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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · 10d

🐦 RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER ringed at the Obs this morning!

The 2nd record of RB Flycatcher this season an exciting addition to a busy day’s ringing (206 processed incl 193 new). A notable increase in Chaffinches, Goldcrests, tits and Robins among other species too

📸 Matt Livsey

#ukbirding

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · 17d

A young Pink-footed Goose was ringed on the Calf last night, only the second ever caught after the first in 1990!

We’ve seen the first push of ‘Pinkies’ the past couple of days as they head south for the winter. A classic autumn sight! 🪿🍂

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

#ukbirding #birdringing

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · 19d

A young COMMON ROSEFINCH ringed at the Observatory today!

A nice addition to the arrival of migrants, with a notable increase in Robins and Swallow passage, a family of 4 Pink-Footed Geese, 13 Golden Plover and 13 Redshank also.

www.trektellen.org/count/view/2...

📸 Matt Livsey

#ukbirding

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Aug 25

Second autumn vagrant in a week: RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER above Gibdale this morning, the first August record and 1st since 2020!

Also a more showy Pied Flycatcher present (pictured) for a handy comparison.

📸 Matthew Livsey

#ukbirding

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Aug 22

Birders check yer bramble bushes… immature BARRED WARBLER ringed at the Observatory this morning!

Autumn migration is well underway with birds continuing to trickle through the Calf, and this beauty was an exciting addition to the net round.

📸 @birdingfox.bsky.social

#ukbirding

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Aug 7

🗺️🐦 Our Wheatears are on the move!

One of this year’s Wheatear chicks colour-ringed on the Calf was seen at the Lower Otter Restoration Project in Budleigh Salterton, Devon!

One of over 100 pulli we ringed this year, with over 30 nests monitored.

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
#ukbirding

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Aug 6

3/3 The majority of chicks were colour ringed, allowing them to be identified in the field. We also had success catching adults in the breeding colonies, so we’re excited to see where they spend their winters.

Keep an eye out for the Calf Class of 2025!

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
#seabirds

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Aug 6

2/ Herring Gulls did well with 277 chicks ringed (2x the highest total from the last 3 years and highest since 2019). LBB Gulls did poorly, with only 3 chicks ringed and stronghold colonies devoid of chicks. GBB Gull chick numbers were on par with the last 5/6 years, with 39 ringed.

#seabirds

The Bird Team ringing Herring Gull chicks at Cow Harbour

A Warden ringing Great Black-backed Gull chicks

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Aug 6

🐣 With the breeding season coming to an end, let’s look back at how our seabird colonies have done this year!

The Bird Team have been busy counting nests, monitoring productivity and ringing chicks and adults to help us understand how they’re doing. 1/

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
#seabirds

A volunteer being trained in taking measurements on a Shag

The Calf Team counting seabirds from the boat

Shag ringing training on the coastal slopes of the Calf

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jul 16

There’s still time to apply for our Assistant Bird Warden position!

🗓️ Deadline THIS FRIDAY 🐦 see below for more details 👇

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

#ukbirding

Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 26

🦆🔭 Join our Team!

We’re looking for a passionate ringer & birder to join our friendly team as Assistant Bird Warden! The role will involve monitoring autumn migration through daily census and bird ringing.

To find out more 👇
www.mwt.im/jobs/calf-ma...

🗓️ Applications close Friday 18th July

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jul 7

🗓️ DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY!

There’s still a few days left to get your applications in for our September Ornithological Volunteer position. A great opportunity to join the Calf team for some quality birding and island antics during peak migration!

Follow the link below for full details 👇

#ukbirding

Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 13

🐦 Exciting volunteering opportunity! 🔭

We are looking for an Ornithological Volunteer to join our friendly team on the Calf of Man during peak autumn migration, from the 2nd September until 30th September 2025!

See below for more information 👇
www.mwt.im/jobs/calf-ma...

@btobirds.bsky.social

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Reposted by Calf of Man Bird Observatory

Ed Betteridge @edjbetteridge.bsky.social · Jul 2

Didn’t expect to have a very vocal LAUGHING GULL fly around above me whilst I went to ring gull chicks on the Calf of Man this afternoon!! The bird stayed around just long enough for others to get there and bring a camera before it headed high north! #ukbirding

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jul 2

#ukbirding

Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jul 2

LAUGHING GULL found by @edjbetteridge.bsky.social this afternoon!

Smart summer-plumage adult, very vocal circling with other gulls for 15mins before heading towards the Isle of Man.

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
@britishbirds.bsky.social
@rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Breeding plumage Laughing Gull viewed from underneath

Ed and Eleanor watching the Laughing Gull flying over the sea

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jul 2

LAUGHING GULL found by @edjbetteridge.bsky.social this afternoon!

Smart summer-plumage adult, very vocal circling with other gulls for 15mins before heading towards the Isle of Man.

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
@britishbirds.bsky.social
@rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 27

4/4 After the females have left the nest, we return to check if they were successful. If so, we can estimate the number of chicks from the fragments of hatched shells around left the nest 🐣 This feeds into the @btobirds.bsky.social Nest Record Scheme, informing about Eider productivity!

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 27

3/4 Once their chicks hatch, they walk them down to the sea and work their way round to the north of the island. There they wait for the tide to be just right so that they can paddle their family across the Sound to the Isle of Man to raise them!

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 27

2/4 Catching the females informs us about our breeding population and their habits. One female retrapped this year was ringed on the Calf in 2009, a new Calf longevity record!

We also find some females consistently nesting earlier or later, and many returning to the same areas year on year

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 27

🦆 Eider Update! 🐣

The Bird Team have been busy over the past 2 months monitoring our breeding Eiders. They’ve been mapping nests, recording clutch size and catching the females as part of a long-term project.

So far this season they’ve found 76 nests, predominantly in bracken and heather… 1/4

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Reposted by Calf of Man Bird Observatory

BirdTrack @birdtrack.bsky.social · Jun 27

Please continue to report all sightings of dead birds for possible testing for avian influenza:

📌In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/rep...

📌In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/dae...

📌In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report

Report dead wild birds

How to report dead wild birds.

www.gov.uk

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 26

🦆🔭 Join our Team!

We’re looking for a passionate ringer & birder to join our friendly team as Assistant Bird Warden! The role will involve monitoring autumn migration through daily census and bird ringing.

To find out more 👇
www.mwt.im/jobs/calf-ma...

🗓️ Applications close Friday 18th July

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 22

A bit of excitement this afternoon when Ed found TWO Quails!

The seventh Calf record and first since 1990. It’s also the first involving more than one individual!

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

#calfbirdobs #ukbirding #ManxNature

Ed Betteridge @edjbetteridge.bsky.social · Jun 22

I did not expect to flush not 1 but 2 Quails, metres apart from the cliffs on the Calf of Man this afternoon!! Not typical Quail habitat right next to a Herring Gull colony! #ukbirding

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 16

3/3 …but why the plastic Puffins?

We have placed decoys and speakers playing Puffin call as part of a project to bring them back as a breeding species on the Calf, following the successful eradication of longtails (🐀).

To find out more 👇
www.mwt.im/puffin-project

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 16

2/ PUFFIN ASHORE! 🥳

Very promising signs, and one of several we’ve seen show an interest in landing near our decoy colonies we’ve planted around the coast. They’ve also been seen regularly offshore lately!

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
@visitisleofman.bsky.social

🎥 @birdingfox.bsky.social

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 16

1/ 🐧🧐 Can you spot the real Puffin?

The team had a very exciting encounter yesterday during seabird productivity checks on Burroo Neck…

As we walked back, a Puffin circled close by and landed right next to our decoy Puffin colony! 🤩

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
#calfbirdobs #ManxNature

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Calf of Man Bird Observatory @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 13

📣 NEW BLOG POST! 🦆

We had some great birding highlights throughout May, and the Ornithology Team have been busy following the progress of our breeding birds. Head over to our new blog to find out more... 👇

www.mwt.im/blog/calf-ma...

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

#calfofman #ManxNature

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