Saturday, 29th March 2014

Another big visible migration day today with a big push of Meadow Pipits moving through, another Osprey flew north late in the day and the first Swallow of the spring was seen. Offshore the highlight was the Black-throated Diver being seen again, but the rarest bird by far was the finding of two Grey Partridges. This species bred on the peninsula until becoming locally extinct in the late eighties. This is the first record at the Obs since three were seen in the hard weather of December 2010.

Meadow Pipit

Offshore 

2 Shelducks east, 2 Teal east, 7 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers east & 2 on the sea, 1 Gannet west, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Sandwich Terns east.

Visible Migration

1 Osprey flew north along the eastern side of the peninsula late afternoon, 1 Buzzard north, 3 Golden Plovers east, 7 Woodpigeons east, 12 Sand Martins north-east, 1 Swallow north-east, 38 Alba Wagtails east/north-east, 2,573 Meadow Pipits east/north-east, 1 Chaffinch east, 3 Greenfinch east, 29 Goldfinch east, 9 Siskins east, 24 Linnets east and 1 Redpoll east.

 

 Pied Wagtail

Grounded Migrants 

11 Sand Martins over the pools, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 37 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

 

 Wheatear

Others 

14 Teal, 6 Shovelers, 2 Grey Partridges, 11 Ringed Plovers, 600 knots, 85 Sanderlings and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

 

 Small Tortoiseshell

Friday, 28th March 2014

After overnight rain there was an obvious arrival of Wheatears this morning and a cracking male Ring Ouzel was grounded. The rain eased at 07:30 and Meadow Pipits were on the move with another 886 moving across the bay. The first Osprey of the spring flew north late morning.

Osprey

Offshore

3 Shelducks east, 24 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 6 Gannets east, 21 Kittiwakes east and 1 Little Gull east. Also 1 Atlantic Grey Seal.

Visible Migration

1 Osprey north late morning, 1 Sparrowhawk east, 2 Woodpigeons east, 2 Carrion Crows north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail north-east, 25 Alba Wagtails north-east, 886 Meadow Pipits north-east, 7 Chaffinch east, 18 Goldfinch east, 7 Siskins east, 3 Linnets east and 1 Reed Bunting east.

 

 Carrion Crows

Osprey

Grounded Migrants

7 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Ring Ouzel, 55 Wheatears and 1 Stonechat.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Goldcrest

Others

4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 125 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 63 Black-tailed Godwits and 160 Turnstones.

Thursday, 27th March 2014

Offshore

35 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 1 Black-throated Diver, 6 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Gannet east, 14 Kittiwakes east, 1 Guillemot east and 2 Auk sp. east.

 

 Black-throated Diver (above & below)

Visible Migration

14 Whooper Swans north, 1 Peregrine in-off, 6 Woodpigeons east, 2 Grey Wagtails north-east, 14 Alba Wagtails north-east, 148 Meadow Pipits north-east, 15 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskin east and 12 Linnets east.

 

 Whooper Swans

Grounded Migrants:

10 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 17 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

 

 Chiffchaff

 

 Gooldcrest

Others 

11 Ringed Plovers, 22 Grey Plovers, 55 Sanderlings, 6 Snipe, 78 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Stock Doves.

 

Please note that the ringing totals for Fleetwood Bird Observatory, to include 2013, have been updated over on the lower right.

Wednesday, 26th March 2014

Clear skies and light north-easterlies produced another push of visible migrants this morning. The surprise of the day was at dinner time when alarm calling gulls alerted us to a high flying White Stork flying north over the centre of the peninsular. It was a bit distant and a quick dash to the high point of the Obs could not relocate it. The problem with White Storks is that we don`t know if they are genuine wild birds or the free flying birds from Yorkshire! Without seeing the birds on the ground and checking the legs for colour rings its anyone's guess.

Offshore

1 Shelduck east, 2 Teal east, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 17 Common Scoters east, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers east & 2 on the sea, 2 Gannets east, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 7 Kittiwakes east, 2 Guillemots east, 1 Razorbill and 4 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

100 Pink-footed Geese north-east, 1 White Stork north at 12:35, 2 Stock Doves east, 35 Woodpigeons east, 3 Jackdaws east, 1 Rook east, 30 Carrion Crows north-east, 4 Sand Martins north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail north-east, 34 Alba Wagtails north-east, 764 Meadow Pipits north-east, 10 Chaffinch east, 3 Greenfinch east, 43 Goldfinch east, 10 Siskins east, 13 Linnets east and 1 Reed Bunting east.

 

 Carrion Crows

Distant White Stork (honest!)

Grounded Migrants

4 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

 

 Wheatear

Others 

38 Wigeons, 37 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Peregrine, 80 Sanderlings, 11 Snipe,  175 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull,1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Stonechat.

 

 Peregrine

 

Please note that the ringing totals for Fleetwood Bird Observatory, to include 2013, have been updated over on the lower right.

Tuesday, 25th March 2014

There was the first big Meadow Pipit movement of the spring today with 1,115 moving from 05:30 until 08:15 when a band of rain came in and grounded the birds. A check of the favoured fields during the morning found at least 400 grounded birds.

Offshore 

2 Shelducks east, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 11 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 2 Sandwich Terns east.

Visible Migration 

3 Golden Plovers east, 3 Woodpigeons east, 3 Grey Wagtails east, 28 Alba Wagtails east/north-east, 1,115 Meadow Pipits east/north-east, 2 Chaffinch east, 1 Siskin east and 15 Linnets east.

 

 A few of the Meadow Pipits

Grounded Migrants:

11 Goldcrests, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Redwings, 3 Wheatears, 400 Meadow Pipits and 2 Reed Buntings.

Others

2 Goldeneyes, 1 Buzzard, 13 Ringed Plovers, 65 Sanderlings, 93 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Stonechat.

 

 Sanderling

Monday, 24th March 2014

A frosty start with calm sunny conditions produced a decent push of visible migrants this morning.

Offshore 

5 Greylag Geese west, 12 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 2 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Kittiwakes east, 26 Little Gulls and 4 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

5 Whooper Swans east, 95 Woodpigeons east, 7 Jackdaws east, 26 Carrion Crows north-east, 2 Skylarks north-east, 37 Alba Wagtails north, 454 Meadow Pipits north, 3 Chaffinch east, 1 Greenfinch east, 15 Goldfinch east, 7 Siskins east, 19 Linnets east, 6 Twite east, 2 Redpolls east and 1 Reed Bunting east.

 Linnet

Grounded Migrants

7 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails.

 Wheatear

Others

2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Peregrine, 600 Knots, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Stonechat.

Sunday, 23rd March 2014

Offshore 

11 Common Scoters west, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 9 Red-throated Divers east, 7 Gannets west, 3,000 Knots west, 9 Kittiwakes east, 33 Little Gulls and 2 Auk sp. west.

 

 Knot

Visible Migration

2 Alba Wagtails north and 8 Meadow Pipits north.

Grounded Migrants 

7 Goldcrests and 5 Chiffchaffs.

 

 Goldcrest

Others 

1 Goldeneye, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 23 Grey Plovers, 115 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 7 Snipe, 215 Turnstones, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Stonechat.

 

 Purple Sandpiper

Turnstone

Saturday, 22nd March 2014

Offshore

17 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Gannets west, 2 Kittiwakes west, 27 Little Gulls, 1 Guillemot east and 2 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

29 Woodpigeons east, 2 Grey Wagtails east, 21 Alba Wagtails north, 174 Meadow Pipits north, 25 Chaffinch east, 4 Greenfinch east, 85 Goldfinch west, 2 Siskins east, 7 Linnets east and 2 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants

5 Goldcrests and 3 Chiffchaffs.

 

 Goldcrest

Others 

4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Buzzard, 21 Ringed Plovers, 700 Knots, 145 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 55 Dunlins, 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, 240 Turnstones, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat and 35 Linnets.

 

 Knot

 

 Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Sanderling

Friday, 21st March 2014

Offshore

5 Wigeons east, 2 Pintails east, 1 Tufted Duck east, 6 Common Scoters west, 8 Red- breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers east, 7 Gannets west, 2 Kittiwakes east, 55 Little Gulls, 2 Sandwich Terns east and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

11 Woodpigeons east, 14 Alba Wagtails north, 184 Meadow Pipits north, 1 Tree Sparrow west, 10 Chaffinch east, 2 Greenfinch east, 20 Goldfinch east, 5 Siskins east and 7 Linnets east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Goldcrest and 7 Chiffchaffs.

Others 

39 Tufted Ducks, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 18 Ringed Plovers, 800 Knots, 90 Sanderlings, 300 Turnstones and 2 Stonechats.

 

 Knot

Ringing

1 Chiffchaff.

 

 Chiffchaff

Thursday, 20th March 2014

Offshore 

15 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers east and 3 Gannets west.

Visible Migration 

2 Mistle Thrushes east, 7 Alba Wagtails north, 54 Meadow Pipits north, 6 Chaffinch east, 3 Goldfinch east and 1 Siskin east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Others

1 Goldeneye,1 Peregrine and 1,000 Knots.

 

 Knots

Wednesday, 19th March 2014

Offshore 

12 Common Scoters west, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers east, 9 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 18 Kittiwakes east, 13 Little Gulls west and 8 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

1 Kestrel high east, 2 Woodpigeons east, 1 Coal Tit - vocal bird in coastal trees left high to the east, 37 Alba Wagtails north, 148 Meadow Pipits north, 2 Chaffinch east, 1 Greenfinch east, 22 Goldfinch east, 3 Siskins east and 5 Linnets east.

Grounded Migrants

4 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Robin and 12 Pied Wagtails.

Others 

2 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine and 5 Black-tailed Godwits.

 

 Mistle Thrush

Tuesday, 18th March 2014

There was a bit of visible migration from dawn until the rain arrived at 07:30, the highlight being a good count of 85 Whooper Swans north.

Offshore

16 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 14 Gannets west, 18 Kittiwakes east, 34 Little Gulls west, 1 Razorbill west and 14 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration:

85 Whooper Swans north, 3 Woodpigeons east, 3 Grey Wagtails north-east, 44 Alba Wagtails north/north-east, 256 Meadow Pipits north/north-east, 1 Chaffinch east and 4 Goldfinch west.

 

 Whooper Swans

Grounded Migrants

2 Sand Martins, 6 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears, 16 Pied Wagtails and 120 Meadow Pipits on the golf course when the rain arrived.

Others

3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 23 Ringed Plovers, 160 Sanderlings, 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

 

 Tufted Duck

Monday, 17th March 2014

The main feature today was another small arrival of Chiffchaffs. There was at least 15 around the Obs with 6 of these trapped and ringed.

Offshore

1 Shelduck east, 15 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 8 Red-throated Divers east & 2 west, 1 Fulmar east, 4 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 6 Kittiwakes east & 1 west, 5 Little Gulls west and 5 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

1 Grey Wagtail east, 27 Alba Wagtails north, 178 Meadow Pipits north and 5 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants 

10 Goldcrests, 15 Chiffchaffs, 1 Wheatear and 11 Pied Wagtails.

 

 Wheatear

Others

1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 125 Sanderlings, 11 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Stonechats.

 

 Little Egret

Ringing:

1 Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackbird and 1 Wren.

Sunday, 16th March 2014

Offshore

1 Wigeon east, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 21 Common Scoters east, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers east, 5 Gannets east & 4 west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 1,350 Knots west, 6 Kittiwakes east and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration:

3 Jackdaws east, 2 Carrion Crows north, 1 Skylark north, 15 Alba Wagtails north, 122 Meadow Pipits north, 4 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskin east, 8 Linnets east and 1 Reed Bunting east.

 

 Carrion Crow

Grounded Migrants 

1 Fieldfare, 5 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs and 3 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

Others:

2 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 16 Ringed Plovers, 73 Sanderlings, 1 Jack Snipe, 21 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Water Pipit and 5 Rock Pipits.

 

 Little Egret

Ringing

1 Chiffchaff.

 

 Chiffchaff

Saturday, 15th March 2014

Offshore
43 Common Scoters west, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 23 Red-throated Divers east including one flock of 15, 9 Gannets west, 21 Kittiwakes west, 1 Guillemot west and 8 Auk sp. west.

 Gannet

Visible Migration
3 Alba Wagtails north, 17 Meadow Pipits north,1 Siskin east and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants 
2 Sand Martins over the pools during the afternoon, 5 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and 1 Wheatear.

Others 
2 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 17 Ringed Plovers, 325 Turnstones, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 18 Linnets.

Friday, 14th March 2014

The fog kept coming and going this morning dropping a few Wagtails and Pipits onto the Golf Course and Bowling Greens. It finally lifted with the increasing wind by late morning and it was obvious that it had dropped a few Chiffchaffs around the Obs. At least eight were seen and four of these were ringed.

Offshore

1 male Long-tailed Duck, 24 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Gannet west, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1,100 Knots west.

 

 Gannet

Visible Migration

1 Grey Wagtail east, 7 Alba Wagtails east, 26 Meadow Pipits east and 2 Siskins east.

Grounded Migrants

7 Goldcrests, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackbirds, 3 Redwings, 2 Robins, 1 Wheatear,  35 Pied Wagtails, 80 Meadow Pipits and 2 Reed Buntings.

Others

1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 42 Grey Plovers, 500 Knot, 11 Snipe, 4 Stock Doves, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 3 Rock Pipits.

Ringing

4 Chiffchaffs.

Chiffchaff