Canna Shearwaters

Had a walk around the western end of Canna with Bob Swann and two of his ringing group mates, Martin Carthy, and Ronnie (?). A brilliant day, if somewhat hot.

The great news is that the old Manx Shearwater colony at The Nunnery, that was completely wiped out when the island was infested with rats, have started to return. We found two occupied burrows, one with a pair present, the other with a single bird which Bob managed to extract for me to ring. This is really exciting news, and is the first step towards this colony becoming re-established again. The other thing to note with regard to this colony is that we only walked across the rough slopes at one level, so there could easily be more than the two occupied burrows we found.

Bob also managed to hook a Fulmar, albeit an already-ringed one. He's sure that this bird is quite old, as he can't remember using that ring string for a number of years.

Hopefully Bob will be able to provide original ringing data for the Fulmar, and will send though pictures of my first Manxie. I'll post details on here in due course - now updated!

Other birds of interest where a number of other nests of seabirds recorded, including Shag, Fulmar, Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull, and Oystercatcher.

Also of note, on the northern side of the island at Garrisdale was a single Whitethroat singing, and a single Spotted Flycatcher.

French Ringed Sedge Warbler

A bit of ringing before work this morning brought in three Sedge Warblers in 'The Bog' behind the school on Canna.

One was a new bird, another I ringed last night, so was a next-day retrap. The final bird was wearing a French ring - Number 6786576 - Museum Paris.

Sedge Warblers

At least 5 pairs of Sedge Warblers in the boggy ground behind the school on Canna tonight.

Put up a 18m net through the sedge, and caught a single bird

First of the season for me, so very pleased to get one here on this remote isle!

Also had a male Hen Harrier do a fly past, and 2 drumming Snipe overhead.

Nests on Canna

Wheatear chick

A quick check of nest sites today on Canna revealled a good mix of gulls, waders, and passerines:

Nests so far:

Common Gull: 4
Herring Gull: 6
Great Black-backed Gull: 1
Oystercatcher: 4
Chaffinch: 1
Robin: 1
Great Tit: 1
Wheater: 1 (5 chicks ringed in the nest today)

Busy day on Canna

The day started with the arrival of the Ocean Nova. Lots of people around on Canna, some of whom were into birds. Had a good chat with many of them about sea eagles, buzzards, waders, skuas, shearwaters, and the like.

This afternoon heard a Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap singing in the garden at Canna House. Also met Geoff Sample, who's here on the island with a team looking into a music project involving bird song. Very nice to meet their team.

On the way home, spotted a Whooper Swan out in Canna Harbour.

Would have liked to have put a pic here, but for some reason blogger keeps stopping me putting pics on my blog. Anybody know why?

Seabird nests

Common Gull and Oystercatchers on eggs around Point House on Sanday.

Oystercatcher

Common Gull

Common Dolphins

Had a lovely evening walk out over Sanday with a group of NTS Thistle Camp volunteers today.

A couple of Bonxies guarding heathery knolls, and a mass of Wheatears still on the moor, while on the sea cliffs at Dun Mor the Kittiwakes are now on the nesting ledges along with a few Guillemots. A few Puffins too!

Lots of Gannets diving out in the Sound of Canna, as well as a couple of small rafts of Puffins. Around 18.30 a pod of between 50 and 60 Common Dolphins spent about half an hour feeding at a mackerel shoal, then moved SW through the Sound. Magical!

Canna Chicks

Hoping to ring my first Canna pulli in the next couple of days.

I've got a couple of Song Thrush nests on the go, both on eggs, and a Robin nest with 5 pulli in at the moment. Also a nest box with at least 7 Great Tit pulli in, and a Chaffinch on 3 eggs.

Be nice to have some time to go check out possible Wheatear and Meadow Pipit nests - might do that at the weekend.

On the wildflower front, the Spring Squill is just coming through in one or two places on the island, and Mountain Everlasting is poking through in a few spots too on Sanday.