New Year Bird Race 2003

(A summary of the day by Ian Scott - legal advisor to the team)

Introduction

For those of you who may not be aware a bird race is a challenge to see as many different species of bird in one day as possible. For us this involves a first light start and a calculated visit to as many sites around the Island as possible given the limited daylight hours at this time of the year (a problem not prevalent during races in the Summer). A bird race basically brings out the ‘twitcher’ instinct in those involved, as there is little time available to study in detail any of the species located (unless the species found were to be so rare that the race became secondary). It is also a good way of getting your year list off to a flying start. There are few rules we have other than identification can be by visual or audible means and at least three of the group must see or hear the bird in question. The bird race we held on the 1^st January 2002 resulted in our seeing 83 different species throughout the Island, a figure that we thought was reasonable. Our aim this year was, obviously, to beat that total. As with last year the group consisted of myself, Chris, Rob and Kevin.

Thursday 2^nd January 2003, 7:00am.

Not the 1^st as planned several weeks earlier, however, poor weather and other reasons dictated that this was the next best alternative. Kevin and I set off from the South in the pitch black and in continual rain to head for Close Sartfield for a 7:30am start. At this time of the day in these conditions you begin to question your sanity! Not a single bird seen during the journey in the car - it would not be unusual to see a woodcock or owl in the headlights. However, on this occasion the birds had more sense than us.

7:40am

Arrive at Close Sartfield later than expected – I must get a car with five gears, but then again it’s cheap to run! Chris and Rob already there. Almost on cue, the rain stops and we get out of the car to find a relatively calm morning. New years greetings/abuse exchanged and off to the hide in the slim amount of light that is beginning to appear. The first bird of the day is also the most audible as a flock of the Greylag Geese resident in the Curraghs fly close by calling noisily.

7:45am

We climb the steps to the roof of the hide overlooking the Curraghs, a large area of bog rich in Willow scrub and dense vegetation. The Curraghs are known as the best site in the United Kingdom to observe Hen Harrier with many using the area to roost. It is also an excellent habitat for many other bird species and we were hoping, as ever, to get off to a flying start. Listening for several minutes it seemed the only birds we would hear were the cockerels from a farm in the distance although a number of Water Rail are soon heard screeching around us. The fact that we are so reliant on sounds at this time of the morning provides opportunity to test out a new ‘toy’ – a directional microphone which my eldest son received as a Christmas present marketed as a ‘spy listening device’. Despite the fact that it is plastic, powered by a single battery and has the appearance of a small satellite dish, it works and has an excellent ability of intensifying bird song (and whispered insults!). That aside the user runs the risk of very strange looks from anyone who catches them using it.  An alarm call from a Blackbird and similar from a Wren compensate for the lack of visibility. Teal are then heard in the distance along with Pheasant, Robin and Chaffinch. As with many of the birds, despite the confidence of seeing many later in the day it is always reassuring to get each one ‘under the belt’ at an early stage. As the light begins to improve, birds begin to be seen using straining eyes. The silhouettes of Carrion Crow and Mallard are observed flying overhead. The first Hen Harrier to be seen is a ‘ring-tail’. Several other Hen harriers including a couple of ghostly grey males flying within twenty metres of the hide soon follow this gliding silently at treetop height (which is no higher than the hide itself). A Moorhen then shouts just below the hide followed by a Reed Bunting calling nearby. As we are about to make our way back to the car Redpoll are heard, albeit distant. This is a definite bonus, as along with Water rail this site is almost the only location we would be confident of visiting during the limited hours available today where we had a strong chance of ‘ticking off’ these species.

 “Hand over the cash or the Water Rail gets it!” (Click on the photo for a larger image).

8:15am

Leaving the hide we ‘tiptoe’ silently (not easy given the normal combined weight of the four of us had not been assisted by the usual Christmas indulging) back along the raised wooden walkway to the car park, listening attentively as we go.  Some hundred metres or so from the hide a tit flock fly almost through us. In a panic with the realisation that the flock will vanish in seconds in the thick willow scrub with the still limited light we try to pin down the individual species. Long Tailed Tit is shouted out in the hope that everyone will note the distinctive tail of a number of the birds passing through. The subsequent bobbing of heads and twisting of bodies to gain a view through the scrub is reminiscent of some particularly bizarre, drink-fuelled dance! This bird is a definite bonus as it was one of those you couldn’t guarantee to get anywhere in particular. Along with the long tailed tits several Blue Tits are also present. Coal Tit is also heard before we reach the car.  

8:30am

All travelling in Chris’ Land Rover (which started the day in immaculate condition!) we arrive at a nearby field in the area of Ballamona Beg. In the heart of a field are (reliably) a flock of some 20+ Whooper Swan. On this occasion the local greylag flock have joined them. As the Land Rover stops and the four of us raise binoculars to the windows the geese take to the air and it is a frantic visual scan to locate the two Canada Geese that have been with the swans for the past week or more. Fortunately the Canada Geese have stuck with the swans and with that it is onwards to Ballaugh Cronk.

The Manx twist to the ugly duckling story

8:40am

Arriving at Ballaugh Cronk (coastal site) we find the sea conditions reasonably favourable, although it has started to drizzle again. On the approach to the car park a pair of Hooded Crow are obligingly perched on posts in wait. At the coastal sites we were relying heavily on Kevin and Rob’s telescopes to find any decent seabirds. That said, as soon as we exited the car a diver was visible some twenty metres off the shore. A quick check and it was conformed as Red Throated Diver, which was the most predictable of the three regular diver species we could expect to see. Other species at this site were Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Kittiwake, Starling, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Magpie, Curlew, Starling and Stonechat. The ringed plover were in good numbers some distance down the beach and despite a brief visual scan, none of the other small waders were found. Time being of a premium we decided to move on after some five minutes confident that the likes of Turnstone et al would be found at other sites later in the day. If only we had polished the crystal ball then!

8:50am

For only the second time in my life (the previous being during last years bird race in May) we arrive at a small coastal access in the area of Ballagarraghyn. Although only a short distance further up the islands West coast from Ballaugh, the sea conditions were already visibly deteriorating. Almost as soon as Kevin had his scope assembled on the tripod he announced the presence of a fine male Red Breasted Merganser just off the shore some quarter of a mile South (left). This was the sort of occasion the scopes came into their own as the bird was simply a dot in standard 10x50 binoculars and identification would have been almost impossible.

9:15am

We arrive at the area of the Lhen, stopping at the thatched cottage set slightly back from the road, alongside which is a further coastal access track. The area of the cottage is a well-known site for Tree Sparrow, although the empty seed feeders and lack of the normal good numbers of birds as we arrived were a concern. As we stop to look in more detail a Song Thrush is observed in the hedge. Our initial concerns of the lack of birds were soon abated as two Tree Sparrows were soon spotted in the tree by the roadside. Again this was a relief as there is only one other site where we had a chance of this particular species. Before we head down to the coast (which proved fruitless) a pair of Collard Dove were spotted on the overhead power lines.

9:30am

Driving to the next coastal site (Blue Point), a number of thrushes are announced as being on a telegraph wire a few hundred metres from the road on our nearside. Chris braked in a controlled manner and once the tyres regained grip on the road the vehicle had stopped with the birds behind us. This then involved a contorted twist of arms and necks to see out of the two nearside windows that had not misted up. Two Mistle Thrush were spotted. Almost at the same time a Grey Wagtail was heard calling in flight overhead.

9:35am

Blue point is another coastal site that is approached on a single-track road that drops sharply to the car park by the beach. Before this drop access is possible to the cliff that overlooks the coast and gives excellent views of several miles in each direction from a height above sea level of some fifty metres or so. For the previous couple of weeks a small flock of Common Scoter and a single Velvet Scoter had been observed regularly, however, during the previous few days the Velvet Scoter had not been seen. Getting out of the vehicle the first thing noticed was the distinct drop in temperature. As forecast, the wind had changed from North-West to North-East and was picking up strength. After a short walk to the cliff face, a scan of the sea quickly locates the Common Scoter several hundred metres South of our position. True to recent form the Velvet Scoter was not to be seen. Black Throated Diver was then spotted ahead of us close to the shore. A few seconds later Kevin announced that he had a diver in his scope flying some considerable distance out. Given the then rough state of the sea this posed a problem for the rest of us to locate it. It was also impractical for Kevin to step away from the scope to give the rest of us a view, as he would undoubtedly loose sight of it. I manage to spot the ‘dot’ in my binoculars as it lands on the water and Kevin confirms by this fact that we are looking at the same bird. It is then identified as Great Northern Diver and Chris is then able to get a view down the scope to enable the bird to be added to the list. Shag is also spotted before we head back to the car to warm up.

10:00am

Driving down the road to Smeale we stop alongside a tree with some activity in the branches. Although these turn out to be Redwing, a Greenfinch is heard flying overhead. We continue on to the coast and leave the warmth of the Land Rover to walk through the track between the dunes to the shore emerging onto the beach only a few metres from the then high tide. Conditions were very poor with a rough sea and a now very strong wind blowing from the North. The result was that any bird on the sea (had there been any!) would be visible for only a split second on the crest of waves before dropping into the trough out of sight. Add to that the fact that most bird species in this area would be diving underwater to feed continually and you have a small comprehension of the problems we faced. We had hoped for Sanderling and other small waders here, however, searching through the swirling sandstorms on the beach revealed nothing living in the post apocalyptic scene. Trying to stare down binoculars whilst facing into a freezing wind has only one result – streaming tears down your face and blurred vision. The desire to add Sanderling to the list is soon insignificant in comparison to the lure of the warm Land Rover waiting a short distance away when your hands are beginning to drop off and after an epic two or three minutes scanning the area we head back and drive off to the next coastal site en route North at Ballaghennie. Although the option was open to us at this juncture to detour and walk in the freezing conditions some ten minutes to a nearby plantation for a chance of Treecreeper, Goldcrest and very remote chance of Crossbill and Long Eared Owl our common sense (or cowardice?) prevailed and we drove on to Ballaghennie.

10:15am

The track to Ballaghennie was flooded significantly in several parts that provided Chris a chance to ‘test’ the abilities of his recently acquired vehicle (see below). In similar conditions to Smeale (although with slight shelter) the only bird seen is Cormorant.

Ballaghennie opens new car wash facility!

10:35am

Driving along the long road to the Point of Ayre we pass a number of fields that have been good for the likes of Lapwing in recent weeks. The road is  well used as an access to the Civic amenity site for rubbish disposal, access to the working gravel pits and access to the landfill site. In one of the fields we come across a flock of some sixty or more greylag geese interspersed with several cross-bred plastic (domestic x greylag geese) that would apparently be the flock from the nearby gravel pits. “Worth checking them for White Front” says Chris inexplicably, conscious of the fact that none of us had seen White Fronted Goose on the Isle of Man to date. In almost the same breath Chris then shouts “WHITE FRONT!!” and the resultant dialogue is unfit for publication. All of a sudden the race is put on hold as we abandon the vehicle to photograph and video the White Fronted Goose. It was first-rate specimen with the distinctive ‘tiger stripes’ showing well on the belly. As we stand there with scopes and cameras on show, a farmer pulled alongside in a ‘working’ Land Rover to inform us frivolously “Not much pure in them ye know”. Once the explanation of the presence of a white front was given with an in depth narrative his expression changed to one of bewilderment and he drove off probably wishing he had never opened his mouth. Whilst viewing the white front the Lapwing flock are seen flying over the field behind, as were two Ravens. A party of five Skylark also fly overhead before we return to the job in hand and set off the short distance to the Point of Ayre, the John O’ Groats of the Isle of Man.

 Chris confirms the presence of only one White Fronted Goose!

10:50am

The state of sea had diminished even further by the time we reached the Point, which has a notorious tidal rip on the calmest of days. It took almost no time (and no necessity to get out of the car) to decide that viewing here was pointless (or more to the point would have been considered masochistic). 

This year’s ‘spot the auk’ contest is sponsored by ……

11:00am

Stopping off at the entrance track to the gravel Pits brought further disappointment as no sign could be found of the Red-legged partridge this area was renowned for. Despite a suggestion of stopping at the landfill site to scan the high hundreds of gulls circulating in a mass swirling movement, reminiscent of a snowstorm, for the chance of a white winged gull (a term referring to species such as Iceland and Glaucous) we realise that we would have better fun (and probably much more success) entering a testicle skewering contest and continue on our way, stopping briefly once more by the White Fronted Goose for some further footage opportunity.

Highlight of the day!

11:20am

The approach to Glascoe Dubh has us straining our necks to see into the surrounding fields to locate the resident flock of some 12 or so Pink Footed Geese which winter in this area each year. They can normally be as reliable as Herring gulls at a tip; however, Murphy's Law has started to rule the day and not a single bird can be seen. With only six new species added in the past hour and a half morale is starting to flag and would surely have been at rock bottom but for the earlier White Fronted Goose. The dubh itself can be an excellent site from time to time with many different ducks and waders having graced its water and adjacent fields. Only a couple of weeks earlier it had been the location of a first winter Common Crane, although this bird had not been seen for several days. It's disappearance was, coincidentally, around the same time one appeared in Leicestershire. Although the usual mallard flock was present, there was very few ducks out on the water. We were soon boosted though by the presence of a female Pochard that was only visible between frequent dives for food. Pochard was not a cast-iron tick for the day at any of the sites we had planned. The same did not apply to a male Goldeneye and Wigeon also out on the dubh, with flocks present throughout the winter at sites yet to be visited in both the North and South of the Island.

11:30am

A flooded field near to Glascoe is checked. A vast number of Wigeon are in attendance along with black-headed gulls. Further detailed inspection locates a Redshank strutting around a central grass Island. With no sign of the Pink Footed geese here, and additionally an absence of Red Legged Partridge from an adjacent field, in which Chris had observed seven, two days earlier, we head on aware that we have undoubtedly now dipped on these species.

11:55am

After a brief stop at the garage in Ramsey to refuel (pies that is, not petrol!) we drive down to Port Lewaigue car park which has a view over Ramsey bay and good habitat behind it. Whilst devouring the pies and sampling Chris’ ‘special’ coffee (which reached the parts other coffees don’t reach), we spot a couple of Rock Pipits around the shore. Behind us a Dunnock calls. Rob must have been hard of hearing at this point as he ventured off into the undergrowth for a better listen for a minute!

12:10pm

Driving South along the TT course towards Sulby I announce that according to my records we are short of raptors  compared to last year. Seconds later I spot one flying at considerable height above the pine trees on Sky Hill. Whilst Rob was able to see it, Chris had to perform one of his ‘manoeuvres’ again to enable him to press his nose to the windscreen and look upwards. Although Kevin was on the wrong side of the vehicle to get a view of the bird before it vanished into the plantation enough of us saw it to add Sparrowhawk to the list.

12:15pm

We park at the side of the Sulby Glen Hotel. Tortured by the fact we would not on this occasion be venturing inside to sample the merchandise, we got on with the reason for the stop - the optimism of finding the Siskin that are usually present in the area. Walking up and down the road we can only add Great Tit and House Sparrow to the list. Whilst Chris has regularly had Siskin in his own garden he announces “My nuts are empty at the moment!” a comment which he instantly regretted due to the resultant hysteria and innuendos that then filled the car for some considerable time.

12:25pm

A stop at Bishops Dubh gives excellent views of a large number of Snipe from the car despite their best attempts at camouflage. A short distance down the road passing Bishops Court itself at speed, I spot what I perceive to be a raptor species sat on a round bale of straw in a roadside field. Due to the rate of knots we were travelling at none of the others managed a view and a decision was taken to turn around further down the road and return in the hope that it was a Kestrel or similar. Once we had diced with the traffic and returned I was disappointed to find that a Mistle Thrush had evidently chased off the raptor, as it was now perched in exactly the same position on the bale in question! 

12:50pm

Peel provided a couple of extra ticks in the form of Mute Swan at the top end of the harbour and Feral Pigeon on the roof of a house but these were not what we had come here for. This location saw us dip once again as the small Purple Sandpiper flock that we were targeting had obviously chosen to shelter in an area out of view - typical.  A scan of the sea from the breakwater just below the castle was also fruitless. We would have to hope for the likes of Black Guillemot at Derbyhaven.

It dawns on us that the only Purple things to be seen around here were our fingers!

1:20pm

We arrive at Kionslieu and Eairy reservoirs close to Foxdale. Again these waters (particularly the Kionslieu) have produced some excellent species during the past few months including Goosander, Ruddy Duck and Gadwall. Walking along the path at the side of the Kionslieu all that can be noted are a few Coot. Two Whooper swans are visible on the grounds of the house which overlooks the reservoir, but otherwise the ‘celebrity’ species are either not present or in hiding. The swans provide a quick chance to practice some digiscoping and the below shot was taken using a Canon camcorder (handheld) through Rob’s telescope at a distance of roughly 300metres. A view from the car across the Eairy Dam locates a nice male Pochard and several Tufted Duck.

2:07pm

Rumbling stomachs announce the time for food break at my house in Colby (where the remnants of a New Years day buffet are demolished in under three minutes). Predictably Wood Pigeon are present in abundance in the Sycamore to the rear of the house on arrival. On our departure some five minutes later five Siskin are observed in the trees around the house (Unlike Chris, my nuts are always bursting - sadly!!).

2:25pm

Sandwick is a small part of Castletown Bay that borders the Castletown Golf Links course and is home to a good colony of Chough and many waders. Before the car has stopped as we pull up on the sandy track we have Shelduck on the list. Bar Tailed Godwit joins this shortly after with a lone bird just supporting Kevin's claim a short time before of it being a certainty at this location. A flock of small birds pass the car landing onto the track behind us. Although Linnet is picked out, it requires our extrication from the car to add the Twite that were present in the mixed flock.

2:35pm

Stinky Dubh at Langness is so called due to the ‘fascinating’ aroma from tons of seaweed that decay throughout the year around its side, washed up following stormy weather. It is a salt-water pool that floods on the high water and a well-known birding location in the South of the Island only a few yards from Sandwick. We have arrived at low water, normally the worst time for this location. The reason for this is that we had discovered Derbyhaven, on the other side of the Golf Course, was far better at low water and had been harbouring several good species in the previous week. That aside two pairs of Eider are observed at the waters edge some distance from the road.

2:50pm

Derbyhaven at low water. The reason for our arrival at this time is that the surface area of seawater in the bay is reduced by easily two thirds into a small area on the side of the bay by the Golf Links Hotel. This means only a third as much water to search for the sea birds we were after.  Our target species here were Great Northern Diver (which had already been eliminated at Blue Point), Slavonian Grebe, Little Auk , Black Guillemot and Long Tailed Duck, all of which had been in the bay for several weeks. We were not disappointed, although the Little Auk took a considerable amount of finding being only the size of a song thrush and only on the surface for a couple of seconds between long dives. Kevin had become somewhat of an expert in finding this bird over the past few weeks and it was he who eventually tracked one down (though two were then found to be present). Little Auk was a ‘lifer’ for Rob that regrettably moves him one closer to my own Manx list total. That said us Division 3 players are still significantly behind Chris and Kevin battling it out in the Premiership some 60 or 70 species ahead of us. During our time scanning Derbyhaven Bay the large flock of Curlew flew up from the breakwater some distance out. With the others too engrossed in locating the Long tailed Duck to realise the significance, it was down to me to point out the Peregrine that had caused this disturbance - now flying high directly above us. We leave here with 80-recorded species in my notebook. Less than an hours light left and only three short of last years total we begin to see a chance of victory.

The ‘not so’ famous four at Derbyhaven. (Photo by Mr P.Falcon)

3:30pm

Light is now failing fast. We arrive at Strandhall (the beach at the bottom of Fishers Hill). We are now grasping at straws for species we have missed, which include a good number of waders. Things do not look good with only Oystercatchers and Wigeon seen. For some reason I think Kevin must have been eating carrots by the bucketful as his spotting during this hour was nothing short of miraculous, though I  thought it was only sprouts and cabbage that could produce the other deed he was exceptional in all day! Grey Plover was a real eye strain but eventually under Kevin's directions we had it. A Dunlin was also a bird we did not expect to get so excited about.

3:45pm

We move around the corner onto Pooilvaaish and an area Kevin knew had a flock of some 150 Golden Plover regularly. Getting really fraught now, we dive from the car and scopes are set up to scan the bleary wrack-strewn rocks extending several hundred metres from the road towards the sea. Even Curlew at close range requires optical assistance in this light. No sign of the Plovers for several minutes and we are about to give up and admit defeat when Kevin announces that he has one in his scope. "It’s only it’s head", he tells Rob, who bends down to look. “Can’t see it” Rob replies. Centre of the scope is the instruction given; yet still Rob struggles before finally letting out an exclamation and allowing me to then view it. Inspirational and bizarre are two of the words I would use to describe how Kevin must have found the Golden Plover. It was staring straight at the lens of the scope and was just a head, popping out above a shelf of wrack-covered rock with a background of wrack-covered rock. The colour of the plover was almost the same as the wrack; it was motionless (not even blinking) and made up no more than 1% of the total view. To have found such a dot in a sea of brown in dull light was scary. The White Front may have been the bird of the day, however, this was without question the moment of the day that will stick in our minds. This also presented us with a dilemma. By my reckoning this made our total 83 – exactly last years total.  We couldn’t leave it there with at least two minutes light left so we decided to head for Port St Mary where there is another small flock of Purple Sandpipers.

3:55pm

Driving along Kentraugh we observe a flock of small birds fly over the road from left to right. Realising that Goldfinch were still missing from the list we were keen to identify these birds. However, for some reason I looked left, away from the birds, only to spot a Kestrel in the field alongside us. I announced its presence somewhat loudly and must apologise to the driver of the car following us for the reaction this brought about in Chris! Three twisted necks later and the others picked up on the kestrel that landed obligingly on a fence post. 84! Despite our success we continued onto Port St Mary, but to no avail. By now it was past dusk and darkness had fallen once more. We drove back to Close Sartfield to pick up my car, ever hopeful of an owl – dream on!

And so that was it …… well nearly. The only other thing you can predict about any bird race I am involved in is that my maths always requires some improvement. By the time we checked and triple checked what had been seen we have (two days later) agreed that we actually saw 87 species.  As to the missing three, I still am not sure what they were, but as this record has been prepared from my notes made on the day the full list below will contain the missing birds (answers on a postcard to…)

 Full list of species recorded.