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.
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.
31st March 2025 – overcast/calm then ESE1/2 Offshore Early morning observations over the mouth of the bay at low tide revealed single Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot, along with 4,000 Eider, 30 Red-breasted Merganser, 20 Red-throated Diver, 10 Shag and 9 Great Crested Grebe. Grounded Migrants The first Willow Warblers of the year were seen. Diurnal Migration A total of 365 Pink-footed Geese were seen along with single Fieldfare and Lesser Redpoll. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 1,000 Knot, 200 Golden Plover and 7 Greenshank. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Water Rail were the best of the rest.
30th March 2025 – bright and sunny/haze WNW5/8 Offshore Observations over the sea (0800-0900) produced 50 Sandwich Tern, 28 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, 7 Guillemot, 6 Razorbill, 6 Kittiwake and 5 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants Limited to a solitary Chiffchaff. Wildfowl and Waders The Brent Goose flock held 335 light-bellied birds and 400 Golden Plover were logged. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow was the best of the rest.
28th March 2025 – sunny spells W4/6 Offshore Observations over the sea (0715-0815) produced 205 Common Scoter, 142 Sandwich Tern, 100 Kittiwake, 11 Red-throated Diver, 9 Guillemot, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and single Velvet Scoter and Arctic Skua. Grounded Migrants The Black Redstart remained and 4 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff and a White Wagtail were logged. Diurnal Migration A Swallow flew through – the first of the year. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 300 Golden Plover and 15 Bar-tailed Godwit. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow was the best of the rest.
27th March 2025 – overcast/calm then SSW3/6 Offshore Observations over the sea (0730-0830) produced 45 Common Scoter, 25 Sandwich Tern, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Guillemot and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. Grounded Migrants The Black Redstart remains and 2 Fieldfare and 2 Chiffchaff were seen. Wildfowl and Waders The Brent Goose flock held 360 light-bellied birds and 480 Golden Plover were logged. Miscellaneous A Water Rail was the best of the rest.
26th March 2025 – overcast/calm then SSW1/2 Offshore Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 35 Common Scoter, 21 Sandwich Tern, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Shag, 8 Guillemot, 6 Gannet, 3 Kittiwake, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill. Grounded Migrants A Black Redstart was the star of the show with a supporting cast of 20 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Chiffchaff and single Goldcrest and Wheatear. Diurnal Migration A Redpoll flew through. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Water Rail were the best of the rest. Mammals Two Harbour Porpoise were offshore.
25th March 2025 – early fog/mizzle clearing WNW2/5 Offshore Observations over the sea as the mizzle cleared (0700-0800) produced 45 Common Scoter, 26 Sandwich Tern, 22 Gannet, 7 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shag, 2 Kittiwake and a Guillemot. Grounded Migrants Early morning thrushes involved 23 Fieldfare and 5 Redwing. Also seen were 2 Chiffchaff. Diurnal Migration A total of 30 Meadow Pipit flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 12 Bar-tailed Godwit. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Raven were the best of the rest. Mammals A Harbour Porpoise were offshore.
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.
