Monday, 9th May 2016

The weather forecast looked promising for some Arctic Terns this morning and on arrival small parties were moving into the bay. A nice distraction was a Corn Bunting briefly in the east hedge; this declining species is just about annual and May seems to be the time to find one. The Terns were moving through the morning with 410 Arctics and 21 Blacks being recorded.

Offshore

3 Shelducks east, 46 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 3 Gannets east, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 1 Little Gull east, 4 Little Terns east, 21 Black Terns east, 9 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns east, 410 Arctic Terns east and 1 Guillemot east.

 

 Arctic Terns

Visible Migration 

11 Whimbrels east, 1 Sand Martin north-east, 52 Swallows north-east, 3 House Martins north-east, 5 Tree Sparrows east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 2 Tree Pipits north-east, 2 Goldfinch east and 14 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants

1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Wheatears, 4 Lesser Redpolls and 1 Corn Bunting.

 

 Lesser Redpoll

Others

260 Ringed Plovers, 1500 Knots, 200 Sanderlings, 2,500 Dunlins, 7 Whimbrels, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 38 Turnstones.

 

 Stock Doves

Ringing

6 Lesser Redpolls.

Sunday, 8th May 2016

A heavy downpour pre-dawn dropped a few migrants in, the highlight being a singing male Wood Warbler.

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 20 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Gannets east, 2 Sandwich Terns and 41 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration 

163 Swallows north-east, 12 House Martins north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail east, 2 Yellow Wagtails east, 4 Tree Pipits north-east, 4 Goldfinch east, 2 Linnets east and 27 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants

1 singing male Wood Warbler, 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 5 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 7 Spotted Flycatchers, 5 Whinchats, 6 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Siskin and 4 Redpolls.

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Whinchat

Others

255 Ringed Plovers, 180 Sanderlings, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 3,000 Dunlins, 9 Whimbrels, 14 Black-tailed Godwits and 52 Turnstones.

 

 Dunlins and Ringed Plovers

Whimbrel

Saturday, 7th May 2016

Highlights today include 203 Arctic Terns offshore early morning, a good Hirundine movement through the day, an arrival of Spotted Flycatchers and a Hobby showed well over the pools this evening.

Spotted Flycatcher

Offshore

8 Common Scoters east, 3 Gannets west, 4,250 Knots west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 7 Little Gulls east, 5 Sandwich Terns, 1 Common Tern east, 203 Arctic Terns east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

7 Pink-footed Geese north, 16 Whimbrels east, 4 Swifts east, 5 Carrion Crows north-east, 7 Sand Martins north-east, 1,053 Swallows north-east, 113 House Martins north-east, 1 Tree Sparrow east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 4 Alba Wagtails north-east, 1 Tree Pipit east, 12 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskins east, 3 Linnets east and 33 Redpolls east. Also 35 Whimbrels flew north this evening.

 

 Whimbrels

Grounded Migrants:

1 Cuckoo, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 12 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears and 8 Redpolls.

 

 Whinchat

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Others

1 Hobby, 380 Ringed Plovers, 6 Grey Plovers, 275 Sanderlings, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 4,000 Dunlins, 12  Whimbrels, 57 Black-tailed Godwits and 46 Turnstones.

 

 Dunlins

 

 Hobby

Ringing 

2 Lesser Redpolls.

Friday, 6th May 2016

Like yesterday there was a good Redpoll passage this morning, but with lighter winds 35 were trapped and ringed plus three controls.Over 100 Lesser Redpolls have now been ringed in IG`s garden this spring.Early May was always the peak passage for Redpolls but in recent years passage has peaked during April.

Lesser Redpoll

Offshore

3 Shelducks east, 12 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Gannet west and 11 Sandwich Terns.

Visible Migration

6 Pink-footed Geese north, 3 Whimbrels east, 4 Swifts east, 2 Sand Martins north-east, 246 Swallows north-east, 33 House Martins north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail east, 1 Alba Wagtail north, 1 Tree Pipit north, 7 Goldfinch east, 3 Linnets east and 191 Redpolls east.

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Grounded Migrants

1 Willow Warbler, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Redstart, 5 Wheatears and 2 Siskins.

Others

1 Little Egret, 275 Ringed Plovers, 140 Sanderlings, 3,000 Dunlins, 13 Whimbrels, 46 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and 4 Sand Martins.

 

 Large White

Dunlins

Ringing

2 House Sparrows and 35 Lesser Redpolls, plus 3 controls.

Thursday, 5th May 2016

The main feature of the day was a good Redpoll passage, unfortunately it was a bit too windy for a decent catch. The birds could clearly see the net; see photo below.

Offshore

54 Common Scoters east, 6 Gannets west, 7,000 Knots west, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Sandwich Terns east, 7 Arctic Terns east and 2 Guillemots east.

Visible Migration 

53 Pink-footed Geese north, 5 Whimbrels east, 17 Swifts east, 5 Sand Martins north-east, 333 Swallows north-east, 28 House Martins north-east, 4 Yellow Wagtails east, 8 Tree Pipits north, 1 Meadow Pipit north, 42 Goldfinch east, 6 Siskins east, 9 Linnets east and 119 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants

3 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers, 5 Whinchats, 9 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 45 Redpolls - single flock found feeding at midday.

 

 Yellow Wagtail

Whinchat

Whitethroat

Others 

1 Little Egret, 215 Ringed Plovers, 7 Grey Plovers, 115 Sanderlings, 2,000 Dunlins, 74 Whimbrels, 67 Black-tailed Godwits and 26 Turnstones.

 

 Holly Blue

Dunlins

Ringing

3 Lesser Redpolls.

Wednesday, 4th May 2016

Offshore

2 Shelducks east, 13 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-breasted Merganser east,1 Red-throated Diver east, 14Gannets west,1 Great Crested Grebe east, 2800 Knots west, 2 Kittiwakes west, 9 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns east, 1 Little Tern west, 1 Razorbill east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration

81 Pink-footed Geese north, 1 Whimbrel east, 1 Short-eared Owl east, 31 Swallows north-east, 1 Grey Wagtail east, 3 Yellow Wagtails east, 2 Alba Wagtails north, 9 Tree Pipits north, 2 Meadow Pipits north, 37 Goldfinch east, 1 Siskin east, 7 Linnets east and 5 Redpolls east.

 

 Short-eared Owl

Grounded Migrants 

1 Goldcrest - dropped into the point bushes at dawn; late!, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Willow Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, 12 Whinchats, 37 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtails, 15 Siskins and 3 Redpolls.

 

 Whinchat

 

 Willow Warbler

Siskin

Others

95 Ringed Plovers, 110 Sanderlings, 700 Dunlins, 63 Whimbrels, 82 Black-tailed Godwits and 44 Turnstones.

 

 Swift

Ringing

1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler.

 

 Sedge Warbler

Tuesday, 3rd May 2016

The highlight of the day was a record count of Whimbrels, 138 were found roosting on a sandbar in the late afternoon.

Whimbrels

Offshore

39 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Fulmar west, 8 Manx Shearwaters west, 100 Gannets, 3 Arctic Skuas east, 63 Kittiwakes east, 11 Sandwich Terns east, 1 Common Tern east, 1 Guillemot west and 5 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration:

5 Sand Martins north-east, 102 Swallows north-east, 9 House Martins north-east, 1 Tree Pipit north, 380 Goldfinch west, 2 Siskins west and 9 Linnets west.

Grounded Migrants 

1 Willow Warbler, 1 Whinchat and 10 Wheatears.

Others

2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 75 Ringed Plovers, 800 Knots, 80 Sanderlings, 600 Dunlins, 138 Whimbrels, 111 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper and 52 Turnstones.

 

 Black-tailed Godwits

Whimbrels

Dunlins