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30th December 2007
First I watched the Ramsey Little Grebes, before I headed to the shore to see 15 Goldeneyes bobbing on the sea (and some courtship head rocking). Also saw Black Redstart, Turnstone and Redshank.
Overall, 2007 was a very good wildlife watching year which has provided 5 days when I’ve seen Minke Whales, 4 days seeing Rissos Dolphins. During the summer I’ve seen over 50 Basking Sharks and 100 Common Lizards. Most days throughout the year have provided sightings of Chough and Grey Seals. But my best wildlife moment this year has to be the Killer Whale, tremendous !
9th December 2007
It was nice to get out after the miserable weather recently. A male Hen Harrier passed by as I drove through Santon. Derbyhaven had 50+ Curlew, plus Wigeon, Brent Geese, Redshank and Stonechat. Strandall had Wigeon, Shelduck, Cormorant and a pair of very close Chough.
17th November 2007
Very windy day, but still good wildlife sightings. At Peel I saw Redshank, Cormorant and Shag. At Niarbyl there was a Hen Harrier crossing a hedgerow and lots of Starlings on the shoreline. There were good numbers of Grey Seals at the Sound, but I was unable to spot any pups. There have also been sightings of Raven and Chough today, which has been like most days this year. The waves at Kitterland were dramatic, crashing and pounding over the rocks. 20+ Lapwings zipped over the road at Carrick Bay. The Pale Bellied Brent Geese have returned to Derbyhaven and there were also Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher.
10th November 2007
I visited Eary Dam for Tufted Duck and Kionsleau for Ruddy Duck and Wigeon. Didn’t see any Mountain Hares today but I did see Black Grouse and a Hen Harrier. Poyll Dooey has Fieldfare, Redwing and then a wonderful Kingfisher sighting before it bolted off in a flash of electric blue. On my walk back to the car I saw two Little Grebe dipping and bobbing on the river. There was another Killer Whale sighting today, but unfortunately I missed seeing it by half an hour.
4th November 2007
Had a fantastic day out on a boat participating in the cetacean survey. Saw 6+ Rissos Dolphins (even a breach) off Port St Mary plus Minke Whales at Bulgham Bay. But the most extraordinary sight was a baby Basking Shark near Laxey, very rare for this time of year.
3rd November 2007
More Minke Whale sightings, this time I watched one for more than 2 hours. The whale only disappeared when a boat passed and once the boat had gone the whale reappeared. Also good sightings of Chough and Raven. Took an exhilarating ramble around Dhoon Glen which certainly blew away the cobwebs, it’s some walk back up from the bay, even after stopping for breath by the waterfall. Spent the evening at the Hen Harrier roost but there was little wind and therefore only a few Harriers.
20th October 2007
Took a tour south, first I called in at Langness to see Ravens, Curlew and Gannets. Saw my first Grey Seal pup of the season at Kitterland. Plus good sightings of Oystercatcher and Chough. There have been good Rissos Dolphins and Minke Whale sightings all week.
13th October 2007
Minke Whales whoo hoo ! First from the viewpoint in the centre of Laxey Bay, then around the corner from Ballaragh Road. Very close to shore and great sightings before the whale disappeared back around the headland. Also had close wild goat sightings and saw a Peregrine Falcon catch a small gull, possibly a Kittiwake. The only bad thing that happened to me today was I stepped in a dead sheep, nice.
28th September 2007
Another evening at Ballaugh watching the Hen Harriers at their winter roost. 6pm was a little too early. Greylag Geese and a Snipe kept us entertained until the first Hen Harrier at 6:30pm. Watched a small number of Pipestrelle Bats at St Judes, but I had no luck with Barn Owls again.
17th September 2007
I had an evening visit to Ballaugh to watch the Hen Harriers returning to their roost at 6:30pm, which was ideal timing. Had ten sightings even before the sunset at 7:30pm, but then it got very cold and I left to get back in the warm car. Couldn’t see any Barn Owls at St Judes, but I stopped at Sulby at the Long Eared Bat roost, but only two came out. I don’t blame them, it was freezing!
13th September 2007
Point of Ayre has several Golden Plover on the shingle and Grey Seals close to shore. Common Lizards were out again at my favourite spot at Ballaghennie, I must have seen over 100 lizard sightings this year. Further along Smeale there were Gannets and Terns. The ducks at Bishopscourt Glen nearly killed me for a bit of bread… don’t mess with a hungry Mallard.
5th September 2007
A lovely calm evening at Langness with Gannet, Grey Seals, Short Eared Owl and a Kestrel. Dark at 8pm, so went bat watching at Braddan church and saw some Pipestrelle using my infrared equipment. The Basking Shark season is now over, but it’s been a good year for me with over 50 sightings.
29th August 2007
Killer Whale from Fort Island ! A tremendous sighting and my first ever view of one of these enormous cetaceans. I also had Basking Shark and Arctic Skua sightings today, but nothing else seemed to matter after seeing an Orca.
27th August 2007
Had a relaxing stroll around Port Lewaigue which has superb views across the Maughold Brooghs. The Point of Ayre supported Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Knot. Five Common Lizards at Ballaghennie plus a good Raven sighting as it regurgitated up a pellet (I wasn’t keen enough to dissect it though… a bit too fresh for me!). There were more lizards at Rue Point plus a Sparrowhawk on route.
10th August 2007
I had lots of sightings at the Point of Ayre, including Red Throated Divers (presumably fledglings this year). From Rue Point there were Harbour Porpoise, Hen Harrier, Grey Seal, Sandwich Tern, Gannet and Manx Shearwaters. A walk through the Ballaugh Curraghs provided a peaceful conclusion to the day, with butterflies and dragonflies, but unfortunately no wallaby sightings.
8th August 2007
Lots of Basking Shark sightings again today, 10 in total at 3 different locations. I also saw a breach of something huge (presumably a shark) off Niarbyl. The splash was as big as a truck. Completed the day with a peaceful few minutes at the Tynwald Wildflower Garden.
31st July 2007
The Sound provided wonderful Chough and Grey Seal sightings but no Basking Sharks today. Sugarloaf is still packed with Kittiwakes and their vibrant calls. Visited Archallegan and enjoyed watching the Dragonflies as they skimmed the firepool…. one even landed on my shoulder.
29th July 2007
Lots of Basking Shark sightings at Peel today and I managed to provide over 20 tourists with their first view of these awesome creatures. Headed south and enjoyed wonderful sights at both Glen Maye and Niarbyl. The Sound provided more Basking Shark sightings as well as Grey Seals and Gannets.
28th July 2007
Port Mooar provided excellent Grey Seal sightings. There were lots of Common Lizards basking in the sun at the Ayres, my known lizard hot spots are providing good results! Walked the shoreline and watched 10+ Gannets plunge diving. Peel provided a couple of distant Basking Shark sightings but usually we get closer views.
16th July 2007
Basking Sharks are now regularly seen from Peel from my regular viewpoints. Then I headed south to The Sound where there were 40+ seals hauled out on Kitterland. Chough were flying arobatically around, I think I’ve seen Chough everyday I’ve been out so far this year.
8th July 2007
Orchids are still in flower across the Island. Arctic and Little Terns give a good plunge diving display from Rue Point. An Arctic Skua appeared from Ballaghennie and harried one of the returning Sandwich Terns, they flew acrobatically along the shore before the Tern dropped it’s Sand Eel and the Skua pillaged it’s reward.
1st July 2007
Fledgling Kestrels at Glen Helen and a female Hen Harrier at St Judes. Spooyt Vane waterfall is doing well with all the recent rain ! Watch two young Grey Seals at Cronk Y Bing as they played in the waves.
23rd June 2007
Heath Spotted Orchids are now in flower at Eary Cushlin. A male Hen Harrier flew close to my car as I drove over the mountains on my route south. A wonderful evening at The Sound with good Chough and Gannet sightings. I apparently only just missed seeing a Basking Shark which had been swimming between the shore and Kitterland.
10th June 2007
I had a pleasant afternoon at Niarbyl watching the swooping House Martins. Then an adult Chough landed nearby, followed by two fledglings which were then fed by their parent, I love Chough, they have so much character and they really look as though they enjoy flying. A female Eider and her 5 chicks were swimming between the rocks below, all of them diving for their food.
At 5pm we headed north to Ballaugh where the orchids were starting to flower (they seem to be later this year due to the poor start to the summer). Then we headed to Smeale and with the aid of my telescope had fantastic views of 12 Basking Sharks on the horizon.
9th June 2007
Arctic Terns were plunge diving from the Point of Ayre and returning to the shingle with Sand Eels. Ballaghennie was quiet but the were large numbers of Little Terns at Rue Point. Spent thirty minutes sat by the shore as the Little Terns flew past chirping to one another. Some of the diving Gannets were close to shore providing good sightings of their golden head plumage. Called in at Port Mooar to see Grey Seals, however the tide was in and most were swimming further offshore. Whitethroat sightings were very good today.
28th May 2007
Visited Sugarloaf and watched the Guillemots and Razorbills as they packed the ledges. The call of the auks and Kittiwakes makes an incredible noise which billows up from the bay onto our headland viewpoint. We also had sightings of Raven and Peregrine Falcon, plus several close views of Chough at The Sound.
15th May 2007
Spent the evening at Langness watching Risso’s Dolphins. I arrived at the shore at 6pm and spent 30 minutes scanning the sea and enjoying the singing Skylarks before the Rissos marked their appearance with a distant breach (this is the moment my heartbeat raced). The splash was easily visible on the surface of the calm sea. A total of 7 dolphins approached from the north, in formation to begin with, before separating. Some swam within 50 metres of the rocky shore and then they all headed further out to sea. There then followed 3 breaches by one of the larger grey adults, a spectacular sight. This signal appeared to gather them closer before they headed further offshore and disappeared out to sea. They returned thirty minutes later and participated in a group forage before once again they disappeared.
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