AN
INTRODUCTION TO BIRDWATCHING ON THE ISLE OF MAN
For the birdwatcher the Isle of Man offers a rich assortment of species,
several of which are rarities in other parts of the British Isles, in
a variety of habitats of exceptional beauty.
The Island is about 31 miles / 50 km in length and 12 miles / 20 km
at its broadest point and occupies a central position in the northern
part of the Irish Sea. It is dominated by two ranges of hills, clad
in heather or grass moorland which rise to 2034 ft/621 m. at Snaefell
in the north and to 1585 ft/483 m. at South Barrule. There are flat,
but ornithologically valuable lowlands in the north (which include the
Ayres and Ballaugh Curragh) and the southeast with the Langness peninsula.
The coastline is mostly composed of slate cliffs, interrupted here and
there by sandy bays and tiny shingle coves. In the north there are sand
dunes which separate the lowland heath of the Ayres from the sea, while
across the narrow Sound off the south-west point of the main is a hilly
islet, the Calf of Man, site of an important Bird Observatory administered
by Manx National Heritage (MNH).
Well-marked long distance footpaths explore almost the entire coast,
providing frequent opportunities of seeing such Manx specialities as
Peregrine, Chough and Raven. Fulmar and Shag are widely distributed
but there are only four Cormorant colonies. A few of the more spectacular
cliffs have Kittiwake and Guillemot colonies, while there is a good
scatter of places where Black Guillemots nest. Stonechats are common
on the gorse and bramble scrub, which is such a typical feature of the
steep coastal brooghs - a Gaelic word for the grassy slopes, which lead
down to the sea. Except for the height of the summer, parties of Purple
Sandpiper can be found at several well-established sites on the rocky
coast. Little Tern, with as many as seventy pairs in some years, are
the most important breeding birds of the Ayres shore.
The Millennium Way takes the walker from Sky Hill near Ramsey 27 miles/42
km. over the hills and through farmland to Castletown. This is Raven
country, with the possible chance of Merlin; but the bird of the Manx
hills is now the Hen Harrier, which first nested in 1977 in the failed
plantation of Glen Rushen. There has since been a rapid expansion throughout
all appropriate habitats. By 1990 more than forty pairs were nesting
and the largest roost in Western Europe had become established in the
Ballaugh Curraghs, with smaller numbers at Stoney Mountain.
Along the fast flowing streams Grey Wagtails are common, but surprisingly
the Dipper is almost unknown and while Common Sandpipers are seen regularly
on passage, they have rarely bred. Many of these streams pass through
wooded glens where Chiffchaff, the increasingly successful Blackcap
and Treecreeper are the typical birds - Silverdale, Port Soderick and
Laxey Glens are best for birds while Ballaglass, Tholt-y-Will, Glen
Helen and Glen Maye have the finest scenery. The steep wooded slopes
overlooking the northern plain have breeding Sparrowhawks and Woodcock
and here there is always the chance of a Wood Warbler in May.
Much of the moorland has been turned over to conifer plantations. Some
have been established for more than 100 years and have ornithologically
attractive clearings and areas of failed plantation. During the last
decade Siskin, and more recently Crossbill, have begun to colonise the
coniferous plantations, while the smaller plantations and shelter belts
frequently support a pair of Long-eared Owls (as in Ireland, the commonest
owl) and the very young plantations may attract Short-eared Owls.
Of the several reservoirs, Kerrowdhoo holds a variety of wildfowl in
winter, as do the two smaller Foxdale dams - Eairy and Kionslieu. In
the north, the tiny Glascoe Dub and nearby Ballacorey are always worth
a look.
Curragh or willow carr is one of the most important habitats, the prime
example being Ballaugh Curragh, a considerable expanse of marshland
supporting a rich growth of willow and birch, together with Bog Myrtle.
Renowned for its great Hen Harrier roost, it has a fine variety of birdlife
at all seasons. The less extensive Greeba Curragh, stretching eastward
from St. John's, is easily reached by the old railway track from which
roding Woodcock can invariably be seen on spring evenings.
