Sunday, 19th April 2015

After yesterday today was rather quiet until late afternoon when IG flushed two Richard's Pipits out of a patch of rough grassland by the water meadows! They were very flighty and vocal but settled into an area of grassland by one of the old tanks. They were extremely difficult to see when they were feeding due to the height of the grass hence only a few crap record shots. This is the first spring record for the Obs and two together makes it even more amazing. All the previous records have been in autumn bar one winter record. Also of note today was an 'acredula' type Willow Warbler trapped & ringed.

Richard's Pipit

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 2 Shovelers east, 22 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers east, 46 Little Gulls and 37 Sandwich Terns.

Visible Migration 

3 Whimbrels east, 4 Carrion Crows north-east, 1 Sand Martin north-east, 27 Swallows north-east, 4 Alba Wagtails north-east, 6 Tree Pipits north-east, 15 Meadow Pipits north-east, 11 Goldfinch east, 46 Linnets east 1 Chaffinch north and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants:

10 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Wheatears, 2 White Wagtails and 2 Richard's Pipits.

 

 Richard's Pipit

Others 

2 Whooper Swans, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 103 Ringed Plovers, 600 Knots, 72 Sanderlings, 800 Dunlins, 2 Snipe, 1 Whimbrel, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 125 Turnstones and 2 Twite.

Ringing 

1 Dunnock, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Tit, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Linnet and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 'Acredula' type Willow Warbler