Monday, 27th April 2015

There were a few migrants around this morning including two vocal male Cuckoos and a singing male Pied Flycatcher, also a Marsh Harrier flew east offshore.

Pied Flycatcher

Offshore

3 Shelducks east, 34 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 4 Red-throated Divers east, 9 Gannets west, 11 Sandwich Terns east and 3 Common Terns east.

Visible Migration 

1 Marsh Harrier east, 31 Whimbrels east, 9 Carrion Crows north-east, 5 Sand Martins north, 58 Swallows north, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 1 Grey Wagtail east, 5 Alba Wagtails north, 11 Tree Pipits north, 12 Meadow Pipits north, 25 Goldfinch east, 16 Linnets east and 2 Twite east.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Cuckoos, 8 Willow Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Whitethroats, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 25 Wheatears, 1 Pied Flycatcher and 3 White Wagtails.

 

 Whinchat

 

 White Wagtail

Others

75 Ringed Plovers, 250 Knot, 55 Sanderlings, 400 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels, 16 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Ringing

1 Long-tailed Tit and 4 Blackcaps.

 

 Blackcap

Sunday, 26th April 2015

Two Avocets on the water meadows, a Hooded Crow on vis and the first Garden Warbler of the year were today's highlights.

Avocets

Offshore

14 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 10 Red-throated Divers east, 3 Gannets east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 4 Kittiwakes east, 40 Sandwich Terns east, 1 Guillemot east and 18 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

7 Whimbrel east, 12 Carrion Crows north-east, 1 Hooded Crow north-east, 1 Skylark north, 2 Sand Martins north, 112 Swallows north, 1 House Martin north, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 6 Alba Wagtails north, 1 Tree Pipit north-east, 32 Meadow Pipits north, 58 Goldfinch east and 18 Linnets east.

Grounded Migrants 

6 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 6 Whinchats, 36 Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails.

 

 Whinchat

Others

1 Peregrine, 2 Avocets, 85 Ringed Plovers, 400 Knot, 70 Sanderlings, 1,000 Dunlins, 1 Snipe, 4 Whimbrels, 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers and 1 Glaucous Gull.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlin

Saturday, 25th April 2015

The year's first Black Tern flew east this morning and the first Swift was seen during a rain shower later.

Offshore

29 Common Scoters east, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 11 Red-throated Divers east, 6 Gannets west, 2 Kittiwakes west, 1 Little Gull east, 19 Sandwich Terns east, 2 Common Terns east and 1 Black Tern east.

Visible Migration

5 Swallows north, 2 Alba Wagtails north and 2 Meadow Pipits north.

Grounded Migrants

1 Swift, 35 Sand Martins, 200 Swallows, 40 House Martins, 20 Wheatears and 9 White Wagtails.

 

 Wheatear

Others

155 Ringed Plovers, 125 Sanderlings, 1500 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels, 1 Common Sandpiper, 215 Turnstones, 1 4CY Yellow -legged Gull, 1 3CY Glaucous Gull and 1 2CY Iceland Gull.

 

 Dunlin

 

 Whimbrel

Friday, 24th April 2015

Offshore

11 Shelducks east, 15 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 2 Goosanders east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Gannet west, 3 Little Gulls east, 37 Sandwich Terns and 3 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration 

1 Little Ringed Plover east, 3 Whimbrels east, 7 Sand Martins north, 142 Swallows north, 3 House Martins north, 5 Alba Wagtails north, 3 Tree Pipits north, 14 Meadow Pipits north, 11 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskin north and 24 Linnets east.

 

 Swallow

Grounded Migrants:

30 Sand Martins, 80 Swallows, 25 House Martins, 9 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Whitethroats, 4 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Whinchat and 32 Wheatears.

 

 Wheatear

Others

400 Knot, 500 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels, 31 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 130 Turnstones, 1 Glaucous Gull and 1 Iceland Gull. 

Glaucous Gull

Ringing

2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Dunnock.

 

 Grasshopper Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat

Thursday, 23rd April 2015

Offshore 

:1 Shelduck east, 7 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted mergansers, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Gannet west, 76 Sandwich Terns and 2 Common Terns.

Visible Migration

1 Whimbrel east, 11 Carrion Crows north-east, 7 Sand Martins north, 86 Swallows north, 6 Alba Wagtails north, 2 Tree Pipits north, 9 Meadow Pipits north, 7 Goldfinch east and 20 Linnets east.

Grounded Migrants

4 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 12 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Grasshopper Warbler

Others 

1 Whooper Swan, 17 Grey Plovers, 600 knot, 350 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Ringing

1 Willow Warbler and 1 Linnet.

 

 Linnet

Wednesday, 22nd April 2015

Offshore

3 Shelducks east, 12 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Gannets east, 2 Little Gulls east, 36 Sandwich Terns, 20 Arctic Terns east and 1 Guillemot east.

Visible Migration

6 Whimbrels east, 2 Jackdaws east, 6 Carrion Crows north-east, 8 Sand Martins north, 45 Swallows north, 1 House Martin north, 9 Alba Wagtails north, 7 Tree Pipits north, 28 Meadow Pipits north, 12 Goldfinch east and 29 Linnets east.

Grounded Migrants

25 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 15 Wheatears and 3 White Wagtails.

 Willow Warbler

Others

1 Whooper Swan, 16 Grey Plovers, 500 Knot, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 500 Dunlins, 27 Black-tailed Godwits, 58 Turnstones and 2 Twite.

Ringing

1 Wren, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Whitethroat.

Lesser Whitethroat

Tuesday, 21st April 2015

Offshore:

189 Common Scoters east, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Little Gulls east, 17 Sandwich Terns and 89 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration

1 Whimbrel east, 1 Rook east, 6 Carrion Crows north-east, 11 Sand Martins north, 120 Swallows north, 4 House Martins north, 1 Tree Sparrow east, 2 Yellow Wagtails east, 14 Alba Wagtails north, 11 Tree Pipits north, 158 Meadow Pipits north, 1 Chaffinch east, 46 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskin east, 112 Linnets east, 1 Twite landed briefly on seawall before flying east and 3 Redpolls east.

 

 Linnet and Twite

Grounded Migrants

1 Cuckoo, 15 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Grasshopper  Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 1 Whinchat, 16 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 3 White Wagtails.

 

 Willow Warbler

Whinchat

Others 

1 Whooper Swan, 26 Ringed Plovers, 11 Grey Plovers, 450 Knot, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 320 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel, 85 Black-tailed Godwits and 47 Turnstones.

Ringing

3 Willow Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler.

 

 Grasshopper Warbler

Monday, 20th April 2015

Offshore

1 Shelduck east, 4 Teal east, 8 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Goosander east, 4 Red-throated Divers east & 1 sea, 153 Sandwich Terns - roosting on  scar at dawn and 2 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration

125 Pink-footed Geese north, 3 Whimbrels east, 1 Sand Martin north, 19 Swallows north, 8 Alba Wagtails north, 4 Tree Pipits north, 13 Meadow Pipits north, 20 Goldfinch east, 28 Linnets east, 1 Twite east and 1 Redpoll east.

Grounded Migrants:- 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1

Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Redstart, 14 Wheatears, 8 White Wagtails and 2 Siskins.

Others 

1 Whooper Swan, 85 Ringed Plovers, 1,000 Knot, 60 Sanderlings, 750 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels, 28 Black-tailed Godwits, 58 Turnstones, 1 3CY Glaucous Gull and 2 Twite.

 

 Dunlin

 

Glaucous Gull

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

Saturday, 18th April 2015

A strange day; there was a lack of common migrants around but the day produced lots of scarcities. A Pied Flycatcher was trapped & ringed, 2 Redstarts were seen and a cracking summer plumaged Black-throated Diver was offshore. During the afternoon a couple of hours going through the large numbers of immature Gulls produced a 3CY Glaucous Gull & a 2CY Iceland Gull! The last good bird was another Osprey which flew north late in the afternoon.

Glaucous Gull

Offshore

1 Shelduck east, 19 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted mergansers, 9 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Black-throated Diver east, 1 Gannet east, 2,000 Knot west, 128 Little Gulls, 42 Sandwich Terns and 1 Guillemot east.

Visible Migration

3 Whooper swans north-east, 23 Pink-footed Geese north-east, 1 Osprey north late afternoon, 1 Merlin east, 3 Whimbrels east, 3 Wood Pigeons east, 5 Carrion Crows north-east, 38 Sand Martins north-east, 16 Swallows north-east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 18 Alba Wagtails north-east, 1 Tree Pipit north-east, 19 Meadow Pipits north-east, 2 Chaffinch east,  62 Goldfinch east, 102 Linnets east and 2 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstarts, 7 Wheatears and 7 White Wagtails.

 Redstart

Others

2 Whooper Swans, 1 Little Egret, 73 Ringed Plovers, 500 Knot, 75 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 2 Snipe, 72 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 2CY Yellow-legged Gull, 1 3CY Glaucous Gull, 1 2CY Iceland Gull and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

 Whooper Swans

Iceland Gull

Ringing

4 Willow Warblers, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Blackbirds and 1 Linnet.

Friday, 17th April 2015

The day`s highlights were a 'cream crowned' Marsh Harrier and a Short-eared Owl on vis, and the year's first Whitethroat.

Short-eared Owl

Offshore 

1 Shelduck east, 84 Common Scoters east, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 8 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Kittiwakes west, 62 Little Gulls, 48 Sandwich Terns east and 1 Common Tern east.

Visible Migration 

1 Marsh Harrier north, 19 Whimbrels east, 5 Wood Pigeons east, 1 Short-eared Owl east, 3 Jackdaws  east, 3 Carrion Crows north-east, 15 Sand Martins north-east, 52 Swallows north-east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 36 Alba Wagtails north-east, 2 Tree Pipits north-east, 97 Meadow Pipits north-east, 112 Goldfinch east, 130 Linnets east and 1 Reed Bunting east.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Chiffchaff, 25 Willow Warblers, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 16 Wheatears and 3 White Wagtails.

 

 Willow Warbler

Others

2 Whooper Swans, 1 Little Egret, 55 Ringed Plovers, 350 Knot, 175 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels, 117 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, 150 Turnstones and 1 2CY Yellow-legged Gull.

Ringing

2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Willow Warblers and 1 Blackbird.

 

 Willow Warbler

Thursday, 16th April 2015

Offshore 

2 Shelducks east, 12 Common Scoters east, 5 Red-breasted mergansers east, 33 Red-throated Divers east, 37 Little Gulls east and 16 Sandwich Terns east.

Visible Migration

6 Wood Pigeons east, 2 Carrion Crows north-east, 14 Sand Martins north-east, 60 Swallows north-east, 14 House Martins north-east, 9 Alba Wagtails north-east, 7 Tree Pipits north-east, 70 Meadow Pipits north-east, 57 Goldfinch east, 97 Linnets east and 3 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Chiffchaffs, 25 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Wheatears and 11 White Wagtails.

 Willow Warbler

White Wagtail

Others 

2 Whooper Swans, 33 Ringed Plovers, 800 Knot, 85 Sanderlings, 250 Dunlins, 175 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Med. Gull and 4 Twite.

 Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling

Ringing

1 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Meadow Pipit and 4 Linnets.

 Linnet

 Meadow Pipit

Wednesday, 15th April 2015

Classic fall conditions this morning produced the best numbers of common migrants so far this spring; the main species involved were Willow Warbler (80 including 19 ringed), Blackcap (15) and Wheatear (105). Also the first Grasshopper Warblers, Reed Warblers and Yellow Wagtails of the year were seen. Another Osprey was recorded today flying north over the river in the early evening.

Wheatear

 

 Willow Warbler

Offshore 

101 Common Scoters west, 1 Goldeneye west, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 6 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Gannet west, 4 Kittiwakes west & 1 east, 2 Sandwich Terns east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

1 Osprey north, 3 Whimbrels east, 8 Sand Martins north, 67 Swallows north, 4 Alba Wagtails north-east, 3 Tree Pipits north-east, 49 Meadow Pipits north-east, 35 Goldfinch west, 24 Linnets east and 1 Redpoll east.

 

 Whimbrel

Grounded migrants

1 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaffs, 80 Willow Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Redstart, 105 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 14 White Wagtails and 1 Tree Pipit.

 

 Wheatear

 

 Yellow Wagtail

Others

2 Whooper Swans, 2 Red-breasted mergansers, 1 Little Egret, 25 Grey Plovers, 800 Knot, 200 Dunlins, 125 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers and 1 Greenshank.

Ringing

19 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Greenfinch.

 

 Willow Warbler

Tuesday, 14th April 2015

The highlight was four Velvet Scoters flying west offshore this morning.

Offshore 

123 Common Scoters west, 4 Velvet Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser west, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 8 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe east,1 Kittiwake west, 37 Little Gulls west and 2 Sandwich Terns west.

Visible Migration

10 Swallows west, 2 Alba Wagtails north-east, 42 Meadow Pipits north-east, 33 Goldfinch east and 13 Linnets east.

Grounded Migrants 

2 Chiffchaffs, 13 Willow Warblers, 1 Redwing, 37 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail.

 

 White Wagtail

Others 

2 Whooper Swans, 1 Little Egret, 32 Ringed Plovers, 25 Grey Plovers, 750 Knot, 100 Sanderlings, 100 Dunlins, 85 Black-tailed Godwits and 6 Bar-tailed Godwits.

 

 Ringed Plover

Ringing 

2 Chiffchaffs and 4 Willow Warblers.

 

 Chiffchaff