Ramsey Update - Nov and Dec

Round up of Ramsey highlights for Nov and Dec 08:

November highlights included a female ring ouzel, female black redstart, single chiffchaff, single coat tit, up to 8 long tailed tits in the first week, 2 Iceland gulls on 25th, with 1 still present on 28th, a female snow bunting on 12th, a woodcock on 26th, max of 56 curlew in the month, a female merlin for most of the first half of Nov, 4 purple sandpiper and a single mistle thrush. Fulmars were back on their ledges after a post moult absence of around 6 weeks on 6th. The grey seal haul out peaked at 89.

December saw one of the Iceland gulls at the same location on 3 dates. A mute swan was an unusual record on 27th (swimming down Ramsey Sound!). Other records of note were a red throated diver, little egret, jack snipe, woodcock on 3 dates and a notable influx of golden plovers at the end of the month during the cold snap (up to 37). Redwing and fieldfare records also increased markedly during this period (flocks of up to 50 of each). Lapwing peaked at 80 with up to 10 chough using the usual roost site. Guillemots were on ledges on some sunny mornings and 3 seal pups were born late in the month (as in 2007).

Jan highlights to date: increase in golden plover numbers to 130 (1st). 3 jack snipe (1st) with 1 on 3rd. 170 redwing (1st). Whooper swan heading south east over the island this morning