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.
4th April 2025 – bright and sunny/haze ENE3/6 Offshore Observations over the sea revealed 30 Sandwich Tern, 24 Common Scoter, 14 Gannet, 10 Red-throated Diver and 3 Red-breasted Merganser. Grounded Migrants Limited to 6 Wheatear. Diurnal Migration Totals of 100 Meadow Pipit, 56 Jackdaw, 8 Sand Martin and single Swallow and Redpoll were logged. Wildfowl and Waders A Black-tailed Godwit was seen. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
3rd April 2025 – bright and sunny/haze ENE4/7 Offshore Observations over the sea revealed 515 Sandwich Tern, 52 Common Scoter, 21 Guillemot, 17 Gannet, 14 Razorbill, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Kittiwake and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. Grounded Migrants Limited to 4 Wheatear, 3 White Wagtail and 2 Willow Warbler. Diurnal Migration Totals of 25 Pink-footed Goose, 22 Meadow Pipit and single Redpoll and Whooper Swan were logged. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow remains. Butterflies and Moths The moth trap revealed its first attraction of the year – 3 Common Quaker.
2nd April 2025 – bright and sunny/haze E3/5 Offshore Observations over the sea revealed just 7 Shag and 5 Sandwich Tern. Grounded Migrants Limited to 4 White Wagtail and a Wheatear. Diurnal Migration Totals of 80 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Whooper Swan and a Swallow were logged. Wildfowl and Waders Two Shoveler and 2 Goldeneye remain. Ringing The colour-ringed Shelduck remains.
1st April 2025 – bright and sunny/haze E3/5 Offshore Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 20 Common Scoter, 20 Sandwich Tern, 3 Guillemot, 2 Shag, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Gannet. Grounded Migrants Limited to a solitary Fieldfare. Diurnal Migration Totals of 1695 Pink-footed Goose, 30 Meadow Pipit, 2 Sand Martin and a Redpoll were logged. Wildfowl and Waders An aberrant plumaged Oystercatcher was seen. Miscellaneous Single Short-eared Owl and Water Rail were the best of the rest.
