Galana's Fifth - The only way from here is UP!

[Galana]

On 4/7/2021 at 11:17 AM, Galana said:

63. Common Gull. I think it was ringed on the Island about 10 miles north of where I saw it yesterday. Judging from the ring 2AAA it may have been the first one to join the project back in 2013 making it 8 years old. I will check.

Well it took a while but I got the feedback on this bird today so I share it with you.

The bird was ringed as a chick on IOM on 10th June 1998 and was caught again on 24th May 2013 when the 2AAA ring was fitted, (Is it a Duracell I ask?  ) Seen one further time in 2016 until I got it this year.

That makes it 23 years old. The oldest known to date is 24 so I wonder if we are heading for a record here?

It's been a bitty sort of day today so I shall post in bits to avoid confusing me as well as you. Also see @TonyQ's thread for news of his Oystercatcher if interested.

 

 

[Galana]

On 5/5/2021 at 7:29 PM, Galana said:

Then to a spot where the first Whitethroats appear each year.

A long wait produce my first of the year.

It'll do. More will no doubt follow.

Well at least we can see what it was./is.

As promised I can offer an improvement on #90 and I remembered to forget the EBC filter.

Sorry about the quality but it has been one of those days.

#90 Common Whitethroat. Ballakesh. IOM.

 

[Galana]

I have been hinting at a big event due in a few recent posts such as:-

On 5/5/2021 at 7:18 PM, Galana said:

After a terrible week end of weather I just had to venture forth to check on a lady's nest I was monitoring half convinced it would have been deserted. But no she is a tough bird and was sitting hard. Hatching should be in a few days. Fingers crossed.

Let me say now that my observations are brief in the extreme and nothing more than 'she's OK!', a quick record shot and gone in under two or three minutes max. When I got home last Friday I noticed eggshells by the nest and guessed why. I had first seen two eggs in late March so the date of 33 days was spot on.

And today I got the confirmation and MORE! Not two but three.

I have cropped close to hide the location and that is it from me. But I had to share my joy with somebody.

A first for me.

 

Edited May 10, 2021 by Galana
added text.

[wilddog]

What a joy to see that @Galana and capture it, so we can all see. Wonderful

[Galana]

It's not over yet.

In my excitement  over news of Ringed birds and a upgraded Whitethroat I clean forgot to add my two ticks for today.

The first started out as an EBC grabbed through the windscreen and a wire fence which were far from ideal conditions.

By the time I had it focused it had its back to me but the white supercilium is quite clear.

092. Whinchat. Port Mooar, IOm

And by pure happenstance I did not have to rely on such an excellent EBC as another came along later in the afternoon to frustrate my good intentions.

 

Later back at my favourite patch and tree I was rewarded by the appearance of another hoped for addition to my count.

093. Streaky Flycatcher, Ballakesh, Isle of Man, Named in honour of @michael-ibk

 

[TonyQ]

A wonderful sighting of the newly hatched chicks!

[Galana]

Thanks. I would guess the eldest is about seven days old, say 3rd May, which fits nicely with the eggshells seen on 7th meaning there were two chicks being brooded then. The little fella came out sometime over the week end and was fit enough to be up and feeding by yesterday. There is not much size difference between the three of them which is good.

[Galana]

So today was another fine day and I decided to take advantage of busy House Martins refurbishing their nests at a local farmhouse.

I could not linger long as an old man with along lens pointed at bedroom windows might just be misinterpreted by those not aux faite with the intricacies of Big Year.

So here is what I got.

094. House Martin. Balla Kimmeragh, Bride, IOM. I can do better and I can do worse but a tick is just a tick.

I may pluck up courage to ask for a closer look but the job is done now.

 

[Galana]

I thought it time I went and nailed a Banker with Tufted Ducks. They involve a bit longer drive than normal but are very localised.

Of course they were at home when I called so here they are.

095. Tufted Duck. Eary Dam, Foxdale , IOM.

 

And on my way to see if I could find another elusive LBJ (failed) I spotted one that has evaded me so far this year.

They have deserted their normal breeding area for a less accessible place but I nailed this one having an away day.

096. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Injebreck Reservoir. IOM

Finally I found a promised improvement for #88.

 

Well not so much an improvement as a larger image.

Northern Raven. Brandywell road. IOM

Edited May 13, 2021 by Galana
Changing Tuftie to #95.

[xelas]

Very close to the first BY milestone. Tufted Duck is #95.

[Galana]

58 minutes ago, xelas said:

Tufted Duck is #95.

Thanks. I am getting carried away on a wave..

As I approach #100 I don't think I will have anything special for that milestone. I will take whatever comes along.

I have two regulars that are simply being too darn shy but I WILL get em.

[Galana]

Today was another fine day but sadly no new ticks presented themselves despite waiting patiently.

 

So I amused myself with practicing that new EBC filter button on a couple of old favourites in my tree.

 

Then I went off to the beach but the Arctic Terns have yet to appear so I again passed my time with the local Gannets trying but failing to get 'that' shot of the tip of the beak breaking the surface.

Getting my eye in.

Then go for it.

For those unfamiliar with how these birds dive they first of all peel off from straight and level just like the fighter planes in a War movie and dive vertically from may 50-100 feet with wings in a V like the ones above.

 

Then, just as impact is imminent they trail the whole wing backwards

They score hits about 50/50 on quite sizeable Mackerel maybe 10 or more metres under the surface then bob to the top and swallow it. Rest and digest, or save in the crop for later and start all over again.

They are designed not to get hurt as they hit the water at speeds up to 100kph (62mph) as their neck muscles contract and they inflate air sacs in the head and neck to cushion the impact.

The sight of a  flock of them hitting into a fish shoal just offshore is very impressive as is the noise as they smack the water.

 

[Soukous]

I once saw an exhibition by a photographer who's name I cannot remember of Gannets feeding underwater.

 

It was terrific 

 

https://www.shetlandphototours.co.uk/underwater-gannet-photography/

 

[Galana]

I have also seen some excellent video of that type with the birds coming down at you under the water.

It must be very impressive to experience.  Hopefully accuracy is high. I don't care to think what 4Kg of bird coming down at 70mph, sharp end first, would do for my day.

Many wildlife photos are of course stage managed.

Thanks for the link.

 

Next White-tailed Eagles from the fish's eye.

Edited May 14, 2021 by Galana
added text.

[PeterHG]

Wonderful to get a glimpse of the Peregrine's offspring! And thank for the interesting info on the Gannets. It is quite spectacular to see them dive at such speed. I've only ever witnesses it once on the coast of Scotland ( way before it became independent ;))

[Soukous]

22 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

I've only ever witnesses it once on the coast of Scotland ( way before it became independent ;))

[Kitsafari]

Each time i watch in documentaries those gannets hitting the water like bullets, I am in awe of how precise they fold their wings and straighten like an arrow. 

 

your goldcrest is fab! 

[michael-ibk]

Cool Gannet sequence, and I do appreciate the streaky flycatcher. 😁

[Galana]

7 hours ago, PeterHG said:

I've only ever witnesses it once on the coast of Scotland ( way before it became independent ;))

I regularly see Gannets fishing. I doubt the world will ever see Scotland return to the independence she enjoyed prior to the Act of Union with England of 1707 when they were bankrupt as a country following huge losses in the Darien Scheme in 1700. As this is a bit off topic I will say noo more.

[Galana]

After a somewhat dank week end I headed for the cliffs with an ulterior motive and report all is well.

 

I thought to check up if the Auks were now ashore and breeding and there were three species that I could see. No Puffins were visible on the water and they are quite scarce here anyway.

But I did find enough of the others to do some modest 'product improvement' with two of them.

I cannot see into the ledges where the guillemots 'nest' as my shaking hands at the vertiginous drop makes the EBC go into auto fail.

So I took a long shot on the sea.

Common Guillemots and Razorbills.

A better comparison.

From that vantage point  a quick but careful scramble got me to a regular nest site for Razorbills and sure enough they were at home.

No sign of an egg yet but soon maybe.

Botanists may be interested that the plant to the left is Sea Campion Silene maritima

Then I retired home for a rest from my exertions for today. Not yet back in trim from a winter of covid enforced restraint as well as my bones being a year older.

[elefromoz]

@Galana, so much going on there on your little island. Firstly the Peregrine chicks...magic, hard to believe they grow into such a fearsome predator, good luck to the trio. The Whitethroat on the blossoms is a lovely Spring image, so I hope you're getting some of that. Terrific seeing the Razorbills and Guillimots on the rocky cliffs and ocean too.

[Kitsafari]

On 4/8/2021 at 10:32 PM, Galana said:

Seated at a Compooter while the wind howls outside is often relieved by me checking out my favourite Webcams.

Ospreys in Cumbria, Eagle Owls in Eifel and Peregrines in Nottingham.

 

 

Sadly, @Galana , the eagle owl chicks are no more. I turned on the video this morning in time to see the culprit preying on the chicks. i had to turn it off - quite heartbreaking as we had become so invested in the entertaining chicks. But quite fascinating behaviour by the  parent after that. 

 

 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Kitsafari said:

Sadly, @Galana , the eagle owl chicks are no more.

On 5/6/2021 at 4:02 PM, Galana said:

Lotte hatched all three eggs but the smallest did not make it to the eyes open stage.

Yes. I too saw the sad news and was about to update here.

From what I see the culprit ate both chicks. The site says "Raccoon" but I think they may mean Japanese RaccoonDog which was introduced into Eastern Europe by the fur trade and is now spreading and causing much damage in Europe.

 

So yes, Heartbreaking news and a wasted breeding year. I have to say I am surprised Lotte and Leo did not defend the nest. I know from experience that Eagle Owls will take small dogs as walkers in England were advised to keep their pets on a leash when close to a nest in Lancashire a few years back.

 

Better news from Nottingham where 'son of Archie' is prospering and from Cumbria (Foulshaw) where the first Osprey chick arrived this morning. Two more to hatch.

All well here too with my Three Musketeers.

[Kitsafari]

It did look like a raccoon and the parents weren't around. when I tuned in at around 3am+ (Germany time), the raccoon was eating the chicken. In the morning hours, one of the parents was eating one of the carcasses, then it propped up the other chick up a corner. Quite interesting. 

 

The falcon chick is growing!

 

Sorry I've hijacked your BY thread. 

[PeterHG]

Excellent views of the Razorbills and Guillemots.