, usually for a week at a time, to maintain observations. The accommodation, for up to six people is housed within the Low Light, a former navigational lighthouse. It can be booked, at a modest cost, by anyone who is willing to contribute to recording the birds and wildlife of the island.

This year the observatory opened its doors on 1^st April and since then residents have helped ring thousands of birds and recorded 175 different bird species for the year (4^th highest annual total). This was despite closing its doors for a six week period in July-August due to the presence of avian influenza in the seabird populations. Despite this, it’s been another hugely successful year as the observatory plays a big part in the island as its active members are an important aspect of the island community and we enjoy working and socialising alongside them.

A lot of hard work goes in behind the scenes by the Observatory trust to keep the place ticking along from trap repair work to building new Heligoland traps; it’s always busy regardless of the time of year. As usual, we thank everyone who has made it another enjoyable year full of great birds and good company. The Isle of May is very much back on the birding map and we hope everyone enjoys their winter break because we’ll be starting all over again next April. Bring it on.

For further information on the bird observatory, you can check out the Trust’s website link https://isleofmaybirdobs.org/ 

Seal change

How the island looked viewing from the visitor centre in mid-September…

And how it looks in early November…

Monday 14^th November comments: The Isle of May Grey Seal colonies have certainly changed as it was little over six weeks ago that the first pups were being born and now the island is littered with them. The latest counts indicate over 1,000 pups have now been born and you can see the contrast in these photos, as those on the left were taken in mid-September and those on the right in early November.

As you can see the island has changed considerably from a seabird island to a Grey Seal island and as a result the jetties are closed to the visiting public to reduce disturbance at this crucial time of year. The seal season will go on until mid-December as over 2,000 pups will be born and there will be a lot of action between now and then. Large numbers of pups are being born daily but also bull seals are starting to arrive. We also have some pups leaving, as they have reached the independent age of 21 days (yes just 21 days old!) but more on that in another blog soon.

So there is the Isle of May at present, a heaving mass of seals and we’ll bring you more stories throughout the next month or so. It’s also been another interesting spell of bird migration which we’ll highlight very soon. It’s all go and you can never take your eyes off this place.  

Onwards

Friday 11^th November comments: Today things have been returning to normal on the Isle of May, well as normal as can be as I’m not sure too many people have Grey Seals and their pups moving in as neighbours and migrant birds galore arriving in their back gardens. Anyway after the turbulent day of yesterday, things have started to settle and life has continued on the seal colonies.

The cow Grey Seal which had brought its pup up to the accommodation building (reported on Wednesdays blog), eventually started heading down the road. To show just how relaxed the animals were around us, the mother stopped halfway down, rolled over and offered a tasty milk meal to its pup which it gladly accepted.

It’s a crazy world out here from start to finish as living amongst such amazing wildlife is both a privilege and an honour. The Isle of May is one very special place and if you have not already started to think about it, fancy visiting next season? We open our doors from 1^st April and time will fly…

Brutal

Mother Grey Seals blocking pups to stop the North Sea from claiming them

Mother Grey Seal pinning her pup in

Pups n serious trouble in the turbulent North Sea

Mother looking for her pup and the beach being hammered by the sea

Thursday 10^th November comments: Brutal. Nature can be brutal sometimes and today was one of those days. Having had a peaceful autumn so far, the westerly wind cranked up and by mid-afternoon the gusts reached gale force and the heavy seas were battering the island. It’s never a good time to have a gale of wind as the small coves and shallow beaches on the west side of the island are prone to big waves and seas and are full of seal pups…

Sure enough with the onset of high tide, pups were been dragged in and tossed about the North Sea like ragdolls although it wasn’t all bad news. Some cow seals were pinning their pups in against the beaches to protect them (as you can see in the photos above) whilst others were moving them as far as possible up the island from the savage North Sea.

Without doubt we will have lost pups today off the west side nurseries but if we are looking for some comfort, the vast majority of the Isle of May colonies are safe, well protected and doing well. The small west lying beaches took the brunt today but this is nature, this is how populations are kept in balance and as mentioned, huge numbers of young are safe and sound.

Nosy Neighbours

Wednesday 9^th November comments: Someone once said; never work with wildlife. For all that we love our jobs on the Isle of May, there is always something new and surprising to learn even after all these years. NatureScot National Nature Reserve staff live on the island from mid-March to mid-November and we have the delight of seeing and watching some fabulous wildlife during that time. We also have close encounters which will last a life time. However today was maybe a step too far…

Fluke Street are former lighthouse keepers cottages which are now home to island staff. During the summer months up to 18 people can live here, working on all aspects of the reserve. These are the buildings…

This morning having completed an early morning round of the island we returned to the accommodation block and to our surprise we found this…

Yes an adult cow seal with her pup! In all honesty, it wasn’t the best place to be as the area they were lounging is the main entrance to the house, store rooms and workshop! The mother had not given birth here as she was at the visitor centre the previous few days which is 200m down the track. However overnight the pup and mum had wriggled up and had decided to take a rest in this most inconvenient of spots! Credit to the animals, the island belongs to them as it’s the main seal pupping season but maybe this was a step too far. Thankfully after an hour or so, the pair decided that Fluke Street wasn’t to their liking and have started moving back down, thankfully!

Perfect Pallas’s

Seven stripe wonder (Jack Ibbotson)

winter wonderland (Ciaran Hatsell)

Just worth another photo (David Steel)

Tuesday 8^th November comments: When it comes to late autumn migration nothing can really beat the arrival of a stunning Pallas’s Warbler. These stripy waifs have travelled all the way from Siberia and when they arrive, they light up any day!

With vegetation on the island dyeing back and leaves falling to the ground, the cold dormant season is upon us. But then amongst the nettle stems a bright yellow and white bird full of stripes shows…it is indeed a Pallas’s Warbler. This individual (pictured above) arrived yesterday and was the third of the year with two in mid-October. With other recent records in November 2021 and 2019, it would appear a regular visitor…but no.,,the 2019 individual was the first on the island in 19 years and yesterday’s bird was only the 13^th ever for the Isle of May.

Regardless of its status, you’ll agree its’ an impressive looking bird, with stripes and everything and was well enjoyed by all those present. The bird was still present today and feeding well and we hope it can continue its journey on.

In-off!

Monday 7^th November comments: Bird migration is amazing. Today we’ve had yet more birds on the move through the island as over 2,000 Fieldfare were counted immigrating into the U.K. These large Scandinavian thrushes are leaving the far north behind as they escape the cold conditions to head to the U.K. to over-winter before returning next spring.

From first light this morning, small flocks were seen arriving in-off the North Sea, crossing the island and continuing on their journey towards the British mainland. It’s an amazing sight as these birds have crossed the 400 miles of North Sea and battle on regardless of weather as they head onwards. Some birds will stop briefly to refuel or rest but the majority move over and the flocks are counted giving us our overall day count.

It’s the first real arrival of Fieldfare over the island this autumn and it’s great to see. Plenty more will travel over the next few weeks and the wonders of migration never cease. This same arrival also brought in plenty of Woodcock, with the star of the show a Pallas’s Warbler; our third this autumn, all the way from Siberia. The Isle of May never disappoints.