Sunday, 29th March 2015

The day's highlight was the pair of Velvet Scoters seen offshore again this morning.

Offshore

7 Teal east, 104 Common Scoters west, 2 Velvet Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Fulmars west,11 Gannets west, 9 Kittiwakes west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

4 Alba Wagtails north and 11 Meadow Pipits north.

Grounded Migrants 

5 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat and 2 Wheatears.

Others 

3 Goldeneyes, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 19 Ringed Plovers, 17 Grey Plovers, 140 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 150 Dunlins, 77 Black-tailed Godwits and 140 Turnstones.

 

 Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone

Saturday, 28th March 2015

There was a bit of visible migration first thing before a heavy band of rain spread in from the west. A decent count of 103 Alba Wagtails were recorded including one group of 23. Also the first Little Ringed Plover of the year was recorded.

Offshore

9 Common Scoters east, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 16 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

1 Snipe east, 103 Alba Wagtails north-east, 242 Meadow Pipits north-east and 1 Reed Bunting east.

Grounded Migrants:

3 Goldcrests and 3 Wheatears.

Others

4 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 32 Grey Plovers, 350 Knot, 62 Sanderlings, 130 Dunlins, 4 Snipe, 63 Black-tailed Godwits and 100 Turnstones.

 

 Little Ringed Plover

Turnstone

Sanderlings

Friday, 27th March 2015

A pair of Velvet Scoters flew into the bay this morning and there was a decent push of Meadow Pipits with 1,191 counted flying north.

Offshore

17 Common Scoters west, 2 Velvet Scoters east, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 13 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Gannet west, 2 Great Crested Grebes east, 8 Kittiwakes east, 1 Guillemot east and 5 Auk sp. east

Visible Migration

23 Golden Plovers east, 3 Magpies east, 3 Carrion Crows north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail north, 32 Alba Wagtails north, 1191 Meadow Pipits north, 7 Chaffinch east, 2 Greenfinch east, 6 Goldfinch east, 3 Siskins east, 4 Linnets east, 4 Redpolls east and 1 Reed Bunting.

Grounded Migrants

10 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat and 8 Wheatears.

Others 

1 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 300 Knot, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 160 Dunlins, 107 Black-tailed Godwits and 150 Turnstones.

Ringing

3 Goldcrests.

 

 Small Tortoiseshell

Kestrels

Thursday, 26th March 2015

Offshore 

12 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 5 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Fulmar west, 31 Gannets west, 174 Kittiwakes east, 19 Little Gulls west and 1 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

8 Whooper Swans north-east.

Grounded Migrants

7 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff and 3 Wheatears.

Others 

3 Goldeneyes, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Little Egret, 25 Ringed Plovers, 80 Sanderlings, 200 Dunlins, 85 Black-tailed Godwits and 140 Turnstones.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Ringing

5 Goldcrests and 1 Chiffchaff.

 

 Chiffchaff

Wednesday, 25th March 2015

A cracking Black-throated Diver showed well offshore and the first Osprey of the year flew through.

Osprey

Offshore 

1 Shelduck east, 7 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers east & 2 on the sea, 1 Black-throated Diver almost in full summer plumage sat on the sea preening for 20 minutes with 2 Red-throats, 5 Gannets west, 14 Kittiwakes east, 23 Little Gulls east, 3 Sandwich Terns east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

483 Pink-footed Geese north, 1 Sparrowhawk north, 2 Buzzards north-east, 1 Osprey north, 14 Wood Pigeons east, 3 Collared Doves east, 9 Jackdaws east, 1 Rook east, 15 Carrion Crows north-east, 2 Tree Sparrows east, 1 Grey Wagtail north, 32 Alba Wagtails north, 578 Meadow Pipits north, 3 Chaffinch east, 7 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskin east and 15 Linnets east.

 

 Linnet

 

 Sparrowhawk

Grounded Migrants

8 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Robins, 2 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

Others

4 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 42 Grey Plovers, 600 Knot, 115 Dunlins and 46 Black-tailed Godwits.

Ringing 

2 Goldcrests.

 

 Goldcrest

Tuesday, 24th March 2015

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 25 Common Scoters west, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Gannet east, 53 Kittiwakes east, 6 Little Gulls east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

1 Buzzard north-east, 1 Sparrowhawk north-east, 7 Alba Wagtails north, 64 Meadow Pipits north, 2 Chaffinch east and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants 

3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and 7 Wheatears.

Others

2 Little Egrets, 300 Knot, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 250 Dunlins, 9 Snipe, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Turnstones, 1 Barn Owl and 2 Twite.

 

 Twite

Ringing 

1 Goldcrest and 1 Chiffchaff.

Monday, 23rd March 2015

Offshore

17 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 6 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Gannet west, 27 Kittiwakes east and 2 Sandwich Terns east.

Visible Migration

1 Grey Wagtail north, 9 Alba Wagtails north and 31 Meadow Pipits north.

 

 White Wagtail

Grounded Migrants 

13 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs,1 White Wagtail and 9 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

Others

27 Ringed Plovers, 63 Grey Plovers, 350 Knot, 125 Sanderlings, 180 Dunlins, 86 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Barn Owl.

 

 Barn Owl

Sunday, 22nd March 2015

Offshore 

3 Shelducks east, 7 Wigeons east, 87 Common Scoters east, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers east & 1 on sea, 4 Kittiwakes east and 2 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

42 Whooper Swans north, 743 Pink-footed Geese north, 1 Buzzard north-east, 54 Wood Pigeons east, 4 Magpies east, 9 Jackdaws east, 7 Carrion Crows north-east, 4 Grey Wagtails north-east, 48 Alba Wagtails north-east, 95 Meadow Pipits north-east, 1 Chaffinch east, 12 Goldfinch north, 7 Linnets east, 5 Redpolls east and 3 Reed Buntings east.

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Buzzard

Grounded Migrants

5 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing and 2 Wheatears.

 

 Chiffchaff

Others

3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 350 Knot, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 180 Dunlins, 12 Snipe, 48 Black-tailed Godwits, 175 Turnstones and 1 Water Pipit.

 

 Grey Heron

Ringing

2 Goldcrests, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Goldfinches and 2 Lesser Redpolls.

 

 Goldfinch

 

 Lesser Redpoll

Meadow Pipit

Saturday, 21st March 2015

Offshore

3 Shelducks east, 13 Common Scoters west, 17 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 28 Red-throated Divers east and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

35 Pink-footed Geese north, 4 Golden Plovers east, 5 Curlews north-east, 11 Carrion Crows north, 2 Grey Wagtails north, 36 Alba Wagtails north, 350 Meadow Pipits north, 1 Chaffinch east, 4 Goldfinch east, 8 Linnets east, 1 Siskin north and 1 Reed Bunting east.

 

 Pied Wagtail

Grounded Migrants

8 Goldcrests, 1 Stonechat and 4 Wheatears.

Others

2 Goldeneyes, 600 Knot, 42 Sanderlings, 200 Dunlins, 2 Jack Snipes, 21 Snipe, 83 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Water Pipit and 42 Twite.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Twite

Ringing

1 Meadow Pipit and 2 Linnets.

 

 Meadow Pipit

Friday, 20th March 2015

Offshore

225 Common Scoters east, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Visible Migration

1 Sparrowhawk north, 1 Grey Heron east, 39 Wood Pigeons east, 4 Jackdaws east, 6 Magpies north, 5 Starlings east, 7 Fieldfares north-east, 4 Redwings north, 3 Tree sparrows north, 3 Grey Wagtails north-east, 41 Alba Wagtails north-east, 239 Meadow Pipits north-east, 1 Chaffinch east, 1 Goldfinch east, 14 Linnets east, 7 Redpolls north, 1 Siskin north, 1 Chaffinch north and 2 Reed Buntings east.

 

 Meadow Pipit

Grounded Migrants 

15 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears, 8 Redwings and 2 Tree Sparrows.

Others

3 Goldeneyes, 2 Little Egrets, 400 Knot, 300 Dunlins, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Shore Lark seen by the east side of the Marine Lakes, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 25 Goldfinch.

Ringing 

4 Meadow Pipits, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Linnets.

 

 Lesser Redpoll

Meadow Pipit

Thursday, 19th March 2015

The surprise today was the reappearance of the Shore Lark, it was found on the beach by the Marine Lakes during the afternoon.

Offshore 

23 Wigeons east, 5 Common Scoters west and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers.

Visible Migration

15 Whooper Swans north, 112 Pink-footed Geese north, 7 Curlews north, 17 Wood Pigeons east, 17 Jackdaws east, 1 Skylark north-east, 13 Tree Sparrows east, 8 Grey Wagtails north-east, 58 Alba Wagtails north-east, 414 Meadow Pipits north-east, 6 Chaffinch east, 12 Goldfinch east, 3 Linnets east and 5 Redpolls north.

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Grounded Migrants 

13 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing, 7 Wheatears and 1 Tree Sparrow.

 

 Wheatear

Others

5 Goldeneyes, 1 Water Rail, 15 Ringed Plovers, 500 Knot, 130 Dunlins, 9 Snipe, 52 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Turnstones, 1 Shore Lark and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Ringing 

2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Meadow Pipits and 1 Greenfinch.

 

 Meadow Pipit

Chiffchaff with pollen horns.

Wednesday, 18th March 2015

An excellent migration day; an obvious arrival of Goldcrests were noted first thing and there was a decent push of visible migration throughout the morning. The highlight however was an Avocet that flew east into the bay, the first here since 2010. Also, an attempt to catch some Goldcrests later on produced just a single bird and this turned out to be a control!

Avocet

Offshore 

2 Shelducks east, 3 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 11 Gannets west and 1 Kittiwake east.

Visible Migration 

1 Avocet flew east into the bay, 20 Curlews east, 9 Wood Pigeons east, 5 Jackdaws east, 1 Rook east, 1 Skylark north-east, 1 Sand Martin north-east, 6 Tree Sparrows east, 11 Grey Wagtails north-east, 52 Alba Wagtails north-east, 423 Meadow Pipits north-east, 4 Chaffinch east, 14 Goldfinch east, 2 Siskins east, 4 Redpolls east and 3 Reed Buntings east.

 

 Avocet

 

 Meadow Pipit

Grounded Migrants

30 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Tree Sparrow and 5 Wheatears.

 

 Goldcrest

 

 Tree Sparrow

Others 

2 Shovelers, 5 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 17 Ringed Plovers, 500 Knot, 150 Dunlins, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Rock Pipits and 4 Twite.

Ringing

1 Goldcrest control.

 

 Dunnock

Tuesday, 17th March 2015

Offshore

2 Teal east, 6 Common Scoters west and 9 Red-breasted Mergansers.

Visible Migration

2 Starlings east, 3 Grey Wagtails north-east, 16 Alba Wagtails north-east and 161 Meadow Pipits north-east.

 

 Pied Wagtail

Grounded Migrants

2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat and 3 Wheatears.

Others

3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 22 Ringed Plovers, 54 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 225 Dunlins, 44 Black-tailed Godwits, 185 Turnstones, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 4 Twite.

Monday, 16th March 2015

Offshore 

3 Shelducks east, 34 Common Scoters east, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 6 Red-throated Divers east and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

9 Wood Pigeons east, 4 Carrion Crows north-east, 15 Grey Wagtails east/north-east, 83 Alba Wagtails east/north-east, 196 Meadow Pipits east/north-east, 1 Chaffinch east, 2 Goldfinch east, 2 Reed Bunting east and 1 Corn Bunting came in from the SW & landed very briefly before flying off high SE.

 

 Corn Bunting

Grounded Migrants

3 Goldcrests, 3 Stonechats and 1 Wheatear.

Others 

2 Water Rails, 27 Ringed Plovers, 150 Dunlins, 85 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 6 Twite.

 

 Linnet

Sunday, 15th March 2015

Offshore

7 Shelducks east, 57 Common Scoters east, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 8 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 2 Kittiwakes east.

Visible Migration 

102 Whooper Swans north, 1 Kestrel north-east, 6 Grey Wagtails east/noth-east, 57 Alba Wagtails east/north-east, 206 Meadow Pipits east/north-east and 1 Chaffinch east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechats and 2 Wheatears.

 

 Stonechat

Others

 67 Wigeons, 2 Pintails, 3 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 400 Knot, 55 Sanderlings, 275 Dunlins, 26 Snipe, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Med. Gulls, 5 Stock Doves, 2 Sand Martins over the water meadows late afternoon (first of the year) and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Saturday, 14th March 2015

Offshore

1 Teal east, 110 Common Scoters east, 1 Velvet Scoter came into the bay and landed on the sea for 10 mins & then flew off back west, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

53 Whooper Swans north, 4 Skylarks north, 6 Grey Wagtails east/north-east, 117 Alba Wagtails east/north-east, 414 Meadow Pipits east/north-east, 2 Rock Pipits east, 3 Greenfinch east, 3 Goldfinch east, 6 Linnets east, 1 Yellowhammer east and 1 Reed Bunting east.

 

 Whooper Swans

Grounded Migrants

5 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Redwings, 3 Stonechats and 3 Wheatears.

Others 

2 Pintails, 2 Little Egrets, 400 Knots, 350 Dunlins, 1 Jack Snipe, 28 Snipe, 165 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Cettis Warbler and 7 Twite.

 

 Turnstone

Ringing 

3 Goldcrests, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Chiffchaff.

 

 Chiffchaff

Friday, 13th March 2015

Offshore

28 Common Scoters west, 33 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration:

1 Merlin east.

Grounded Migrants:

2 Goldcrests, 2 Redwings and 2 Robins.

Others

5 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 28 Ringed Plovers, 75 Sanderlings, 100 Dunlins, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Stock Doves, 1 Cettis Warbler and 27 Linnets.

Ringing

1 Goldcrest and 1 Robin.

Skylark

Thursday, 12th March 2015

Offshore 

2 Teal east, 4 Common Scoters west and 2 Red-breasted mergansers.

Visible Migration 

2 Redwings in off, 2 Grey Wagtails north, 19 Alba Wagtails north, 124 Meadow Pipits north and 1 Reed Bunting east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Goldcrest, 5 Blackbirds, 3 Redwings, 2 Song Thrushes and 3 Stonechats.

Others 

2 Goldeneyes, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 28 Ringed Plovers, 64 Sanderlings, 120 Dunlins, 57 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Cetti's Warbler and 21 Linnets.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits