First Sand Martin of the year

31st March 2008 - bright and sunny SW1
Grounded Migrants
A small fall, despite the unsuitable conditions, provided 25 Goldcrest, 15 Wheatear, 5 Robin, 4 White Wagtail, 3 Chifchaff and 3 Willow Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
The first 2 Sand Martin of the year flew through.
Miscellaneous
The flock of 70 Twite remain and at least 4 Little Egret were logged.

First Willow Warbler and White Wagtail arrive

30th March 2008 - sunny spells SW4/3
Offshore
Sandwich Terns finally begin to build with a group of 10 birds feeding offshore.
Grounded Migrants
A smattering of sightings were led by the first Willow Warbler of the year with 3 Wheatear, 2 Fieldfare, 2 White Wagtail and a single Goldcrest also logged.
Diurnal Migration
A light passage through the morning provided 60 Meadow Pipit, 10 Skylark and 2 Pied Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 6 Shoveler and 2 Gadwall and at least 3 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank continue to linger.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin continues to hunt the island. The itinerant flock of 70 Twite put in another appearance and 2 Little Egret were seen.

Little Gulls headline

29th March 2008 - sunny spells then rain S4/5/6
Offshore
Early morning observations (0700-1000) prior to the onset of heavy rain were headlined by 45 Little Gulls (43 adult and 2 first-winter), also seen were 25 Kittiwake, 24 Common Scoter, 22 Razorbill, 12 Red-throated Diver, 5 Gannet, 2 Sandwich Tern and a Guillemot.
Miscellaneous
At least 3 Little Egret remain.

Little Gulls on the move

28th March 2008 - rain then showers SW4/5
Offshore
Observations on the rising tide as the rain relented (1100-1200) produced 80 Kittiwake, 65 Common Scoter, 18 Little Gull, 15 Razorbill and 6 Gannet moving into the outer reaches of Morecambe Bay.
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Black-tailed Godwit were attracted to the island's flooded fields.
Miscellaneous
At least 3 Little Egret were logged.

Wheatears begin to show

27th March 2008 - sunny spells NNW3/4
Offshore
Morning observations on the rising tide (1000-1100) provided just 6 Red-throated Diver, 3 Kittiwake, 3 Razorbill, 2 Gannet and a single Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A small scale movement grounded 7 Wheatear and 2 Goldcrest.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret remain and single Raven and Merlin were logged.

First Chiffchaff of spring

26th March 2008 - early rain NE1
Grounded Migrants
Calm conditions at last and the early rain grounded a number of species with thrushes predominating. Totals included 24 Blackbird, 8 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush and 2 Fieldfare along with 5 Chaffinch and single Collared Dove, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 110 Meadow Pipit and 5 Pied Wagtail passed through during the morning.
Miscellaneous
Just 2 Little Egret were seen and a Peregrine was logged.

Another Sandwich Tern moves through

24th March 2008 - bright and sunny NNW3/4
Offshore
Morning observations (0845-0945) produced just 6 Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Diver and single Sandwich Tern and Guillemot.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 38 pale-bellied Brent Geese remain.
Miscellaneous
The eastern salt marshes continue to hold at least 3 Little Egret.

First Wheatear and Sandwich Tern arrive

23rd March 2008 - bright and sunny N3/4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0800-0900) provided the first 3 Sandwich Tern of the year, along with just 10 Razorbill, 4 Red-throated Diver and 2 Gannet.
Diurnal Migration
A few Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continue to trickle through.
Grounded Migrants
The first Wheatears of the spring finally made landfall on the island.
Miscellaneous
Just a single Little Egret was logged.

Northerly blocker continues

22nd March 2008 - sunny spells N4/5
Offshore
Early morning observations were limited to 2 Red-throated Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 65 pale-belied Brent Geese continue to linger and 9 Shoveler and 2 Gadwall were logged. A group of 25 Purple Sandpiper fed on the rising tide.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret were seen.

Whoopers Swans still on move

19th March 2008 - bright and sunny N3/4/5
Offshore
The northerly wind seemed to have nullified almost any movement although observations over the tide produced 21 Whooper Swan, 5 Razorbill and single Red-throated Diver and Shag.

Meadow Pipits on the move

15th March 2008 - overcast SE3
Diurnal Migration
A steady passage of Meadow Pipit through the course of the morning produced 200 birds along with 14 Pied Wagtail and a single Chaffinch.
Wildfowl and Waders
The 65 pale-bellied Brent Geese continue to linger.
Miscellaneous
A Little Owl was logged and 2 Little Egret were seen.

First Goldcrest of the spring

14th March 2008 - sunny spells SW3
Diurnal Migration
A hint of movement was provided by 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail and 2 Greenfinch.
Grounded Migrants
The first Goldcrest of the spring appeared.

Whooper Swans on the move

11th March 2008 - overcast/showers soon SW5/6
Offshore
Morning observations (0900-1000) were limited to 3 Common Scoter and a single Gannet.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 15 adult Whooper Swan flew north.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 65 pale-bellied Brent Geese continue to linger.

Another Little Gull

10th March 2008 - overcast/showers SE2/3
Offshore
Morning observations (0900-1000) produced a single adult Little Gull along with 28 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Kittiwake and single Razorbill and Pintail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 65 pale-bellied Brent Geese remain.
Miscellaneous
At least 4 Little Egret remain.

Some evidence of movement

9th March 2008 - bright and sunny SW4
Offshore
Early morning observations (0800-0900) were highlighted by a flock of 9 Scaup, also seen were 23 Common Scoter, 6 Gannet, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill and a solitary Shag.
Diurnal Migration
Some evidence of movement was detected with 10 Meadow Pipit and 2 Raven logged.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 20 Pied Wagtail were recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 9 Whooper Swan were new in while the 2 Gadwall remain. Waders included 6 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank.
Miscellaneous
The roving flock of 70 Twite were seen but just a solitary Little Egret was logged.
Moths
An Early Grey was the earliest ever recorded on the island

Wildfowl and Wader numbers continue to decline

8th March 2008 - overcast/showers SW6/7/8
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl sightings were led by 65 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a group of 10 Shoveler while just a single Pintail remains. Waders included 27 Purple Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank.
Miscellaneous
The flock of 70 Twite remain but just 2 Little Egret were logged

Barn Owl puts in a welcome appearance

4th March 2008 - early frost N3
Miscellaneous
Casual observations provided 32 Twite, 2 Merlin and a Little Egret. Sightings of Barn Owl have been reported infrequently this winter period so an individual hunting at dusk was a welcome record.

Little of note

3rd March 2008 - snow showers N5/4/3
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 61 pale-bellied Brent Geese remain.
Miscellaneous
At least 6 Little Egret remain along the eastern shore.

Little evidence of any offshore movement

2nd March 2008 - bright and sunny
Offshore
The only records of note were offshore where early morning observations (0845-0945) were limited to 16 Kittiwake, 4 Common Scoter and a single Razorbill.

Usual suspects

1st March 2008 - bright and sunny WNW5/6
Offshore
Morning observations on the falling tide (0830-1000) produced just 10 Kittiwake, 8 Common Scoter and 4 Red-throated Diver.
Wildfowl and Waders
The flock of 61 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Shoveler and a female Scaup all remain. Waders included 4 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin and 2 Little Owl were logged and at least 4 Little Egret continue to favour the salt marshes along the sheltered eastern shore.