Tree Pipit and Whinchats

24th April 2026 – bright and sunny ESE1/2
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed 70 Sandwich Tern, 25 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver, 10 Guillemot, 6 Gannet, 6 Little Tern, 2 Shag and a Puffin.
Grounded Migrants
Totals included 4 Whinchat amongst 15 Wheatear, also seen were 18 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and single Chiffchaff, Grasshopper Warbler and Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Five Redpoll were logged and single Tree Pipit and House Martin were amongst a trickle of Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1100 Dunlin and 32 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and a Merlin was logged.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted a Rush Veneer.

Whinchat new in

23rd April 2026 – bright and sunny E3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0800) revealed 115 Sandwich Tern, 16 Common Scoter, 13 Red-throated Diver, 9 Gannet, 5 Little Tern, 3 Guillemot, 3 Razorbill and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 7 Wheatear and 8 Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
A House Martin was amongst a trickle of Swallow
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 31 Whimbrel and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

First Swift arrives

22nd April 2026 – bright and sunny E5/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 120 Sandwich Tern, 16 Common Scoter, 12 Gannet, 10 Red-throated Diver, 6 Guillemot, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Little Tern, 2 Razorbill and an Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
A quieter day with just 3 Wheatear and a Willow Warbler in the very blustery conditions.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of Pink-footed Geese flew through and the first Swift of the spring was seen amongst a trickle of Swallow.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Marsh Harrier quickly moves through

21st April 2026 – bright and sunny E3/6
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed 160 Sandwich Tern, 28 Manx Shearwater, 6 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Diver, 5 Little Tern, 4 Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Totals involved 35 Willow Warbler, 22 Wheatear and 2 Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A Marsh Harrier flew northeast, pursued by the local Shelduck population and a single Siskin was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 20 Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.

Yellow Wagtail

20th April 2026 – bright and sunny/calm
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed 100 Sandwich Tern, 18 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver, 8 Gannet, 7 Shag and 3 Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds involved 17 Wheatear, 14 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 White Wagtail, 2 Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 300 Pink-footed Geese flew through, along with 2 Lesser Redpoll and the first Yellow Wagtail of the spring.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and a Short-eared Owl was seen.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Small Copper of the year was logged.

First Common Sandpiper arrive

19th April 2026 – bright and sunny/calm then W3/4
Grounded Migrants
Totals involved 10 Wheatear, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff and a single Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 600 Pink-footed Geese flew through and 4 Tree Sparrow were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 425 light-bellied birds while waders included: 44 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap hosted Hebrew Character and Pebble Prominent and butterflies included a Painted Lady.

Hooded Crow double

18th April 2026 – sun/showers W3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0900) revealed 205 Common Scoter, 150 Kittiwake, 90 Manx Shearwater, 44 Razorbill, 44 Gannet, 40 Sandwich Tern, 17 Red-throated Diver, 17 Guillemot, 8 Little Tern and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 40 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 320 light-bellied birds and waders included 29 Black-tailed Godwit and 12 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains and was joined by a second individual.
Butterflies and Moths
Three Painted Lady was logged.

First Reed Warbler returns

17th April 2026 – overcast/showers SSE4/5
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0630-0830) revealed 195 Common Scoter, 29 Gannet, 14 Sandwich Tern, 13 Red-throated Diver, 8 Manx Shearwater, 8 Guillemot and 5 Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 13 Wheatear and 2 White Wagtail was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 4 Whimbrel and a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The first Reed Warbler was back in breeding habitat.

Great Northern Diver and Arctic Skua

16th April 2026 – bright and sunny SW3/5
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0715-0845) produced 110 Common Scoter, 28 Red-throated Diver, 24 Guillemot, 24 Razorbill, 16 Manx Shearwater, 15 Gannet, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Kittiwake, 2 Little Tern and single Great Northern Diver and Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Just a single Blackcap was logged.
Diurnal Migration
Two Siskin and a Redpoll flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 450 light-bellied birds and 168 Shelduck were logged while waders included: 155 Curlew, 154 Sanderling, 132 Ringed Plover, 65 Bar-tailed Godwit, 21 Whimbrel and 2 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap hosted a Silver Y and Dark Swordgrass and butterflies included 3 Painted Lady and a Red Admiral.