31st March 2017 – sunny spells S4/3/2
Offshore
Observations over the sea on the rising tide (1230-1330) produced a female Velvet Scoter amongst 20 Gannet, 16 Common Scoter, 10 Kittiwake, 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Guillemot and 2 Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A smattering of birds were logged including 28 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 6 Goldcrest and single Chiffchaff and Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
The first 6 Sand Martin of the year flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 270 pale-bellied birds. Waders included 650 Golden Plover, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Jack Snipe amongst 25 Snipe.
Miscellaneous
A Water Rail was the best of the rest.
Ringing
A good start to the year saw 187 birds of 19 species handled. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps in brackets). Blackbird 36, (2), Goldfinch 28, (16), House Sparrow 13, (3), Chaffinch 10, Goldcrest 9, Greenfinch 8, (13), Redwing 6, Robin 6, (1), Reed Bunting 4, (7), Siskin 3, Dunnock 2, (7), Song Thrush 2, (2), Great Tit 2, Woodcock 1, Chiffchaff 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Linnet 1, (1), Blue Tit (1), Wren (1)
