Founded in 1964, the work of Walney Bird Observatory is funded entirely by membership subscription. Since 1965 it has been an accredited member of the British Trust for Ornithology’s bird observatories network which operates across Britain and Ireland. Bird Observatories are at the forefront of conservation, monitoring bird populations through the medium of census work, daily recording of migrants and ringing.
31st March 2025 – overcast/calm then ESE1/2 Offshore Early morning observations over the mouth of the bay at low tide revealed single Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot, along with 4,000 Eider, 30 Red-breasted Merganser, 20 Red-throated Diver, 10 Shag and 9 Great Crested Grebe. Grounded Migrants The first Willow Warblers of the year were seen. Diurnal Migration A total of 365 Pink-footed Geese were seen along with single Fieldfare and Lesser Redpoll. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 1,000 Knot, 200 Golden Plover and 7 Greenshank. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Water Rail were the best of the rest.
30th March 2025 – bright and sunny/haze WNW5/8 Offshore Observations over the sea (0800-0900) produced 50 Sandwich Tern, 28 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, 7 Guillemot, 6 Razorbill, 6 Kittiwake and 5 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants Limited to a solitary Chiffchaff. Wildfowl and Waders The Brent Goose flock held 335 light-bellied birds and 400 Golden Plover were logged. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow was the best of the rest.
28th March 2025 – sunny spells W4/6 Offshore Observations over the sea (0715-0815) produced 205 Common Scoter, 142 Sandwich Tern, 100 Kittiwake, 11 Red-throated Diver, 9 Guillemot, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and single Velvet Scoter and Arctic Skua. Grounded Migrants The Black Redstart remained and 4 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff and a White Wagtail were logged. Diurnal Migration A Swallow flew through – the first of the year. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 300 Golden Plover and 15 Bar-tailed Godwit. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow was the best of the rest.
27th March 2025 – overcast/calm then SSW3/6 Offshore Observations over the sea (0730-0830) produced 45 Common Scoter, 25 Sandwich Tern, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Guillemot and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. Grounded Migrants The Black Redstart remains and 2 Fieldfare and 2 Chiffchaff were seen. Wildfowl and Waders The Brent Goose flock held 360 light-bellied birds and 480 Golden Plover were logged. Miscellaneous A Water Rail was the best of the rest.
26th March 2025 – overcast/calm then SSW1/2 Offshore Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 35 Common Scoter, 21 Sandwich Tern, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Shag, 8 Guillemot, 6 Gannet, 3 Kittiwake, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill. Grounded Migrants A Black Redstart was the star of the show with a supporting cast of 20 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Chiffchaff and single Goldcrest and Wheatear. Diurnal Migration A Redpoll flew through. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Water Rail were the best of the rest. Mammals Two Harbour Porpoise were offshore.
25th March 2025 – early fog/mizzle clearing WNW2/5 Offshore Observations over the sea as the mizzle cleared (0700-0800) produced 45 Common Scoter, 26 Sandwich Tern, 22 Gannet, 7 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shag, 2 Kittiwake and a Guillemot. Grounded Migrants Early morning thrushes involved 23 Fieldfare and 5 Redwing. Also seen were 2 Chiffchaff. Diurnal Migration A total of 30 Meadow Pipit flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 12 Bar-tailed Godwit. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Raven were the best of the rest. Mammals A Harbour Porpoise were offshore.
24th March 2025 – sunny spells V1 Offshore Observations over the sea (0700-0800) produced 93 Kittiwake, 18 Common Scoter, 14 Sandwich Tern, 12 Gannet, 10 Shag, 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 5 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants Five Redwing and 2 Goldcrest were seen. Diurnal Migration A Sand Martin flew through – the first of the year. Wildfowl and Waders Wildfowl included 3 Shoveler and 2 Goldeneye. Miscellaneous Single Merlin and Hooded Crow were the best of the rest. Mammals Two Harbour Porpoise were offshore.
21st March 2025 – overcast/haze E3/5 Offshore A check over the sea produced 10 Common Scoter and single Red-breasted Merganser and Sandwich Tern. Grounded Migrants Limited to 3 Goldcrest and single Redwing, Fieldfare and Chiffchaff. Diurnal Migration A total of 320 Meadow Pipit, 35 Woodpigeon and 4 Pied Wagtail. Wildfowl and Waders Two Black-tailed Godwit were logged. Miscellaneous Single Hooded Crow and Water Rail remain. Ringing A colour-ringed adult male Shelduck had been originally marked at Bank Island on the River Derwent in Yorkshire on 31st January 2022.
20th March 2025 – bright and sunny E1/2 Offshore Observations over the sea (0715-0815) revealed 17 Red-breasted Merganser, 14 Common Scoter, 12 Sandwich Tern, 7 Shag, 6 Gannet, 2 Goosander and a Mediterranean Gull. Grounded Migrants Four Chiffchaff, 4 Blue Tit, 3 Redwing, 2 Blackbird and a Coal Tit were logged. Diurnal Migration A total of 110 Meadow Pipit, 30 Woodpigeon, 5 Pied Wagtail and 4 Redpoll flew through. Miscellaneous The Tawny Owl and 2 Cetti’s Warbler remain and a Buzzard hunted the island. The long-staying Hooded Crow and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.
17th March 2025 – overcast NE2/3 Offshore A check of the sea produced 17 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Common Scoter and 3 Gannet. Grounded Migrants Five Redwing and a Wheatear were seen. Diurnal Migration A total of 60 Meadow Pipit, 8 Linnet and 4 Pied Wagtail flew through. Miscellaneous Three Short-eared Owl and a Water Rail were the best of the rest.
16th March 2025 – sunny spells V1 Grounded Migrants Two Wheatear were logged – the first of the year. Diurnal Migration A total of 70 Meadow Pipit flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included single Woodcock and Jack Snipe. Miscellaneous A Water Pipit was the highlight of the day and 2 Water Rail were logged.
15th March 2025 – sunny spells/calm thenW2 Offshore A check of the sea revealed 10 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Red-throated Diver and a Shag. Grounded Migrants Three Redwing was logged. Diurnal Migration Two Redpoll flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Seven Barnacle Geese were seen and waders included 10 Greenshank. Miscellaneous Two Water Rail were logged, however, not recorded annually, a Tawny Owl calling continuously between 2030-2100hrs was the highlight of the day.
14th March 2025 – sunny spells NE1/2 Offshore A check of the sea revealed 23 Common Scoter, 13 Shag and 10 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants A single Redwing was logged. Diurnal Migration A skein of 197 Pink-footed Geese flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Wildfowl included 517 light-bellied and 2 dark-bellied Brent Goose, 278 Wigeon, 235 Teal, 161 Shelduck, 66 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Shoveler while waders included 2079 Oystercatcher, 614 Golden Plover, 624 Redshank, 520 Knot, 322 Curlew, 117Grey Plover, 15 Greenshank and a Purple Sandpiper. Miscellaneous Raptors included Marsh Harrier and Peregrine and single Hooded Crow and Water Rail remain.
13th March 2025 – sunny spells/showers N1/2 Offshore A check of the sea (0700-0800) revealed 74 Common Scoter, 13 Red-breasted Merganser and 7 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants A Redwing was logged. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 10 Greenshank. Miscellaneous The Water Rail remains.
12th March 2025 – sunny spells/showers N2/4 Offshore A check of the sea (0700-0800) revealed 76 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Guillemot, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Gannet. Diurnal Migration A Redpoll and 26 Pink-footed Geese flew through. Wildfowl and Waders The Brent Goose flock held 350 light-bellied birds. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow and Water Rail remain.
11th March 2025 – sunny spells N1/2 Offshore A check of the sea (0700-0800) produced 156 Common Scoter, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Guillemot, 4 Red-throated Diver and 3 Razorbil. Diurnal Migration Three Redpoll flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 10 Greenshank. Miscellaneous A total of 55 Twite was logged; the Hooded Crow and 2 Water Rail remain and a Peregrine was the best of the rest.
10th March 2025 – bright and sunny/hazy NE3/4 Grounded Migrants Limited to 3 Redwing. Diurnal Migration A skein of 36 Pink-footed Geese flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 8 Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow, Merlin and Water Rail remain.
9th March 2025 – sunny spells E3/4 Offshore A quiet day over the sea with just 2 Common Scoter and a Shag recorded. Grounded Migrants Limited to 4 Redwing and single Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. Diurnal Migration A Red Kite was the highlight of the day while 35 Pink-footed Geese, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rook and 2 Pied Wagtail were also logged. Miscellaneous A Water Rail remains.
8th March 2025 – sunny spells E3/4 Grounded Migrants Limited to 5 Goldcrest, 4 Redwing and a Chiffchaff. Diurnal Migration Totals of 30 Pink-footed Goose, 20 Whooper Swan, 11 Meadow Pipit, 2 Siskin, 2 Pied Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail flew through. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow and Water Rail remain.
6th March 2025 – bright and sunny ESE2/4 Offshore A check of the sea produced just 3 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants Five Stonechat, 4 Pied Wagtail and single White Wagtail and Redwing were logged. Diurnal Migration Two Siskin and a Stock Dove flew through. Wildfowl and Waders Waders included 5 Greenshank. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow remains and a Merlin was the best of the rest.
5th March 2025 – overcast SSW3/5 Offshore A check of the sea produced 32 Common Scoter, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Red-throated Diver and a Gannet. Wildfowl and Waders A Woodcock was logged.
4th March 2025 – sunny spells SSW2/4 Offshore A check of the sea produced 17 Kittiwake, 11 Common Scoter and 9 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants A Goldcrest was logged. Diurnal Migration A Siskin flew through. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow and 2 Water Rail remain.
3rd March 2025 – overcast/light drizzle at times WSW2/3 Grounded Migrants Two Redwing were logged. Diurnal Migration A total of 17 Whooper Swan and a Grey Wagtail headed north. Miscellaneous The Hooded Crow remains and 5 Water Pipit were seen.
2nd March 2025 – overcast S1/2 Offshore A scan of the sea at low tide revealed 6150 Eider, 24 Shag and 6 Common Scoter. Grounded Migrants Two Redwing and 3 Stonechat were logged. Diurnal Migration A total of 30 Whooper Swan and a Pied Wagtail headed north. Miscellaneous Marsh Harrier and Merlin hunted the island while 8 Water Pipit, 2 Water Rail and the long-staying Hooded Crow were the best of the rest.
1st March 2025 – sunny spells SSE1/2 Grounded Migrants Three Redwing, 2 Great Tit and a Mistle Thrush were logged. Diurnal Migration Totals of 60 Pink-footed Geese, 45 Whooper Swan and 3 Pied Wagtail headed north. Miscellaneous Three Water Rail were the best of the rest.
27th February 2025 – bright and sunny/early frost N1/2 Offshore A check of the sea early morning produced 20 Shag, 19 Common Scoter and 4 Red-throated Diver. Grounded Migrants A single Redwing was logged. Diurnal Migration A skein of 14 Pink-footed Geese headed north. Wildfowl and Waders Wildfowl included 313 light-bellied Brent Geese, 32 Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Goldeneye and 7 Shoveler. Waders included 60 Grey Plover and 10 Greenshank. Miscellaneous The high tide pushed 8 Water Pipit from the saltmarshes, along with 3 Rock Pipit. Three Water Rail and single Hooded Crow, Merlin and Peregrine were the best of the rest.
