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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Jun 4

May ended nicely with a Pectoral Sandpiper on North Pond on the 30th. June started even better with this fine Buff-breasted Sandpiper! It strolled the pond for 2 days, becoming just the fifth record for Skokholm and the first since September 2018.

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · May 8

One of the avian highlights of April was this male Eastern Subalpine Warbler which briefly sang from the Courtyard Sycamore on the 29th before sneaking off to the Brambles behind the Wheelhouse and then disappearing forever...! This was the sixth Eastern Subalpine Warbler for Skokholm.

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · May 8

It's been a busy few weeks here and the guest season and seabird season is now in full flow! Spring passage of Whimbrel is also well underway with birds bubbling into song as they cruise about over the plateau. A magical time on Dream Island!

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Ian Beggs @fatsnipe.bsky.social · Apr 17

Calmer weather had the #Wheatears out and about @skokholmisland.bsky.social. Male A33 is still single this year despite being our oldest bird at 7. Elsewhere a female is nest-building in nest box 7 (the red stones on the right ). Hoping she will complete and lay there soon.
#ukbirding
#BirdingWales

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Ian Beggs @fatsnipe.bsky.social · Apr 19

Despite another windy day our nest-building female is now onto white feathers @skokholmisland.bsky.social
This is usually the final stage of construction so laying in the next day or so (5/6 eggs). Incubation of c12 days so feeding young around 8 May.
#birds
#birdingWales
#ukbirding

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Ian Beggs @fatsnipe.bsky.social · Apr 12

Most Wheatears @skokholmisland.bsky.social are now paired and are starting to explore potential nest sites together. Male C39 and female H09 are roaming their territory in the general North Plain area where both have bred with different partners for the last few years.
#ukbirding
#BirdingWales

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Apr 11

Moon sparkles on the sea tonight! A marine fireworks display, as Manxies soar in and shoot down their burrows to avoid being spotted by the Great Black-backed Gulls patrolling the plateau.

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Ian Beggs @fatsnipe.bsky.social · Apr 11

Female C48 & male C91 are paired at Frank’s Point @skokholmisland.bsky.social. Both four years old they returned early to the same territory where they bred in 2024 and paired again.
#BirdingWales
#ukbirding

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BirdLife Marine @birdlifemarine.bsky.social · Mar 26

Tracking Ascension Island’s seabirds across borders:

Learn how our Darwin+ project will help us understand how seabirds & fisheries overlap in the High Seas 🌊

Led by Ascension Island Gov with @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social, GFW, MMO & @cefasgovuk.bsky.social

www.seabirdtracking.org/tracking-asc...

Tracking Ascension Island's seabirds across borders - Seabird Tracking Database

Protected areas are a vital tool for safeguarding marine wildlife, but seabirds and other marine species often travel beyond these havens.

www.seabirdtracking.org

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Ian Beggs @fatsnipe.bsky.social · Apr 10

There are 42 Wheatear nestboxes @skokholmisland.bsky.social.
Each year they are checked and made good for the season.
There are usually one or two used each year. Bespoke cameras are used if there is an active nest to monitor the nestling behaviour.
#ukbirding
#BirdingWales

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Apr 8

It's been rather quiet on the moth-front so far, but a Chamomile Shark last night was a nice find in the trap. #teammoth

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Apr 8

There's something indescribably exciting about encountering black and white male Pied Flycatchers on their spring migration. This bird was found on Sunday flycatching in the Quarry from the lichen-clad boulders normally home to thousands of Storm Petrels.

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Apr 8

It's been a cracking spring so far on Dream Island. The 48th record of Hoopoe was found at East Bog on 23rd March and Firecrests, Black Redstarts and Ring Ouzels are to be regularly found pinging around the sheltered cliffs.

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Ian Beggs @fatsnipe.bsky.social · Apr 6

Wheatears are starting to pair up @skokholmisland.bsky.social
Here male H42 and female H32 are keeping close near North Gully. On The Neck, female H92 is the first of last year’s juveniles to return from her winter quarters.
#BirdingWales
#ukbirding
#WheatearTales

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Ian Beggs @fatsnipe.bsky.social · Apr 5

Male Wheatear F85 is establishing his territory @skokholmisland.bsky.social
In the adjoining three territories there are three other males and a female who were in one of these same sites in 2024. They are incredibly site loyal.
#ukbirding

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Mar 21

There were some stunning Mammatus cloud formations over Skokholm at sunset today!

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Mar 21

Yesterday the Puffin army returned, creeping closer and closer which allowed us to do a whole-island count. A staggering 13,174 were counted rafting, the highest number since 1934! Today, they made their first 2025 landfall, two days earlier than the 2013-2024 first birds ashore mean. Welcome home!

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Mar 7

#birdingWales

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Mar 7

Hot on the heels of the first Wheatear of 2025 was this Chiffchaff, found feeding amongst the dripping lichens at North Gully yesterday morning. This, along with another bird at the Well, is six days earlier than the 2013-2024 first spring bird mean. Meanwhile, Wheatear F22 is still alone...

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Mar 5

It has been glorious here and the first Wheatear of 2025 appeared at the Obs yesterday, matching the second earliest on record. He was wearing green ring F22 and we soon realised he was also the first back last year; he was alone here for at least a week before the next Wheatears arrived.

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Mar 2

We are back on Dream Island and so are the Puffins! 4 were found rafting offshore yesterday, scanning the Island with their decorated beady eyes. These matched one on the 1st in 2019 as the earliest offshore loafers ever. Meanwhile a smart Merlin was hanging out near North Pond watching Rock Pipits.

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Nov 27

A pair of pants?

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Fozzy @wildfozzy.bsky.social · Nov 27

Some of the big boys & girls at Hartlepool Fish Quay on Sunday with @unsociable-lapwing.bsky.social.

Sadly, as well as a few dead gulls and one with a broken wing, we spotted this young GBB flying around with a fishing weight tangled on its leg.

@teesbirds.bsky.social #UKBirds #BirdingNorthEast 🪶

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Nov 27

Skokholm's latest ever Painted Lady was found resting on some M&S pants on the Obs washing line this afternoon. A lone insect was observed along Isthmian Heath yesterday too. Part of a recent influx into the south of the UK.
#migrantmothuk

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Skokholm Island @skokholmisland.bsky.social · Nov 14

Our brilliant Long-term Volunteers are a huge part of what makes Skokholm so special. If seabirds, bird observatories and small islands are your thing, then click below to find out more about joining us in 2025. www.welshwildlife.org/volunteering...

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