Ramsey Jan & Feb 09 Bird Notes

Highlights were a whooper swan on 5/1 (with possibly 5 flying over on 24/1 but not seen well enough), an Iceland gull on 8/1 and house sparrows on 13 and 14/2.

Cold weather movements at the start of Jan saw arrivals of up to 130 golden plovers, 122 lapwing, 50 fieldfares, 3 jack snipe, 20 common snipe, 5 woodcock, 170 redwing and 210 linnets (heading north). Small movements of skylarks were noted on fine days in both months. Chough numbers remained around the average in Jan with up to 15, increasing to 20+ during February. Curlew peaked at 70 in January, slowly decreasing during February. Settled, fine weather saw Lapwings displaying over territories on 17 and 22/2 (the earliest dates for at least 4 years). Purple sandpipers were on their winter roost with 12 on 15/2.

Auks were present on ledges on several dates in both months (up to 50% total occupancy each time). The first gannets of the year were seen offshore on 23/2. Fulmars were present on ledges throughout most of the period.

GM