The month started with three Twite and a Grey Wagtail on the 2^nd. The first Mistle Thrush and Ring Ouzel of the year arrived the following day, alongside a Black Redstart. The 4^th was highlighted by a White Wagtail at the Lighthouses, with the Ring Ouzel being joined by a second on the 6^th and 7^th. The 7^th also saw the first push of hirundines, with 154 Sand Martins being joined by 32 Swallows and two House Martins. A busier day on the 8^th had the first Tree Pipit, Crossbill and Blue Tit of the year, with a Siberian Chiffchaff trapped and a further 105 Sand Martins, 36 Swallows and 21 House Martins passing through. Another good arrival the following day saw 157 birds trapped, including two Grasshopper Warblers (with a further Grasshopper Warbler recorded on a camera trap in the Withies!), 67 Willow Warblers, 38 Chiffchaffs, 25 Blackcaps, and eight Lesser Redpolls. Away from ringing, the first Cuckoo of the year was briefly around the Withies. The 10^th saw a camera trap at the Puddle photographing the first Common Sandpiper of the season.

A Black Redstart was trapped, and a House Sparrow was present at the Obs. A Great Tit was notable on the 12^th, alongside a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, another Black Redstart trapped, and three White Wagtails recorded. The first two weeks of April ended with the first Feral Pigeon of the year and a male Ring Ouzel on the 14^th. Away from migration, Hooded Crows have started to lay their first eggs with more Shag eggs, Buzzards nest-building, most Wheatears are back on territory, Rock Pipits are parachuting and Water Rails still at the Obs and Withies.

The Estate Team is always kept busy chipping away at the job list, with the last fortnight being no different. Within the Observatory, we have been busy with decorating jobs ahead of the guest season. Fresh coats of paint have spruced up the guest lounge and kitchen areas, as well as important maintenance works in our lovely guest rooms. In the Observatory grounds, our allotment is growing well despite the dry spring, and we are looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labour (onions, potatoes, peas, chard, broccoli, herbs, and strawberries!). 

Additionally, we have recently enjoyed hosting the Manx Ornithological Society (MOS), or Manx Bird Club, for a touching service and opening of a garden in memory of Anne Kaye – a wonderful woman who was strongly connected with Manx conservation efforts and who dearly held the Calf close to her heart. She will be missed by many, not least her daughters, Tina and Aly, who share Anne’s love of the Calf. Several fruit trees have been donated by the MOS and planted by the Estate Team in Anne’s memory, which shall, it is hoped, one day provide both habitat and foraging opportunities for native species, and fruit for future wardens.

Our crane has recently been reinstated, having been in storage over the winter months (a fact for which we have often thanked our lucky stars, given the storms of the last winter). The wonderful Geoff, Chris, and Shaun from MNH came over and supervised the installation – an exciting development as we can now take fuel deliveries as well as facilitate much-needed improvements to our infrastructure, such as with a new generator system and a new water tank.

The team had been looking forward to an opportunity and a weather window to head over to Kitterland – one of the small islands in the Sound. With the kind help of John and Dave from the Harbours Dive Team, our Estate Team (as well as two of our wonderful estate volunteers) blew over in a RIB to complete biosecurity camera trap checks and important biodiversity surveying.

At the start of April, we welcomed Elizabeth and Lola, our Rock Pipit volunteers who have been exploring the Calf coastline mapping out the Rock Pipit territories. They have also got stuck in with Estate tasks, from scrubbing floors to digging up daffodils and skilfully herding sheep! Lola has now finished her stay at the Observatory and Tony will be on to replace her, but we get to keep Elizabeth for another two weeks.