Skomer Wildlife Highlights June to July 2010
Up to 95 Canada geese seen on North Pond and plenty of goslings
A brood of 9 shelduck chicks on North Pond at the start of June, and in North Haven later on
Shoveler chicks seen on North Pond
Teal ducklings seen on the 15th June
Pheasant present on the island and chicks seen from the 22nd June
Fulmar chicks seen on the cliffs from the 1st July
Manx shearwater chicks hatching, large rafts of birds seen in St Brides Bay in the early evening
Storm petrels present on the island
Gannets diving for fish on windy days
Juvenile cormorants seen on The Amos
Shag seen regularly around the coast with juveniles on the Garland Stone
5 little egret at Moory Mere on the 8th June
2 grey heron flying over on the 8th June and 4 seen over North Haven on the 5th July, mobbed by gulls
Buzzard commonly seen around island, mobbed by jackdaw at Bull Hole
Peregrine juveniles at High Cliff throughout June and early July
Moorhen with chicks at Moory Mere
Oystercatcher breeding, lots of large chicks at the end of June and early July
Curlew with chicks at the start of June
Lesser black-back, greater black-back and herring gull chicks seen all over the island
Kittiwake with large chicks seen at the Wick, Bull Hole and High Cliff
Guillemot and razorbill chicks on cliff ledges. Starting to fledge from mid June
Puffins bringing fish in for chicks, large chicks exercising at burrow entrances
Several racing pigeons seen at the Old Farm. Please do not feed the pigeons!
Wood pigeon and collared dove seen all over the island
Little owl with large chicks seen on rocks on the way to the farm from North Haven
Short eared owl juveniles seen amongst bracken near Captain Kites rock, seen less
commonly
towards July
One swift at the Wick on 1st June
Skylark singing all over the island
Swallow breeding in the Old Farm, juveniles flying from start of July
House martin at the start of June
Meadow and rock pipits seen regularly
Pied wagtail breeding at the Old Farm, juveniles seen in the courtyard
Wren and dunnock heard singing regularly
A black redstart on the 2nd June
Wheatear breeding around the coast, juveniles seen from early July
Blackbirds seen around island, juveniles at Old Farm
Sedgewarbler and whitethroat singing in elder and bramble
Family groups of chough seen around Wick and Mew Stone
Groups of raven at The Amos and Bull Hole
Juvenile magpie at the start of July
Up to 70 jackdaw at North Pond in elder
Carrion crow seen regularly
Occasional chaffinch around Old Farm
Small flocks of goldfinch juveniles at thistles behind farm in early July
Linnet around Old Farm at the end of June
Pairs of reed bunting around the island
Invertebrates
Dark green fritillary, red admiral, small copper, large white, painted lady, small tortoiseshell, ringlet, greyling and meadow brown butterfly on sunny days
Cinnabar, burnet and hummingbird hawk moth seen during the day
Fox moth caterpillars
Glow worms at night amongst the bracken
Marine life
Seals seen at the Garland Stone, Pig Stone Bay and North Haven
Jellyfish seen from the landing at North Haven
Porpoise seen at the entrance to North Haven and one calf on the 14th June
What to look out for in July
Waders sightings increase as birds begin return passage, look out for dunlin, whimbrel, curlew, green sandpiper, common sandpiper, purple sandpiper, greenshank, turnstone and lapwing.
Most razorbill, guillemot and puffin will have left by the end of the month, the odd few hanging around on cliffs or on the water.
Fulmar chicks seen more often as they grow bigger and parents cease brooding them. Kittiwake chicks ready to fledge by the middle/end of the month. Willow warbler and chiffchaff start passing through in small numbers.
As well as the usual butterflies look out for - wall brown, gatekeeper, grayling and humming-bird hawk-moths.
Seal numbers increase at haul out sites by the end of the month. More sightings of common dolphin and chance of seeing sunfish.
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