14 Mar 18

The Bill

A change in wind direction and a drop in temperature and not a single Spring migrant found apart from 2 Chiffchaffs which have been in the Obs garden and Culverwell for a few days now. All the Wheatears have moved inland and its just a case now of waiting for the snow forecast for the weekend to pass and hopefully a change back to milder conditions next week.

Apart from the 2 Chiffchaffs mentioned above, the only other real highlight was watching a pair of Peregrines fly out to sea just off from the Obelisk, gaining height and then drop down to ground level across the scrubland and then onto the Estate Fields at speeds in excess of 100mph. Didn't those Wood Pigeons get a fright!!!

Here are a few images from today:

Looking across stormy waters towards The Bill

One of the 2 Ravens at The Bill today.

Three Oystercatchers make their way along the coast.

A Shag.....

....in full breeding plumage.

He's looking a bit pensive....

....he was right to be as these 2 Great Black-backed Gulls landed next to him. A few seconds later he flew off.

A Fulmar under the west Cliff.

It was almost at eye level with me.

As I made my way up the track on the west cliff......

.....a female Pheasant ran out in front of me. I've not seen them this far south on the island. In fact talking to Martin Cade the warden at PBO there were 8 in the quarry by the lighthouse early this morning. How bizarre!!
The highlight of the walk a pair of Peregrines making their way out to sea before.....

....gaining height and then.......

....diving at high speed across the scrubland..........

.....and then over the Crown Estate Fields

A slo-mo of one of the 2 Peregrines over The Bill.

A small flock of Starlings over the fisherman's cottages.

And finally a Kestrel sat ion a post in the Crown Estate Field.

Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, Shag, Cormorant, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, 2 Pheasant, 4 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, 50+ Starling, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.