Migration trickle

29th March 2015 – rain SW2/3/4/5/6
Offshore
A solitary Shag was the only bird of note.
Grounded Migrants
A sprinkling of Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Wheatear were again logged.
Diurnal Migration
Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck remains and waders included 4 Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
A few Little Egrets continue to linger.

First Gannet appears offshore

28th March 2015 – rain at times S4/5/6
Offshore
The first Gannets of the year were offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A sprinkling of Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Wheatear were logged along with a Fieldfare.
Diurnal Migration
Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Three Shoveler were the pick of the wildfowl.
Miscellaneous
A few Little Egrets continue to linger.

Long-tailed Duck still

27th March 2015 – bright and sunny NE1/2
Grounded Migrants
Still little evidence of newly grounded birds.
Diurnal Migration
Just a trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The long-staying Long-tailed Duck has finally revealed itself to be a first-winter drake and the Brent Goose flock held 65 dark-bellied birds. Waders included 3 Greenshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit
Miscellaneous
A Raven and 10 Twite were the best of the rest.

Migration stalls

25th March 2015 – bright and sunny SW1/2
Grounded Migrants
There was no evidence of any newly grounded birds.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 100 Pink-footed Geese and 38 Whooper Swan headed north along with a trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 32 pale-bellied birds and the Long-tailed Duck remains in residence. Waders included 3 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 60 Twite remain.

Iceland bound migrants

22nd March 2015 – bright and sunny NE1/2
Offshore
There was little activity over the sea early morning with just 7 Razorbill, 4 Kittiwake, 2 Shag and single Red-throated Diver and Pintail logged.
Grounded Migrants
Only evidenced by 5 Goldcrest and 3 Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A further increase in activity saw Iceland bound birds dominate with 850 Pink-footed Geese and 128 Whooper Swan (flocks of 116 and 12) heading north at dawn. Also recorded were 30 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 2 Rook and singles of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Grey Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 178 pale-bellied birds and one dark-bellied bird.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was the best of the rest.

First Sandwich Tern of the year

21st March 2015 – bright and sunny N1
Offshore
Early morning observations (0730-0830) were led by the first Sandwich Terns of the year along with 29 Common Scoter, 24 Red-throated Diver, 10 Razorbill, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and a single Shag.
Grounded Migrants
A female Black Redstart was seen but only evidenced by 10 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
An increase in activity saw 110 Meadow Pipit, 35 Pink-footed Geese and 5 Whooper Swan moving through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 180 pale-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
The seemingly resident Hooded Crow was logged and 20 Twite were seen.

Long-tailed Duck

20th March 2015 – overcast/mist/fog/brighter later NW1/2/3
Grounded Migrants
Activity continues to increase slowly with 12 Goldcrest, 2 Wheatear and single Chiffchaff and Fieldfare logged.
Diurnal Migration
Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and 5 Shoveler were logged.
Miscellaneous
Only 8 Twite were seen.
Moths
A Mottled Grey was the first moth to trouble the moth recorders this year!.

Otter hat-trick!

18th March 2015 – hazy sun after early frost N1
Grounded Migrants
A slight increase in activity saw 5 Goldcrest and single Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Stonechat logged.
Diurnal Migration
Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and 2 female Scaup remain and 6 Greenshank were logged.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine and 100 Twite were the best of the rest.
Mammals
A group of 3 Otter were observed at dusk.

Long-tailed Duck and Hooded Crow still in residence

15th March 2015 – overcast E2
Grounded Migrants
A solitary Goldcrest was the only evidence of newly arrived birds.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 40 Pink-footed Geese headed south and the trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continues.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 12 Goldeneye, 2 Scaup and a Long-tailed Duck whilst 4 Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit were amongst the waders seen.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow put in another appearance and 50 Twite were recorded.

First Wheatear arrives

14th March 2015 – overcast E2
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea provided just 36 Common Scoter and 3 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
The first Wheatear of the year was logged along with another Chiffchaff, 5 Stonechat, 2 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
Diurnal Migration
Amongst the continued trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail were single Grey Wagtail and Tree Sparrow and 7 Pink-footed Geese.
Miscellaneous
A total of 65 Twite were seen.

First Chiffchaff arrives

13th March 2015 – overcast/light showers NE3/4
Offshore
A check over the sea on the rising tide provided just 6 Shag and a Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
The first Chiffchaff of the year was logged along with 6 Robin and single Goldcrest and Stonechat.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continues.
Miscellaneous
A Raven and 50 Twite were the best of the rest.

Stonechats and Goldcrest

8th March 2015 – early rain W4
Offshore
Still quiet over the sea with single Shag and Common Scoter the best on offer.
Grounded Migrants
Early morning thrushes involved 4 Redwing and a Fieldfare amongst an influx of Blackbird. Also seen were 10 Stonechat and the first Goldcrest of the spring.
Diurnal Migration
A trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail were evident.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 130 pale-bellied birds while the 2 Scaup remain and waders included 6 Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The Peregrine put in another appearance and 60 Twite were seen.

Woodpigeons move through

7th March 2015 – overcast SW6/7
Offshore
Only 7 Common Scoter troubled the log.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 11 Woodpigeon flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 174 pale-bellied birds while waders included 350 Golden Plover and 35 Snipe.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was the best of the rest.

Geese dominate sightings

6th March 2015 – overcast W5
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 109 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 53 Barnacle Geese and 13 dark-bellied Brent Geese.
Grounded Migrants
A Fieldfare provided some evidence of movement.

Kittiwakes on the move

1st March 2015 – snow showers W5/6
Offshore
The first real evidence of movement over the sea was provided early morning by 105 Kittiwake along with small numbers of Common Scoter, Razorbill and Guillemot .
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 6 Shoveler remain.
Miscellaneous
At least 21 Little Egret continue to linger.

Slow start to the ringing year

28th February 2015 – overcast SW4
Offshore
A check over the sea produced just 8 Common Scoter and single Red-throated Diver and Guillemot .
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl include a flock of 53 Barnacle Geese and 6 Shoveler while 4 Greenshank and 2 Black-tailed Godwit were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was logged and a total of 70 Twite were seen.
Ringing
The usual quiet start to the year has seen a total of 62 birds of 9 species trapped. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps in brackets) Reed Bunting 2 (16), Goldfinch 1 (23), House Sparrow 1 (4), Robin 1 (2), Wren 1 (1), Song Thrush 1, Blackbird (6), Dunnock (2), Blue Tit (1).