Hooded Crow – Copeland Bird Observatory

CBO – weekend visit of April 24th – 26th

May 7, 2015 admin

8 species ringed – including the 1^st Blackbird and Sparrowhawk of the year.
Species list increases: Mediterranean Gull, Rook, Sedge Warbler and Sparrowhawk added.
Important work continues: mesh wire fitted to Gully Trap, and the jetties and cliff steps cleared

Nine people departed Donaghadee on board the Copeland Shearwater for the third weekend visit of 2015 on Friday the 24^th of April.

Although the forecast for the weekend was for strong north/north west winds, with rain until Saturday lunch time, the weather cleared by Saturday afternoon leaving some nice sunshine for the remainder of the weekend – although it was still cold in the brisk winds.

North/north west winds are not ideal for bringing spring migrants to the island, so those birds that were present may have arrived on the southerlies through Friday and remained throughout the weekend – waiting for the next break in the winds.

Despite the conditions, the team did manage to open a few mist nets on the east side of the island, which was relatively sheltered, and, in combination with the Heligoland traps, caught and ringed a few migrants.

Female Blackcap

Sparrowhawk – following the migration

As with the weekend previous, the crow trap, baited with bread, tuna and dog food, was again successful, catching two new Hooded Crows.

In total, 14 new birds were ringed with 2 re-trapped wrens.

CBO Weekend trip 24^th-26^th April Ringing Totals (retraps in brackets)

Species ringed	Number ringed
1. Blackbird	1
2. Blackcap	1
3. Chiffchaff	1
4. Hooded Crow	2
5. Willow Warbler	4
6. Goldcrest	1
7. Goldfinch	3
8. Sparrowhawk	1
9. Wren	(2)

There was some great bird watching on offer, with particular interest in the island’s breeding species. CBO is a fantastic place to get up close to Black Guillemot, Eider and thousands of Manx Shearwater.

Four species were added to the 2015 bird list: Mediterranean Gull, Rook, Sedge Warbler and Sparrowhawk. The Med Gulls were initially picked up on call; flying in from the south, they settled on Mew Island amongst the Black-headed Gulls, allowing some good views through the telescopes.

Really good progress was made in the restoration of the gully trap. Both sides now have the wire mesh replaced and the first 5 metres of the roof was attached. It is planned – with just a little more effort – to have this trap in full operation by mid-May (perhaps in time for Whinchat & Cuckoo!).

Other tasks saw the jetties scrubbed down, and the Cliff-path steps were also given a little TLC having become overgrown and covered in loose gravel.

Spruced-up Cliff-steps!

Sunrise over Mew Island on Sunday morning

If you would like to arrange a weekend stay, contact our Bookings Secretary (davidgalbraith903@btinternet.com)

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Weekend Visit of April 17th – 19th

April 24, 2015 admin

Five species added to ringing list including, Pied Wagtail, Hooded Crow, Goldfinch, Blackcap and Reed Bunting.
Crystal clear night sky with great views of the International Space Station (ISS), Milky Way Galaxy, and moons of Jupiter.
New door frame fitted to Gully Trap.
First Puffin of 2015 seen.
Migration underway – notable movements (>40) of Hooded and Carrion Crows, and three Wheatear seen.

Sometimes the weather can be almost too good!

The second weekend team of 2015, covering Friday 17^th – Sunday 19^th April, certainly got spectacular early spring weather. The clear air in the mornings gave the eye a full sweep from Goat Fell on Arran in the North, to the Calf of Man in the south; a panorama from the old lighthouse stump which easily covered over one hundred miles. This is not, however, the weather that a ringing team necessarily want! When the conditions are so clear the birds often keep moving. Despite this, the weekend provided a steady trickle of birds through the nets and traps. Notable were the first Blackcap and Goldfinch of 2015, and an exciting catch of three Hooded Crow in the walk-in Crow-trap (feeding on old smelly cheese!). Other migrants included two Willow warbler, and singles of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.

This photo shows the rarely seen underfoot of a Willow warbler – a vibrant yellow sole.

Several pairs of Reed Bunting breed on the island. A female was ringed on Sunday morning.

Regular visitors may bemoan the night-time loss of the familiar sweep of the beam from the Mew Island Lighthouse, recently decommissioned and replaced with a fixed flashing light. The night sky, however, somehow seemed enhanced. The Milky Way was clearly visible, and the team also tracked a four-minute transit of the International Space Station across the southern sky.

The spring flowers are really starting to show. The early double-flowering daffodils have already turned, but the narcissi probably have another few weeks left.

Clumps of Marsh Marigold can be found in wet areas.

Bird lists and migration logs are updated every day. Large numbers of crows – mainly Hooded, but also some Carrion – were noted on passage. The first Sandwich Tern was heard off Mew, and a Puffin dropped into the sound between Lighthouse and Mew Island on Sunday afternoon. Three Wheatear spent an hour on Sunday morning feeding around the front of the Gully trap.