30th April 2016 – sunny spells and wintery showers WNW4/3
Offshore
Early morning observations on the falling tide (0645-0745) produced 33 Kittiwake, 28 Common Scoter, 18 Gannet, 17 Manx Shearwater, 16 Sandwich Tern, 7 Guillemot, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and single Red-throated Diver and Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
Two Wheatear were the only evidence of newly grounded birds.
Diurnal Migration
Surprisingly, considering the continued cold northerly wind the first Swift of the year flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 750 Dunlin, 260 Golden Plover, 80 Whimbrel and 4 Black-tailed Godwit.
Breeding Birds
Despite of the wind being in the north all week the number of Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler in breeding haunts continues to rise slowly.
Ringing
The ringing total for April was dominated by finches with relatively few warblers amongst the total of 280 birds of 17 species handled. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps in brackets): Goldfinch 54 (34), Linnet 37 (31), Goldcrest 18 (3), Willow Warbler 15, Chiffchaff 10, Chaffinch 7 (3), Blackcap 5, Greenfinch 5 (11), Robin 4, Siskin 4, Reed Bunting 3 (18), Blackbird 1 (5), Wren 1 (4), Dunnock 1 (3), Redstart 1, Sparrowhawk 1 and House Sparrow (1).
Butterflies
The first Speckled Wood and Orange Tip are now on the wing.
