Warblers and Wheatears arrive

8th April 2026 – sunny spells V1
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 4,300 Eider, 86 Common Scoter, 80 Sandwich Tern, 30 Red-throated Diver, 8 Shag, 5 Razorbill, 2 Guillemot and single Gannet and Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Totals involved 32 Wheatear, 12 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 2 White Wagtail and a single Chiffchaff. In addition, single singing Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat are now back on breeding sites amongst a noticeable influx of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 61 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Sand Martin and 4 Swallow flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
A Raven and 3 Jay were the best of the rest.
Mammals
Three Harbour Porpoise were seen.
Butterflies and Moths
A Green-veined White was new for the year, along with single Painted Lady and Red Admiral which had presumably overwintered locally. The light trap hosted the first Brown Sliver-line of the year.

Another Marsh Harrier

7th April 2026 – bright and sunny E2/5
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 45 Sandwich Tern, 34 Common Scoter, 17 Red-throated Diver, 5 Shag, 3 Gannet and 3 Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
Totals involved 5 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and single Blackcap, Willow Warbler and White Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 250 Pink-footed Goose, 40 Meadow Pipit, 10 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow and a Redpoll flew through.
Miscellaneous
A Marsh Harrier hunted the island and Merlin; Hooded Crow and Red-legged Partridge were the best of the rest. Five Twite remained amongst 28 Linnet.
Butterflies and Moths
Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Orange Tip were all in the wing in the warm sunshine.

Marsh Harrier

6th April 2026 – sunny spells SE2/5
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 44 Sandwich Tern, 30 Common Scoter, 8 Shag, 7 Red-throated Diver and 7 Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 White Wagtail, 2 Wheatear and a single Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 728 Pink-footed Geese and 7 Whooper Swan headed north and a Marsh Harrier flew out to sea.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and a Merlin was the best of the rest.
Mammals
A Weasel was seen.

Arctic Skua

5th April 2026 – sunny spells W4/6
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0900) produced 80 Common Scoter, 50 Kittiwake, 18 Gannet, 18 Sandwich Tern, 2 Razorbill and single Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser and Arctic Skua.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 300 Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine and 2 Raven were the best of the rest.

Hooded Crow and Red-legged Partridge

4th April 2026 – overcast/rain at times S2/5
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 65 Common Scoter, 9 Red-throated Diver, 8 Shag, 8 Sandwich Tern, 4 Razorbill, 2 Kittiwake and a Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Goldcrest and a Collared Dove
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and the Red-legged Partridge reappeared
Butterflies and Moths
A Clouded Drab was the first of the year.

Hooded Crow and Twite

2nd April 2026 – bright and sunny/calm
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 10 Sandwich Tern, 7 Common Scoter, 6 Shag, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Kittiwake and 4 Red-breasted Merganser.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 350 Pink-footed Geese flew through along with 5 Sand Martin, 2 Siskin and a Swallow.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 405 light-bellied birds and waders included 300 Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 22 Twite was seen

First Willow Warbler of the spring

1st April 2026 – overcast SW1/3
Offshore
A scan of the sea produced 69 Common Scoter, 15 Red-throated Diver, 13 Sandwich Tern, 8 Shag, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and a Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
A single Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff was amongst 6 Goldcrest and a single Fieldfare was logged.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 110 Pink-footed Geese flew in off the sea.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 800 Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and a Red-legged Partridge was seen!
Ringing
Two recent Goldfinch controls involve Mossdale, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (122km NNW) and Orell, Greater Manchester (67km SSE).
Butterflies and Moths
The Herald was new for the year.

First Ring Ouzel and Swallow of the year

31 March 2026 – over/calm then SW1/2
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Common Scoter, 5 Shag, 3 Red-throated Diver and 3 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A sprinkling of sightings included 2 Chiffchaff and single Ring Ouzel, Mistle Thrush and Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
The first Swallow flew through amongst a trickle of Meadow Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1000 Golden Plover and a Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and additional sightings included 2 Sparrowhawk and a Water Rail.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap attracted the first Dark Swordgrass of the year.

Seabirds dominate

28th March 2026 – bright and sunny/rain later W5/7
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 83 Kittiwake, 37 Gannet, 23 Sandwich Tern, 22 Common Scoter, 7 Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Red-throated Diver.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 20 Meadow Pipit flew in off the sea.
Ringing
A Greenfinch ringed in the observatory garden on 8th October 2025 was recaught on 21st March 2026 at Sharperton, Northumberland (160km NNE).