While on her way to monitor a chough nest site Lisa stumbled across a stunning male woodchat shrike. It is only the 3rd record since 1992 (when regular annual records began). It put on a great show all day as it fed non stop on bees and beetles! Some photos below
The bird favoured certain fence posts and bramble bushes in the centre of the island and made regular forays into the grass to pick off various large insects.
It was a good day for migrants all round with a female black redstart the pick of the rest. There was another fall of willow warbler and chiffchaffs with every bush seemingly alive with them. Blackcaps numbered 11 and we logged the first grasshopper warbler of the year. Visitors were treated to sight of 4 red kites as they drifted across from the mainland
50+ willow warblers were dotted around the island today
Quite a scare bird on Ramsey, 3 house sparrows arrived on SE wind a few days ago and one of the males has been singing ever since. A female was also present today - there is plenty of habitat and food for them out here so it would nice if they settle down to breed
42 pairs of linnet bred on Ramsey last year and this year looks like being another good one. Flocks of around 200-300 are present at the moment and males are singing from every available gorse bush. The low rabbit numbers means plenty of grass seed heads for them to feed on. This species is on the 'red list' in Wales so it is great to see it doing so well out here.