For the first time ever on the Calf... Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were caught in a season! Amazingly, they were both caught on the same day! It provided a nice comparison between female and male as well. This represents the 18th Calf record. #ukbirding #birdringing

Recent highlights: Black Redstart & 525 Meadow Pipit on 24th. 1st for the year: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Ring Ouzel, Greenfinch and Grey Plover (44th Calf record!). Ringing stars: two more Sparrowhawks and the first Greenfinch, Dunnock & Great Tit of the autumn. #ukbirding #birdringing

This week we had our 1st autumn records of Skylark, Blue & Great Tit, and a Sparrowhawk ringed. Two Puffin were seen on 15th, with 77 House Martin on 13th, and 3 Canada Goose & 915 Razorbill on 17th. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdringing

Wryneck trapped and ringed at the Observatory this morning! It is the 41st Calf record (first since 2019) and the 22nd to be ringed on the island. A surprise on a quiet morning - amazing to see up close! @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdringing #rarebirds

A stormy week, with highlights from seawatching on 1st: Common Scoter, over 4,000 of each Manx Shearwater and Kittiwake, and the first Arctic Skua of the year. The first Grey Seal pups have been born as well 🦭 @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding #seawatching

This week's high counts: 829 Shag (23rd), 211 Swallow (26th) & 86 White Wagtail (29th). Also first autumn Goldcrest (25th) & Teal (29th). Personal favourite: using the drone to survey Purple Sandpipers in their hidden cave. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding

Another windy week on the Calf! Wagtails and Pipits are starting to move, with the first White Wags seen. One of my favourite parts of autumn is Robin migration - small numbers of birds are starting to pass through. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdringing

Tree Pipit migration is picking up and the Sparrowhawks are following! Black-headed Gulls are frequent and the first Purple Sandpipers are back. Recent star birds: 4 Little Egrets, a Med Gull and two Arctic Terns. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdringing

It's been a bit quiet lately, but recent highlights include some Willow Warbler passage, early autumn Tree Pipits, the first returning Turnstone and some Storm Petrel ringing sessions. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdringing

Highlights of last week: Sandwich Tern, two Treecreeper at the Obs, four Rook and the first push of Sedge Warblers ringed. Shag & Linnet flocks are both increasing, whilst Black-headed Gulls & Common Sandpipers are moving through. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding

It feels like autumn now! 1st records of Redshank and Common Gull, with returning warblers & hirundines and dispersing Song Thrush, Woodpigeon & Starling. Breeding birds wise: 1st fledged gulls and baby Wrens everywhere! @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding

Recent firsts: gull chicks ringed, Red-veined Darters (1st & 2nd Calf record), Oystercatcher fledgelings, and autumn Grey Wagtails & Swifts (one of the best return Swift passages in a decade). @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social 📷Sheila Norris #swiftawarenessweek #ukbirding

Recent weather: fog to start, but brightened up to sunny and Green! A Green Warbler was trapped and ringed at the Observatory yesterday morning - if accepted by BBRC this will constitute the first record for the Isle of Man! @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding

Trickle of autumn migrants this week (📸 Lesser Whitethroat and failed-breeder Willow Warbler). Seawatch on 13th produced 3 Wigeon (2nd Jun record) and three Gadwall (4th Calf record). First Puffins on land seen taking off from South Harbour. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

A quiet week on the Calf, with star bird indubitably being a male Blue-headed Wagtail (8th Calf record). Seawatching produced unseasonal Common Scoters, Shag flocks are building up offshore and there are lots of gull chicks running around! @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

We're looking for keen birders to join us in monitoring the wonder of autumn migration on the Calf of Man! Please email calfbirdwarden@mwt.im for more information on how to apply. 🗓 The deadline for applicants is Friday 17th July @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

The Spotted Flycatchers have finally arrived! Other recent highlights: Ringed Plover on the deck, Reed Warbler, Moorhen (1st since 2022), Tree Sparrow, singing Rosefinch (38th record) and Great Crested Grebe (1st May record). @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding

Star bird this week was a Subalpine Warbler (putative Western) trapped and ringed at the Obs. Also new for the year were Osprey, Stock Dove, Red-throated and Great Northern Diver. Whimbrel passage included this bird from Iceland! @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding

Migration highlights from the last week include Cuckoo, 'acredula-type' Willow Warblers, an arrival of Whitethroats, one Fieldfare, Purple Sandpipers, a light passage of hirundines and some particularly stunning Lesser Redpolls. @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

Delayed post but we're back in business! Meet the 2026 team: Eleanor Grover returns as Bird Warden, joined by a fantastic new group: Marcia Webberley (Assistant BW), Chloe Attrill (Assistant EW) and Jasmine Smith (Estate Warden). @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

Fancy experiencing life on a remote island bird observatory? We're looking for spring/summer volunteers (see following thread)! 1/4 *Appointment of these voluntary positions is conditional upon the outcome of a tender that has not yet been awarded (as of 30/01/26). Shag and birding 📸s: Kate Fox

The Calf of Man won Environmental Initiative of the Year 🏆🎉 This award recognises the vital conservation work undertaken by past and present wardens and volunteers and the important partnership between @manxheritage.bsky.social and @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social. Thank you to all involved!

Last weekend we closed down the observatory and said goodbye to the Calf for the winter. It's been a great season - thanks to all who have helped to make this year a success! 📸 @birdingfox.bsky.social @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

A windy day took an exciting turn this morning with this beaut of a Buzzard caught! A young female, she is only the second Buzzard to be ringed on the Calf. @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdringing

A real gem waiting for us on the outside of the moth trap this morning. What a moth!!! @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

Kate Fox@birdingfox.bsky.social · 12mo ago

It’s always exciting getting a first for the Calf in the moth trap… but even more special when they are as stunning as this OLEANDER HAWKMOTH! 🤩 @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

🐦 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

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

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

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

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