Friday, 25th April 2014

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 60 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 15 Gannets west, 1 Little Tern east, 8 Sandwich Terns east, 43 Arctic Terns east and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

2 Whimbrels east, 2 Wood Pigeons east, 4 Carrion Crows north-east, 45 Swallows north/north-east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 8 Alba Wagtails north/north-east, 5 Tree Pipits north/north-east, 6 Meadow Pipits north/north-east, 1 Tree Sparrow east, 4 Goldfinch east, 3 Siskins east, 14 Linnets east, 11 Redpolls east and 1 Yellowhammer east.

 

 Yellow Wagtail

Grounded Migrants:

1 Chiffchaff, 14 Willow Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whinchats, 25 Wheatears and 4 Lesser Redpolls.

 

 Whinchat (above & below)

Wheatear

Others 

38 Ringed Plovers, 55 Sanderlings and 500 Dunlins.

Thursday, 24th April 2014

Offshore

4 Shelducks east, 110 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Diver east & 1 west, 17 Gannets west, 10 Sandwich Terns east, 15 ArcticTerns east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

46 Pink-footed Geese north, 4 Whimbrels east, 9 Curlews east, 15 Wood Pigeons east, 6 Carrion Crows north-east, 37 Sand Martins north/north-east, 104 Swallows north/north-east, 5 House Martins north/north-east, 3 Yellow Wagtails east, 9 Alba Wagtails north/north-east, 6 Tree Pipits north/north-east, 64 Meadow Pipits north/north-east, 15 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskin east, 11 Linnets east and 4 Redpolls east.

 

 Yellow Wagtail (above & below)

Grounded Migrants 

2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 16 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Sedge Warblers, 27 Wheatears, 2 White Wagtails and 2 Lesser Redpolls.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Whitethroat

 

 Willow Warbler

Others 

28 Ringed Plovers, 55 Sanderlings and 400 Dunlins.

Ringing

2 Willow Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 Sedge Warbler

Wednesday, 23rd April 2014

Another wave of new migrants arrived today including a vocal Cuckoo, which is a rare sight/sound here now, the first Garden Warbler, another Redstart and more Willow Warblers and Wheatears. Offshore highlights were the first Little and Black Terns.

Offshore

42 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers east, 3 Manx Shearwaters west, 13 Gannets west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 3 Kittiwakes west, 2 Little Terns east, 2 Black Terns east, 13 Sandwich Terns east, 44 Arctic Terns, 7 Guillemots, 15 Razorbills and 3 Auk sp. west.

Further observation during the evening produced 120 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 2 Gannets west, 2 Arctic Skuas east and 31 Sandwich Terns east.

Visible Migration

63 Pink-footed Geese north, 11 Whimbrel east, 3 Woodpigeons east, 7 Carrion Crows east, 6 Sand Martins north-east, 61 Swallows north-east, 6 Yellow Wagtails east, 26 Alba Wagtails north-east, 13 Tree Pipits north-east, 37 Meadow Pipits north-east, 1 Chaffinch east, 29 Goldfinch east, 2 Siskins east, 26 Linnets east and 6 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants

2 Whimbrels, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Cuckoo - a male in full voice, 1 Chiffchaff, 30 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 72 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 3 White Wagtails.

 

 Yellow Wagtails

Others 

37 Ringed Plovers, 45 Sanderlings, 260 Dunlins and 1 Yellow-legged Gull.

 

 Dunlin

Ringing:

1 Lesser Whitethroat.

 

 Lesser Whitethroat

Tuesday, 22nd April 2014

New birds today included the year's first Short-eared Owl, two Swifts over the pools this evening and the first Whinchat of the spring. Yesterday`s summer plumaged Black-throated Diver was seen again offshore.

Offshore

4 Shelducks east, 17 Common Scoters east, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 1 Black-throated Diver - yesterday`s summer plumaged bird on the sea, 9 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Manx Shearwaters east, 5 Gannets east, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 6 Arctic Terns east, 14 Sandwich Terns east and 3 Razorbills east.

Visible Migration 

2 Whimbrels east, 2 Jackdaws east, 5 Carrion Crows east, 21 Sand Martins east/north-east, 485 Swallows east/north-east, 10 House Martins east/north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail east, 17 Alba Wagtails east/north-east, 8 Tree Pipits east/north-east, 51 Meadow Pipits east/north-east, 1 Chaffinch east, 33 Goldfinch east, 25 Linnets east and 2 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants

2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Swifts - over the pools during rain showers this evening, 7 Sand Martins, 65 Swallows, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whinchat, 38 Wheatears and 3 White Wagtails.

 

 Short-eared Owl (above & below)

Wheatear

Others

9 Grey Plovers, 325 Dunlins and 1 Yellow-legged Gull.

 

 Dunlins

Ringing

1 Sedge Warbler.

 

 Sedge Warbler

Monday, 21st April 2014

There was an obvious arrival of migrants on the peninsula today with lots of Willow Warblers, a couple of Redstarts and the first Pied Flycatcher of the year. Offshore a summer plumaged Black-throated Diver flew east.

Offshore 

12 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Black-throated Diver - summer plumaged bird east, 7 Red-throated Divers east & 1 on the sea, 9 Gannets east, 13 Sandwich Terns east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

1 Grey Heron east, 51 Sand Martins north-east, 223 Swallows north-east, 4 House Martins north-east, 3 Yellow Wagtails east, 26 Alba Wagtails north-east, 4 Tree Pipits north-east, 63 Meadow Pipits north-east, 5 Goldfinch east, 21 Linnets east and 7 Redpolls east.

 

 Grey Heron

Grounded Migrants

3 Whimbrels, 3 Chiffchaffs, 65 Willow Warblers, 12 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Sedge Warblers, 2 Redstarts, 40 Wheatears, 1 Pied Flycatcher and 11 White Wagtails.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Blackcap

 

 Willow Warbler

Redstart

Others

250 Dunlins, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 75 Turnstones.

 

 Dunlin, Sanderling, Knot & Ringed Plover

Ringing

1 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

 

 Lesser Redpoll

Blackcap

Sunday, 20th April 2014

Offshore 

5 Shelducks east, 60 Common Scoters east, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 1 Goldeneye east, 5 Red-throated Divers east, 5 Gannets west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Little Gulls east, 122 Arctic Terns east, 2 Common Terns east, 62 Sandwich Terns east and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

1 Whimbrel east, 7 Curlews east, 3 Rooks north-east, 19 Carrion Crows north-east, 6 Sand Martins north-east, 95 Swallows north-east, 2 House Martins north-east, 6 Alba Wagtails north-east, 2 Tree Pipits north-east, 34 Meadow Pipits north-east, 43 Goldfinch east, 2 Siskins east, 50 Linnets east and 8 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Whimbrel, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Wheatears and 3 White Wagtails.

Others 

2 Gadwalls, 53 Ringed Plovers, 16 Grey Plovers, 82 Sanderlings, 310 Dunlins and 285 Turnstones.

 

 Ringed Plover

Dunlins

Turnstone

 

Ringing

1 Willow Warbler.

 

  Willow Warbler

Saturday, 19th April 2014

A new Cetti's Warbler was trapped and ringed this morning but not in the usual areas, this one was trapped in a Hawthorn hedgerow along the coast! A Hobby gave stunning views flying north-east over the ringing site and was later found giving another aerial treat over the pools before flying off SSE. This is the earliest ever record of Hobby for the Obs.

Offshore 

11 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers east & 1 on the sea, 2 Gannets west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Common Terns east, 72 Sandwich Terns east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

1 Hobby north-east then flew SSE later, 1 Whimbrel east, 2 Curlews east, 19 Woodpigeons east, 14 Swallows north, 7 Carrion Crows north, 2 Yellow Wagtails east, 13 Alba Wagtails north, 3 Tree Pipits north, 33 Meadow Pipits north, 16 Goldfinch east, 4 Siskins east, 41 Linnets east and 40 Redpolls north & 12 east.

 

 Carrion Crows

Grounded Migrants

1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Redstart, 7 Wheatears, 1 Tree Pipit and 5 White Wagtails.

Others:

1 Peregrine, 7 Grey Plovers and 220 Dunlins.

 

 Dunlin & Ringed Plovers

Ringing

1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redstart, 1 Robin and 9 Lesser Redpolls.

 

 Redstart

 

 

Lesser Redpoll

 

 Willow Warbler

Friday, 18th April 2014

Offshore 

17 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Red-throated Divers east & 2 on the sea, 3 Gannets east, 6 Arctic Terns east, 15 Sandwich Terns east, 1 Guillemot and 4 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

1 Little Ringed Plover east, 2 Whimbrels east, 11 Woodpigeons east, 19 Carrion Crows north, 3 Sand Martins north, 58 Swallows north, 1 House Martin north, 3 Skylarks north, 8 Alba Wagtails north, 6 Tree Pipits north, 49 Meadow Pipits north, 13 Goldfinch east, 2 Siskins east, 20 Linnets east and 18 Redpolls north & 5 east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Wheatears and 7 White Wagtails.

 

 Whitethroat

Others 

1 Merlin, 65 Ringed Plovers, 325 Knots, 85 Sanderlings, 260 Dunlins, 7 Snipe, 7 Black-tailed Godwits and 250 Turnstones.

 

 Dunlins, Ringed Plover & Sanderling

Ringing

2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Blackbirds, 1 Robin, 3 Wrens, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 Lesser Redpoll

Blue Tit

Chiffchaff

Blackcap

Greenfinch

Thursday, 17th April 2014

Offshore:

16 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 8 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Fulmars west, 12 Gannets west, 1,100 Knots west, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 25 Kittiwakes east, 3 Sandwich Terns east, 1 Guillemot east and 3 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

2 Alba Wagtails north, 1 Tree Pipit north, 7 Meadow Pipits north, 20 Goldfinch west, 3 Siskins west, 2 Linnets east and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants

7 Sand Martins, 25 Swallows, 2 House Martins - over pools during rain shower late afternoon, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 12 Wheatears and 5 White Wagtails.

Others 

1 Shoveler, 68 Ringed Plovers, 110 Sanderlings, 400 Dunlins, 135 Turnstones and 1 Yellow-legged Gull.

Ringing 

1 Chiffchaff.

 

 Great Crested Grebe

Speckled Wood

Wednesday, 16th April 2014

New birds in today included the first Common Sandpiper and Reed Warbler of the year.

Offshore 

19 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Gannet west, 7 Kittiwakes east, 3 Sandwich Terns east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

32 Pink-footed Geese north, 2 Curlews east, 9 Woodpigeons east, 11 Carrion Crows north-east & 3 in-off, 5 Rooks north-east, 16 Swallows north, 1 House Martin east, 12 Alba Wagtails north, 3 Tree Pipits north, 75 Meadow Pipits north, 1 Tree Sparrow east, 17 Goldfinch east, 7 Siskins east, 29 Linnets east and 16 Redpolls east.

 

 Rook

Grounded Migrants 

1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 4 White Wagtails.

 

 Common Sandpiper

Others

1 Merlin, 1 Water Rail, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Turnstones and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Ringing

1 Great Tit, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Dunnock.

Willow Warbler

Tuesday, 15th April 2014

There was an arrival of migrants today with the first records of Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler for the spring. A 2CY Mealy Redpoll was trapped and ringed during the morning.

Mealy Redpoll

Offshore

25 Common Scoters west, 4 Goldeneyes east, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 2 Red-throated Divers east & 1 on the sea, 1 Gannet east, 750 Knots west, 2 Common Terns east, 10 Sandwich Terns east and 5 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

120 Pink-footed Geese north, 1 Sparrowhawk east, 16 Woodpigeons east, 3 Jackdaws east, 21 Carrion Crows north, 2 Sand Martins east, 18 Swallows north-east, 6 Alba Wagtails north, 5 Tree Pipits north, 38 Meadow Pipits north, 2 Tree Sparrows east, 1 Chaffinch east, 12 Goldfinch east, 4 Siskins east, 13 Linnets east and 23 Redpolls east.

 

 Sparrowhawk

Grounded Migrants

7 Chiffchaffs, 25 Willow Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Redstart, 11 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 White Wagtails and 4 Lesser Redpolls.

 

 Blackcap

 

 Willow Warbler

White Wagtail

Others

85 Ringed Plovers, 60 Dunlins, 1 Jack Snipe, 5 Snipes, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Ringing

1 Tree Pipit and 1 Mealy Redpoll. 

 

 Tree Pipit

Mealy Redpoll