Ramsey Island Bird Records 2013

CANADA GOOSE               Confirmed breeder. 2 pairs (1 in 2012). Pairs on Ynys Bery and Carreg Rhosson but no young seen. Recorded between February and June in small numbers. Max 74 south over the island on23^rd September

Pale-bellied Brent Goose      1 north on a seawatch on 13^th October. 2 south on a seawatch on 3^rd November

MALLARD                           Confirmed breeder. 2 pairs (2 in 2012). Recorded in all months except July-September and November. Max 28 roosting on the old Mill Pond on 18^th October.

Teal                                         35 roosting on the central ponds on 25^th August. 5 on 3^rd December

Tufted duck                           1 circling the farmhouse on 14^th July was only the second record for Ramsey (SV)

Common scoter                     17 logged through January and February moving south. First autumn records on 19^th July. Total autumn numbers 205 up to mid November, max 30 on 25^th Oct. 6 on 6^th December were the last records of the year

Red–throated diver               Singles on 5^th October, 4^th and 5^th November and 6^th of December. 2 on 3^rd November

Great northern diver            3 south past hide on 29^th October

Great crested grebe               1 south at sea on 3^rd November (GM). First record for Ramsey

FULMAR                              Confirmed breeder. 227 AOS (284 in 2012) – a second successive year of population decline. Productivity of 0.62 (0.68 in 2012). Present on ledges most of the year with occasional absences in winter. Absent from ledges for moult from 6^th September to 6^th November.

MANX SHEARWATER      Confirmed breeder. Not censused (3835 AOB in 2012). Not recorded on land after 14^th September. Last records at sea were 9 on 3^rd November and 1 on 5^th November. Heard calling over house around the new moon on 2^nd November (as in most other years). 200+ fledglings ringed at usual NE coast study site and the first 3 birds re-trapped, ringed as fledglings on Ramsey in 2010. 20adult birds fitted with geolocators

Sooty shearwater                   5 south on 16^th September in a NW gale. 1 south on 3^rd November

STORM PETREL         Confirmed breeder on Ramsey

Gannet                            See Grassholm systematic list for breeding data. Recorded in all months off Ramsey

Cormorant                   Recorded in small numbers in winter and then again from autumn onwards. No summer records. Usually just offshore or on low tide rocks. Max 6 on 25^th October

SHAG                                Confirmed breeder. Not censused (15 AON in 2012), mainly on the B&C. Recorded in all months. Max 8 on 3^rd November

Little Egret                     1 south on 17^th May and 2 at sea off north end on 10^th October struggling in a gale

Grey heron                     First record of year a single on 26^th May. Recorded in every month thereafter up to the final record on 27^th November. Max 7 on 19^th July.

Osprey                             Single on 1^st April heading SE over Carn Llundain and a single on 30^th September seen by a day visitor and subsequently identified from photographs.

Red kite                          A single on 16^th March was winged tagged and identified as being one of the Irish reintroduction birds. Another single on 29^th March then 2 on 2^nd April, 1 on 3^rd April, logged on 5 dates in May (max 5 on 17^th) and singles on 20^th, 22^nd and 26^th August

Marsh harrier                A fly over bird on 7^th August was only the second record for Ramsey (SV)

Hen harrier                  A late ring tail was present from 18th – 23^rd May then singles on 18^th Sept, 9^th Oct, 13^th Oct and 22^nd and 23^rd November (all ring tails).

Montague’s harrier      After a tip off from Skomer wardens on 1^st May that their Pallid harrier was heading our way we connected with what turned out to be their Montague’s harrier later that evening! Adult female present till 3^rd. A ring tail harrier seen briefly on 7^th

Sparrowhawk               Single on 9^th March then again for a week in late April. No more records until August. Singles recorded in each month the rafter through to last record of year on 13^th November

BUZZARD                       Confirmed breeder. 2 pairs (2 in 2012). Min 3 fledged. Present all year. Max 6 at any one time.

KESTREL                       Confirmed breeder. 1 pair (1 in 2012) on cliff opposite farmhouse.. Fledged 3 young. Recorded in all months apart form December. Usually 1 or 2 birds (breeding pair). Occasionally 3 in October

Merlin                            Single female or young bird(s) present from February though to end of April. Single on 4 dates in last week of June then sporadic singles from September, recorded most days in November up to final record on 5^th December

PEREGRINE                  Confirmed breeder. 2 pairs held territory (2 in 2012). Min of 2 fledged from the Garlic site (site used for second year running in preference to Aber Mawr). Second pair at Glyma is not easily viewed so outcome unknown. Birds recorded in all months.

Water rail                               1 on 6^th May

OYSTERCATCHER      Confirmed breeder. 32 pairs includes 1 on the Bishops and Clerks. Recorded in all months but only small winter numbers.

Ringed plover                1 juv on central ponds on 7^th September

Golden plover                    19 over 3 dates in January, singles on 23^rd March, 23^rd April and 14^th August. 4 on 28^th and 5 on 29^th September. Single on 24^th September. 10 in northern fields on 19^th October. 35 on 4^th, 9 on 10^th and finally a single on 13^th November

NORTHERN LAPWING    Confirmed breeder. 1 pair (3 in 2012). Zero young fledged (1 in 2012). Lowest breeding total on record and looks to be heading towards extinction as a breeding species. Ramsey, which is sub-optimal lapwing habitat, has always been an ‘overspill’ site for mainland populations but none now breed on a regular basis in Pembrokeshire (occasional records from south of County). Recorded in all months apart from July, August and December. Max 110 west on 24^th January

Purple sandpiper                   2 on 30^th August was the only record but almost certainly under recorded on it’s difficult to monitor winter roost site.

Turnstone                              2 south on 19^th August – at sea

Dunlin                                    3 on 18^th May, 8 on 23^rd May, 1 on 17^th June, 10 logged over 5 dates in August (max 5 on 4^th) and 1 on 4^th October

Green sandpiper                   Singles on 24^th January (rare winter record), 21^st July and 9^th October. 2 on 23^rd August

Common sandpiper              15 north on 1^st June, 2 on 24^th July, singles on 11^th and 26^th August and 2 on 24^th September.

Greenshank                           1 on 31^st January was a rare winter record
Curlew                                   Recorded in all months apart from Jan, March and December. Largest counts were 32 logged through June with 129 logged through September and October (max flock 20). One at sea on 3^rd November was the last record of the year

Whimbrel                               Another ‘light’ year. 42 logged on spring passage, 49 on autumn passage. Max flock 13

Woodcock                              Singles on 24^th January, 19^th and 27^th October, 2^nd and 15^th November with 3 on 12^th. Final record 1 on 10^th December

Common snipe                       Recorded in all months apart from May-July. Mainly small numbers with 11 logged in January the highest number of records with a max of 4 on any one day. 1 on 8^th August was the first returning autumn bird.

Jack snipe                              Singles on 12^th and 17^th February, 13^th October, 6^th and 12^th December

Great skua                             A single on 23^rd June was the first of the year. 2 south in August, 9 south in September, 15 south in October, 23 south in November of which 20 were on 3^rd.

Pomarine skua                       1 dark phase adult with spoons south on 3^rd November

Arctic skua                             7 on 16^th September, 3 on 29^th October, 7 on 3^rd and 1 on 5^th November

Black-headed gull                  Present in Ramsey Sound in numbers of up to 150+ in January and February. Not recorded then until a single on 17^th May. Present again in regular numbers from August onwards building to a max of 400+ birds in Ramsey Sound on 6^th December.

Common gull                         2 adult winter birds in Ramsey Sound on 2^nd December plus 1 1^st winter bird on 6^th December.

Mediterranean gull               2013 continued the increase in records for this species from Ramsey with 16 logged between 3^rd June and 6^th December. Max of 5 individuals in October. Plumages ranged from adult summer and adult winter through to 1^st winter

HERRING GULL                Confirmed breeder. 221 AON (172 on RMI and 49 on B&C) (277 AON in total in 2008). Present in all months. 300+ ‘anting’ in central field on 20^th August

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL               Confirmed breeder. 170 AON (152 on RMI and 18 on B&C) (266 AON in total in 2008). First record of year on 17^th February. 10 in Ramsey Sound on 2^nd December

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL                  Confirmed breeder. 25 AON (10 on RMI and 15 on B&C) (25 AON in total in 2008). Present in all months. Max roost of 50 near Briw on 13^th June

Little Gull                               A first winter bird off north end on 15^th September and an adult winter in Ramsey Sound on 2^nd December

KITTIWAKE                       Confirmed breeder. 139 AON (175 in 2012) was the 2^nd lowest on record and the second year in succession the population has been below 200. Productivity 0.29 (0.18 in 2012). Very late getting started possibly due to the record cold spring – seen nest building when normally would have been laying. Present offshore throughout, noticeable movement in autumn with a max of 2800+/hr logged on 29^th October.

Sabine’s gull                           1 juv south on 5^th November

Sandwich tern                       A relatively quiet year with singles on 26^th August and 6^th September, 7 on 17^th September and 5 on 24^th October. Mainly south

Arctic tern                              1 south on 3^rd November

PUFFIN                                 Confirmed breeder (B&C only). Max spring count on North Bishop was 40 on 10^th June (42 in 2012). By 19^th June this had increased to 71 presumably an early increase in non-breeder attendance which doesn’t usually peak until July. 27 on 18^th July was the last record at this site. Once again there were a good number of sightings of birds on the water close to the cliffs around the west coast of Ramsey including the first report of birds on land in recent times. This probably came in response to a sound attraction system being deployed in association with the plastic decoys (that have been used in isolation but without success for several years). 8 birds were on the cliff top amongst the decoys on 7^th June, 3 on low tide rocks on 18^th June and small groups of singles on  low tide rocks on 28^th and 29^th June. In total 206 birds were logged between 3^rd April and 18^th July in the close vicinity of the island. It is impossible to say how many of these records are duplicate birds. Thanks to 1000 Islands and Voyages of Discovery for all boat based records. In particular Ffion Rees, Mike Chant and Zeman McCready

Black Guillemot                     A single bird in Ramsey Sound on 30^th May. 3^rd record for the island and similar timing to last year’s bird in the same location

GUILLEMOT                       Confirmed breeder. Not censused. 4204 individuals in 2012 at 5 yearly census. Several winter attendance records on ledges on calm days. On breeding ledges until 25^th July. See offshore through most of winter

RAZORBILL                        Confirmed breeder. Not censused. 1482 individuals in 2012 at 5 yearly census. No birds seen on land after 25^th July. Sporadic appearances offshore throughout winter

FERAL PIGEON                 Confirmed breeder. Not censused. Present in all months.

Woodpigeon                        Singles on 24^th and 25^th March (probably same bird), 24^th and 25^th April (probably same bird), 22^nd May, 13^th and 16^th November

Collared dove                        logged on 5 dates in May, max 2 at any one time. Singles on 3 dates in June and a single on 12^th July

Cuckoo                                   Singles logged on 4 dates in May but impossible to say how many birds involved. Singing on 26^th

LITTLE OWL                      Confirmed breeder. 5 pairs (4 in 2012). Bred successfully but first juv not seen until 11^th September. Birds recorded in all months except March and November

SHORT-EARED OWL        1 pair bred in the southern heathland (1 in 2012). No young confirmed but adults present throughout breeding season and behaved as if young present so assumed to have fledged. Singles on 9^th Jan and 3^rd November were the only winter records

Swift                                       First of year on 5^th May. 218 north in May of which 200 on 16^th alone. 18 logged in June, 12 in July

Kingfisher                              Single bird on east coast from 10th-12^th August between Capel and Ogof Hen. First record since 2007

Wryneck                                A single bird was at the volunteers bungalow on 10^th September (Helen Lumley).

SKYLARK                            Confirmed breeder. 16 pairs (13 in 2012). 2 on 16^th February were the first of the year. Autumn passage ran from 13^th September to 30^th November consisting of 831+ mainly south and west (max 225+ on 13^th Oct).

Sand martin                           First record of year not until 12^th April (19^th March in 2012). A very poor year for records. 6 on spring passage and just 1 record on 31^st August on return

SWALLOW                          Confirmed breeder. 10 pairs (13 in 2012). First record of the year was late with 2 on 10^th April (19^th March in 2012). Spring passage: 3065+ between 10^th April and 4^th June (max 1300+ on 16^th May). Autumn passage: 7355+ south between early September and the last record on 17^th October. One pair were still feeding young in the generator shed on 10^th September.

HOUSE MARTIN                First breeding record for Ramsey. 1 pair bred in artificial nest box erected after birds began showing an interest in the eaves of the farmhouse on 18^th June and unsuccessfully tried to build a natural nest. A minimum of 5 young fledged between 19^th August and 1^st September. First record of year was 1 on 20^th April (8^th in 2012). A good year for records with 257+ logged mainly north in spring and 145 mainly south in autumn, last record 4^th October (7^th in 2012)

MEADOW PIPIT                 Confirmed breeder. 58 pairs (57 in 2012). Present in all months apart from December. Large spring and autumn movements with regular flocks 100-200 birds moving through in April (300+ on 20^th April), with 300+ moving through in the last week of September and 250+ through most of October.

ROCK PIPIT                        Confirmed breeder. 33 pairs (30 RMI, 3 B&C) (26 in 2012 all on RMI). Singing from 10^th March. Present all year. Flocks of 20+ birds in October

Yellow wagtail                       1on 18^th April, 3 on 7^th May, 1 on 19^th June were the spring records. A single on 17^th July was the first returning bird. 1 or 2 birds logged daily from 26^th-31^st August, 1 on 26^th September, 7 logged over 4 dates in October, last record 15^th October (all flavissima).

Grey Wagtail                         Singles on 15^th July, 14^th and 27^th September. 10 logged through October, max 4 west on 13^th.
PIED WAGTAIL                 Confirmed breeder. 8 pairs (4 in 2012).  Recorded between 15^th Feb and 10^th November. First fledglings seen on 13^th June

White wagtail                          Another good year.79 logged between 15^th-26^th April (max 20 on several dates). 2 on 7^th and 1 on 11^th May. 2 on 31^st August and small numbers, max 3, on several dates at start of September.

‘alba’ wagtail                          17 on 30^th and 31^st August (probably same flock). 30+ on several dates at end of September. Up to 39 at start of October but no records after 5^th.

WREN                                   Confirmed breeder. 49 pairs (40 in 2012). Present throughout.

DUNNOCK                           Confirmed breeder. 13 pairs (9 in 2012). Present all year in small numbers, small influxes in October
Robin                                      Did not breed (last bred in 2009). Present from Jan to April and again from August to December. Max 40+ in October, down to 5-10 in winter.

Black redstart                        Female type present throughout January and up to 12^th February. Female type present from 6^th-15^th April and again from 3^rd-5^th November. Final record of year a female type on 1^st December

Whinchat                               Singles on 2^nd April, 10^th and 28^th September.

STONECHAT                       Confirmed breeder. 14 pairs (19 in 2012). The hard winter probably slowed their recent recovery as numbers dropped slightly on 2012. Recorded in all months, max outside of breeding season was 20+ on 13^th September. Single figures through winter

WHEATEAR                        Confirmed breeder. 107 pairs (109 in 2012). First  record of year was 2 males on 9^th March (17^th in 2012). Last record was a single bird on 23^rd October (25^th Oct in 2012)

Greenland wheatear               2 on 30^th April. 2 on 19^th and 1 on 24^th May. Logged on 3 dates in September (max 4). 2 on 8^th and 2 on 12^th October

BLACKBIRD                       Confirmed breeder. 16 pairs (14 in 2012). Present in all months. Max 50+ on several autumn dates.

Ring Ouzel                             Juv around central ponds from 20^th August to 22^nd August. Probable male at Porth Lleuog on 4^th November

Fieldfare                                 145 south on 24^th Jan then 2 on 25^th and 1 on 26^th. 1 on 24^th Feb. 3 records in March and 2 in April (last on 25^th). 226 east on 11^th October were first of autumn. 400 in off sea on 10^th November, 7 other records in month. Present in small number in early December.

Song thrush                           Recorded in all months apart from July, August and December. Maximum counts of 238 logged in January (max 170 south on 24^th) 68 logged in February (max 12) and 133 in November (max 27)

Redwing                                 180 logged from 19^th-31^st January. Just 2 in Feb and 1 in March. Logged on 3 dates in April up to 12^th. First of autumn was 42 on 11^th October with 89 in total that month. 24 over 9 dates in November (max 7) and recorded up to early December with 14 on 3^rd.

Garden Warbler                   1 on 28^th September

Blackcap                                First record of year was 1 male on 30^th March (27^th in 2012). 23 logged through April (max 9), 12 in May (max 5). Last spring record 26^th May. 21 logged in September, 28 through October. Singles on 1^st and 7^th November (last record)

WHITETHROAT                 Confirmed breeder. 11 pairs (7 in 2012). First record of year on 20^th April. Second broods being fed on 29^th June and out on 17^th July. Recorded in small numbers (max 5) post breeding from August to early October. Last record 1 on 5^th October.

Dartford Warbler                 Probably the same individual logged on 4 dates between 4^th and 19^th October, originally at bungalow and then around central pond (LM and SV) – 3^rd record for Ramsey, all since 2006

Sedge Warbler                       First record of year was on 28^th April (1^st May in 2012). Logged on 13 dates in May, mainly singles but 6 on 17^th, some singing.  Singing male on 3^rd June. Autumn singles on 9^th and 12^th September and 4^th October.

Booted warbler                      1 on 22^nd September (GM) in big gorse stand above farmhouse valley. First from Ramsey and 5^th for Wales

Willow warbler                      First record not until 8^th April (27^th March in 2012).  103 logged in April (max 23 on 12^th). 28 logged over 8 dates in May. A singing male on 3^rd June was last spring record. First return record on 22^nd July.  2 more in the month followed by 54 in August (max 20+ on 8^th), 84 over 16 dates in September (max 12). 15 logged in early October with last record of the year on 9^th (last on 14^th Oct in 2012)

Western Bonelli’s warbler    1 at Aber Myharan from 8^th-10^th September was a first for Ramsey (LM/GM)

Chiffchaff                              First of year was a single in the garden on 19^th February (presumed to be a overwintering bird from mainland as opposed to a migrant). First presumed migrant (pollen horns visible) turned up in our bedroom on 11^th March! No other records in month apart from 1 on 30^th March. 25 logged in April, 7 in May. Last spring bird on 18^th June. Return passage began on 5^th July. None logged in August. 98 over 10 dates in September (max 44 on 28^th). 87 logged through October (max 34 on 10^th Oct). 2 present in Myharan at start of November, reduced to 1 by last record on 16^th.

Yellow-browed warbler        A record year with 2 on 13^th October, 1 on 15^th and 1 on 23^rd – all thought to be different birds

Goldcrest                                First of year on 6^th April and only 2 other records that month (max 5 on 12^th). No more spring records. 40 logged over 16 dates in September (max 5). 171 logged through October (max 28 on 17^th). 27 logged up to the last record on 16^th November (max 7 on 10^th).

Spotted flycatcher                 A good year. 19 logged in May from the first record on 16^th (max 6 on several dates). 10 in June up to 7^th. Singles on 9^th July, 23^rd and 24^th August with 23 logged over 13 dates in September (max 3). Last record of year was a single bird on 1^st October.

GREAT TIT                         Confirmed breeder. 1 pair (1 pair in 2012). Second successive year of successful breeding. Fledged a min of 2 from first brood on 13^th June from a nest in a rubbish pile in the courtyard. 3 fledged from a second brood on 10^th August from a nest in a hole in the stone wall of the woodshed. Recorded in all months, mainly just the breeding pair outside of the breeding season but up to 5 in October

 Blue tit                                    A single bird present for the whole of January and February. No further records until 1 on 20^th June. Then a singles on 13^th September plus 10 on 29^th (5 east and 5 on island). Present all month in October in small numbers with some signs of movement – 14 on 5^th and 35 on 13^th the highest counts (most birds came across from mainland heading west but usually turned back when they hit the west coast). 3 present throughout November.

Long-tailed tit                        12 in off the sea from the west on morning of 10^th November. Carried on east towards mainland

Woodchat shrike                   1 on 26^th May at Chamomile corner. Photographed by day visitor and then refound later by AC

Magpie                                   Did not breed (1 pair in 2012). Only records were 3 on 20^th March, 3 on 20^th April, 1 on 15^th October and a single present for 3 days in mid November.

JACKDAW                           Confirmed breeder. Not censused but bred in holes on east and south facing cliffs as usual. Present most of year but usual post breeding absence from July to 1^st September. Regular flocks of 200+ in October.

CHOUGH                              Confirmed breeder. 7 territorial pairs (8 in 2012) of which 7 bred (7 in 2012), fledging 14 young – 2.0 per breeding pair (2.0 in 2012). Productivity was again hit by the loss of 2 nests in late April at incubation stage (force 10 NE winds) – the same scenario as in 2012.
Max flock size from monthly feeding transects:

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
7	7	24	23	21	23	30	30	35	40	7	8

Rook                                       A good year for what is a scarce bird on Ramsey. Singles on 27^th March, 25^th and 27^th April and 28^th September

CARRION CROW               Confirmed breeder. 7 pairs (6 in 2012). Present all year. Some local movement in autumn with max flocks of 100+ on 29^th September and 50+ on several dates in October

Hooded crow                         Singles on 16^th and 21^st May plus 10^th June

RAVEN                                 Confirmed breeder. 4 pairs (4 in 2012). Min of 4 fledged. Present all year. Max flock of 40 on several dates in autumn.

Starling                                   Recorded in all months apart from May and August. Regular flocks of 150-200+ in autumn and winter with a maximum of 700+ feeding above Aber Mawr on 10^th November. 20 juvs on 25^th June were the first returning birds of the ‘autumn’.

House Sparrow                      Singles males on 20^th March and 20^th April then a singing male present for the whole of June but no female seen. A male logged on 4 dates in July with 2 juvs present on 17^th July, presumably from mainland. Single female present on 3 dates in October. Final record of year a female on 13^th November

Chaffinch                               Recorded from January to April and September to November. Mainly 1-3 birds in the early part of the year with an increase in April which saw 20 logged in the month. None after 26^th April until a movement of 56 east on 28^th September. Total autumn movement was 492+ moving in all directions apart form north up to late November (max 173 south on 13^th October)

Brambling                              1 in farmhouse garden on 1^st November was the only record.

Greenfinch                             A very poor year. 1 on 5^th October and 2 on 15^th were the only records.

Goldfinch                               Recorded in small numbers on several dates in March. Present all month in varying number through April with a max of 25 on 19^th. Present on and off through May with a max of 20-30 on several dates, No records after 25^th May until 2 on 3^rd August. 2 juvs on 18^th August then autumn passage of 195 east through October and 32 in November up to 26^th.

Siskin                                      4 on 26^th April, 2 on 7^th May, 1 on 16^th June, 18 south on 4^th October and singles west on 13^th October, 10^th and 28^th November

Hawfinch                               Single female in farmhouse garden on 12^th April (LM). First for Ramsey

LINNET                                Confirmed breeder. 37 pairs (78 pairs in 2011) – significant decrease in breeding population possibly caused by increase in rabbit numbers and lack of seeding grass with which to feed young. First record of year were 3 on 20^th March. Recorded in all months thereafter up to 26^th November. Regular max flock sizes of 50-60 birds. The only movement noted was 152 east on 13^th October

Lesser redpoll                        2 on 7^th May then singles logged on 3^rd June, 11^th October, 10^th and 12^th November (mainly calling fly overs heading west)

Reed Bunting                         Singles on 13^th January, 15^th April and on 5 dates in October. Last record of year a single on 9^th November.