Hooded Crow

29th April 2018 – sun and showers E2/3
Offshore
The large flock of Common Scoter remain and additional sightings included 5 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A slight improvement again with 32 Wheatear. 11 Willow Warbler, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Blackcap and a Chiffchaff logged.
Diurnal Migration
A Hooded Crow was amongst a small corvid passage.
Wildfowl and Waders
At least 9 pale-bellied Brent Geese remain and waders included 151 Whimbrel and a Greenshank.
Mammals
A Harbour Porpoise was offshore.

Velvet Scoter

28th April 2018 – sunny spells V1
Offshore
At least 2 Velvet Scoter were amongst the large flock of Common Scoter present in the mouth of Morecambe Bay. Also seen were 60 Sandwich Tern, 7 Red-throated Diver, 4 Guillemot, 2 Little Tern and a Manx Shearwater.
Grounded Migrants
Perhaps the best day of the spring so far produced 27 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcap.
Diurnal Migration
Pink-footed Geese continue to head north with 100 birds logged, along with 8 Lesser Redpoll and a single House Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 103 Whimbrel, 15 Golden Plover, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Ring-necked Parakeet continues to roam the island.

Common Scoter Build

27th April 2018 – overcast/showers V1
Offshore
A flock of 4400 Common Scoter were in the mouth of Morecambe Bay at low tide. Also seen were 65 Sandwich Tern, 14 Red-throated Diver, 8 Arctic Tern, 4 Guillemot and single Shag and Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Meagre pickings were again the order of the day with just single Tree Sparrow, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff logged.
Miscellaneous
The first Reed Warbler are now back in breeding habitat.

Arctic Skua

25th April 2018 – sunny spells WSW4/5
Offshore
An early evening check of the sea (1530-1630) yet again produced variety rather than quantity, sightings included: 34 Sandwich Tern, 15 Manx Shearwater, 13 Gannet, 9 Common Scoter, 7 Red-throated Diver, 2 Razorbill and single Fulmar and Arctic Skua .

Great Skua

24th April 2018 – overcast/rain later SW3/4
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0700-0800) again produced variety rather than quantity, sightings included: 45 Sandwich Tern, 31 Common Scoter, 19 Gannet, 15 Manx Shearwater, 15 Kittiwake, 10 Guillemot, 7 Red-throated Diver, 3 Fulmar and single Arctic Tern and Great Skua.

Little Gull, Little Tern and Arctic Tern

22nd April 2018 – overcast/showers SW3
Offshore
Several checks of the sea through the morning provided variety with 1000 Common Scoter, 140 Sandwich Tern, 54 Arctic Tern, 29 Manx Shearwater, 24 Red-breasted Merganser, 19 Red-throated Diver, 15 Gannet, 11 Razorbill, 4 Kittiwake, 3 Guillemot, 3 Shag, 2 Little Tern and an adult Little Gull logged .
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff and a White Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
A further 100 Pink-footed Geese flew north along with a single Lesser Redpoll.
Wildfowl and Waders
Single Whimbrel and Goosander were recorded.
Miscellaneous
The female Great Spotted Woodpecker remains and Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Whitetroat are now widespread, in low numbers, across the island’s breeding haunts.
Miscellaneous
The female Ring-necked Parakeet continues its island residence.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

21st April 2018 – bright and sunny SE2
Offshore
A few Sandwich Terns were again logged offshore.
Grounded Migrants
Another small fall produced 10 Willow Warbler, 5 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Sedge Warbler.
Diurnal Migration
Pink-footed Geese continue to head north with 110 birds logged. Also seen were 5 Lesser Redpoll amongst a further trickle of Swallow and Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Two Whimbrel were logged.
Miscellaneous
Unusually due to no wintering birds, a migrant female Great Spotted Woodpecker was the first of the year.

Redstart, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler

20th April 2018 – mist/fog clearing later V1
Offshore
Sandwich Terns and Red-throated Divers were logged offshore as the fog cleared.
Grounded Migrants
The conditions produced a small fall with 8 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 4 White Wagtail and single Redstart and Wheatear recorded.
Diurnal Migration
Two Lesser Redpoll were amongst a light trickle of Swallow and Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
A Whimbrel was logged and the Brent Goose flock held 100 pale-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
The first Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler have now returned to breeding localities.
Moths
A Twin-spotted Quaker would appear to be the first island record.

Spring still to happen!

19th April 2018 – bright and sunny V1
Offshore
A few Sandwich Tern were logged.
Grounded Migrants
The conditions were not conducive for a fall of migrants, although 20 Wheatear and 8 White Wagtail were logged warblers were non-existent.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 730 Pink-footed Geese headed north early morning.
Wildfowl and Waders
Five Whimbrel were again logged and the Brent Goose flock held 125 pale-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
Up to four Grasshopper Warbler and several Lesser Whitethroat are now back in breeding habitat. The female Ring-necked Parakeet continues to tour the island.

Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat now on territory

18th April 2018 – early drizzle then sunny spells SSE2/3
Offshore
A quick check of the sea on the falling tide produced 26 Sandwich Tern, 6 Red-throated Diver, 3 Gannet and 2 Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
Blackcap continue to trickle through and 9 White Wagtail were logged, otherwise little evidence of newly grounded migrants.
Wildfowl and Waders
Five Whimbrel were logged.
Miscellaneous
Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat are now back in breeding habitat.

First Arctic Terns

17th April 2018 – overcast/murky/rain at times SSE5/6
Offshore
A check of the sea on the falling tide (1520-1620) produced 16 Red-throated Diver, 13 Gannet, 9 Razorbill, 6 Common Scoter, 6 Sandwich Tern, 6 Guillemot and 3 Arctic Tern.
Diurnal Migration
A few Swallow trickled through.
Wildfowl and Waders
A flock of 230 Turnstone was logged.

First House Martin of the year

15th April 2018 – overcast/mist/murk SE2
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea (0800-0900) revealed 46 Sandwich Tern, 36 Common Scoter, 6 Guillemot, 6 Gannet and 3 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Again just a smattering of sightings with 5 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 4 White Wagtail, 3 Goldcrest and 3 Chiffchaff logged.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 170 Pink-footed Geese headed north early morning. Also seen was the first House Martin of the year amongst 4 Swallow and a Sand Martin and a Lesser Redpoll amongst 50 Meadow Pipit.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 170 pale-bellied and a single dark-bellied bird while waders included 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel and a Purple Sandpiper amongst 290 Turnstone.
Miscellaneous
The Ring-necked Parakeet put in another appearance and 9 Twite remain.
Mothss
A Mottled Grey was just the fourth species of the year.

First Whimbrel arrives

14th April 2018 – sunny spells SE1/2
Offshore
The sea provided for 70 Common Scoter, 55 Sandwich Tern, 5 Red-throated Diver and single Kittiwake and Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
A mix of winter and summer migrants produced 12 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Wheatear, 5 Redwing and 2 Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
Again a mix of winter and summer migrants with 65 Pink-footed Geese, 10 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and a Lesser Redpoll logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 215 pale-bellied birds while waders included 88 Golden Plover, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and the first Whimbrel of the year.

Osprey flies through

8th April 2018 – fog/mist V1
Grounded Migrants
The best day of the spring so far saw the changing of the seasons in evidence winter produced two Brambling and a Fieldfare whilst summer produced 10 Chiffchaff, 18 Goldcrest, 6 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler and 3 Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
An Osprey drifted north over the observatory garden at 1215hrs. It is a sign of the times that the bird was escorted away from Walney airspace by a flock of Shelduck rather than a horde of gulls! Also seen were 80 Meadow Pipit and 5 Siskin.
Wildfowl and Waders
A pair and Goldeneye and a single Jack Snipe continue to linger.
Miscellaneous
A small group of 7 Twite was logged.
Ringing
The busiest morning of the year so far saw 58 birds trapped including an exceptional four controls (birds previously ringed elsewhere).

Little Gulls

7th April 2018 – overcast/misty/rain soon SE2
Offshore
A check of the sea early morning (0715-0745) produced 1000 Eider, 31 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, 9 Red-throated Diver, 7 Shag, 5 Razorbill and 2 adult Little Gull .
Grounded Migrants
A few birds at last with 9 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler logged.
Diurnal Migration
Three skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 350 birds headed north at dawn.
Wildfowl and Waders
A drake Gadwall was amongst 6 Shoveler and a Greenshank was the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin in off the sea was the best of the rest.
Moths
The Satellite and Common Quaker are the first moths of the spring.

Quiet

6th April 2018 – overcast SE4
Offshore
A check of the sea on the rising tide (1230-1330) produced 29 Sandwich Tern, 15 Razorbill, 8 Gannet, 7 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Guillemot and a Kittiwake.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 83 pale and 30 dark-bellied birds.
Miscellaneous
A Peregrine was the best of the rest.

Ring Ouzel

5th April 2018 – bright and sunny WSW1/2
Grounded Migrants
A Ring Ouzel was the pick of the grounded migrants that were otherwise limited to 2 Wheatear, 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff.

Black Brant lingers

1st April 2018 – overcast NE1
Rarities
The adult Black Brant was on Tummerhill Marsh at high tide amongst 174 pale-bellied and a single dark-bellied Brent Goose.
Offshore
An early morning check of the sea produced 1000 Eider, 40 Sandwich Tern, 10 Common Scoter, 5 Shag and 3 Gannet.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of Pink-footed Geese headed north.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 5 Black-tailed Godwit.
Miscellaneous
The Ring-necked Parakeet headed high north early morning. A Merlin was the best of the rest.
Mammals
Three Harbour Porpoise were offshore.

Sandwich Tern move in

31st March 2018 – overcast/showers NE3/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0800-1000) produced 174 Sandwich Tern, 150 Razorbill, 37 Common Scoter, 25 Kittiwake, 24 Gannet, 15 Guillemot, 13 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Red-throated Diver, 4 Manx Shearwater and a Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Still slow going with just 2 Wheatear and a Goldcrest recorded.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 243 pale-bellied and a dark-bellied bird. Waders included a Jack Snipe amongst 42 Snipe.
Miscellaneous
The Ring-necked Parakeet remains.

Turnstone and Purple Sandpiper influx

30th March 2018 – overcast/showers NE1/2
Offshore
A check of the sea (0800-0900) produced 39 Common Scoter, 37 Sandwich Tern, 25 Razorbill, 10 Red-throated Diver, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Guillemot and 4 Gannet.
Grounded Migrants
A Tree Sparrow was the only evidence of newly grounded birds.
Diurnal Migration
Limited to 2 Whooper Swan amongst a trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 222 pale-bellied and 44 dark-bellied birds. Waders included 26 Purple Sandpiper amongst 510 Turnstone, a Greenshank amongst 800 Redshank, 500 Golden Plover and 350 Sanderling.
Miscellaneous
The Ring-necked Parakeet remains and 4 Twite were logged.