Founded in 1964, the work of Walney Bird Observatory is funded entirely by membership subscription. Since 1965 it has been an accredited member of the British Trust for Ornithology’s bird observatories network which operates across Britain and Ireland. Bird Observatories are at the forefront of conservation, monitoring bird populations through the medium of census work, daily recording of migrants and ringing.
24th March 2025 – sunny spells V1 Offshore Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 93 Kittiwake, 18 Common Scoter, 14 Sandwich Tern, 12 Gannet, 10 Shag, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 5 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants Five Redwing and 2 Goldcrest were seen. Diurnal Migration A Sand Martin flew through – the first of the year. Wildfowl and Waders Wildfowl included 3 Shoveler and 2 Goldeneye. Miscellaneous Single Merlin and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest. Mammals Two Harbour Porpoise were offshore.
21st March 2025 – overcast/haze E3/5 Offshore A check over the sea produced 10 Common Scoter and single Red-breasted Merganser and Sandwich Tern. Grounded Migrants Limited to 3 Goldcrest and single Redwing, Fieldfare and Chiffchaff. Diurnal Migration A total of 320 Meadow Pipit, 35 Woodpigeon and 4 Pied Wagtail. Wildfowl and Waders Two Black-tailed Godwit were logged. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Water Rail remain. Ringing A colour-ringed adult male Shelduck had been originally marked at Bank Island on the River Derwent in Yorkshire on 31st January 2022.
20th March 2025 – bright and sunny E1/2 Offshore Observations over the sea (0715-0815) revealed 17 Red-breasted Merganser, 14 Common Scoter, 12 Sandwich Tern, 7 Shag, 6 Gannet, 2 Goosander and a Mediterranean Gull. Grounded Migrants Four Chiffchaff, 4 Blue Tit, 3 Redwing, 2 Blackbird and a Coal Tit were logged. Diurnal Migration A total of 110 Meadow Pipit, 30 Woodpigeon, 5 Pied Wagtail and 4 Redpoll flew through. Miscellaneous The Tawny Owl and 2 Cetti’s Warbler remain and a Buzzard hunted the island. The long-staying Hooded Crow and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.
17th March 2025 – overcast NE2/3 Offshore A check of the sea produced 17 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Common Scoter and 3 Gannet. Grounded Migrants Five Redwing and a Wheatear were seen. Diurnal Migration A total of 60 Meadow Pipit, 8 Linnet and 4 Pied Wagtail flew through. Miscellaneous Three Short-eared Owl and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.
16th March 2025 – sunny spells V1 Grounded Migrants Two Wheatear were logged – the first of the year. Diurnal Migration A total of 70 Meadow Pipit flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included single Woodcock and Jack Snipe. Miscellaneous A Water Pipit was the highlight of the day and 2 Water Rail were logged.
15th March 2025 – sunny spells/calm thenW2 Offshore A check of the sea revealed 10 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Red-throated Diver and a Shag. Grounded Migrants Three Redwing was logged. Diurnal Migration Two Redpoll flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Seven Barnacle Geese were seen and waders included 10 Greenshank. Miscellaneous Two Water Rail were logged, however, not recorded annually, a Tawny Owl calling continuously between 2030-2100hrs was the highlight of the day.
14th March 2025 – sunny spells NE1/2 Offshore A check of the sea revealed 23 Common Scoter, 13 Shag and 10 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants A single Redwing was logged. Diurnal Migration A skein of 197 Pink-footed Geese flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Wildfowl included 517 light-bellied and 2 dark-bellied Brent Goose, 278 Wigeon, 235 Teal, 161 Shelduck, 66 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Shoveler while waders included 2079 Oystercatcher, 614 Golden Plover, 624 Redshank, 520 Knot, 322 Curlew, 117Grey Plover, 15 Greenshank and a Purple Sandpiper. Miscellaneous Raptors included Marsh Harrier and Peregrine and single Hooded Crow and Water Rail remain.
13th March 2025 – sunny spells/showers N1/2 Offshore A check of the sea (0700-0800) revealed 74 Common Scoter, 13 Red-breasted Merganser and 7 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants A Redwing was logged. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 10 Greenshank. Miscellaneous The Water Rail remains.
12th March 2025 – sunny spells/showers N2/4 Offshore A check of the sea (0700-0800) revealed 76 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Guillemot, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Gannet. Diurnal Migration A Redpoll and 26 Pink-footed Geese flew through. Wildfowl and Waders The Brent Goose flock held 350 light-bellied birds. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow and Water Rail remain.
