22nd March 2026 – early fog then murk ESE1
Grounded Migrants
Just 6 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 4 Siskin and a Brambling flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 400 Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and additional sightings included a Merlin.
21st March 2026 – early mist then hazy sun V1
Grounded Migrants
Just 4 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 5 Whooper Swan and 2 Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Gadwall and Black-tailed Godwit remain.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and additional sightings included 2 Water Pipit.
Butterflies and Moths
Red Swordgrass and Early Thorn were the first of the year.
20th March 2026 – hazy sun SE1
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed the first Arctic Skua of the year along with 41 Common Scoter, 8 Shag and 6 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Goldcrest and a White Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 7 Whooper Swan flew through along with 2 Fieldfare and single Grey Wagtail and Sand Martin.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 800 Golden Plover, 10 Purple Sandpiper and single Black-tailed Godwit and Jack Snipe. A Gadwall was also logged.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and a Merlin was the best of the rest.
Ringing
The first Lesser Redpoll of the year was found to be already ringed and had been previously marked at Lindow Moss, Cheshire on 16th November 2025 (102 km SE).
19th March 2026 – bright and sunny V1
Offshore
Observations over the sea produced 24 Common Scoter, 14 Shag and 6 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 18 Goldcrest, 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Long-tailed Tit and a Fieldfare were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 165 Whooper Swan, 78 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Siskin and a Sand Martin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 394 light-bellied birds and additional wildfowl included 202 Teal, 156 Shelduck, 127 Wigeon, 34 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Goldeneye and 3 Shoveler. Waders included 1423 Oystercatcher, 850 Golden Plover, 560 Redshank, 263 Curlew and 11 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and additional sightings included 35 Twite, 2 Water Pipit and a Marsh Harrier while the island’s “woodland” held 65 Coal Tit, 8 Goldcrest and 7 Chiffchaff.
Butterflies and Moths
Red Swordgrass and Early Thorn were the first of the year.
18th March 2026 – warm and sunny after cloudy start ESE1/2
Offshore
A scan of the sea revealed 10,000 Eider, 11 Common Scoter, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Shag and 3 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 21 Goldcrest was logged, along with 4 Stonechat, 4 Robin, 2 Wheatear and a Fieldfare.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 42 Woodpigeon flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 800 Golden Plover and 4 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and additional sightings included 4 Water Pipit, 40 Twite and a Merlin. The island’s “woodland” added 8 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest and 3 Coal Tit.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held a Dotted Border, Mottled Grey, Common Quaker and Red Chestnut while the first Brimstone, Peacock and Comma were on the wing.
17th March 2026 – sunny spells S3/5
Offshore
Observations (0715-0815) produced 26 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and single Shag and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
Single Goldcrest and Chiffchaff were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtail were on the move along with 40 Whooper Swan.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 2 Water Pipit, a Scandinavian Rock Pipit, 12 Twite and single Merlin and Peregrine were the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
A Red Chestnut was the first of the year.
16th March 2026 – overcast/rain later SW3/5
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0715-0815) revealed 32 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Diver, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Kittiwake and a Shag.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 300 Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
A Scandinavian Rock Pipit, 40 Twite and a Merlin were the best of the rest.
14th March 2026 – bright and sunny W2/3
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0715-0815) revealed 13 Common Scoter, 11 Red-throated Diver, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Shag and a Sandwich Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Just a solitary Goldcrest was logged.
Diurnal Migration
Single Redpoll and Siskin were amongst 50 Meadow Pipit.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and the island’s “woodland” held 16 Coal Tit, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff and single Tawny Owl and Jay.
Butterflies and Moths
The first Small Tortoiseshell are now on the wing.
11th March 2026 – bright and sunny W4/6
Offshore
Observations (0700-0900) produced 152 Kittiwake, 69 Common Scoter, 20 Red-throated Diver, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Gannet, 3 Razorbill, 2 Guillemot, 2 Sandwich Tern and a Fulmar.
Diurnal Migration
A White Wagtail was amongst 8 Pied Wagtail.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
10th March 2026 – overcast S3/4
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0715-0815) revealed 53 Common Scoter, 9 Kittiwake, 9 Red-throated Diver, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Gannet and single Mediterranean Gull and Sandwich Tern – the latter the first of the year.
Grounded Migrants
Just a solitary Goldcrest was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 380 Golden Plover and 7 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
9th March 2026 – mist/murk/mizzle SSE1/2
Offshore
Just 10 Shag and 2 Red-throated Diver appeared out of the gloom.
Diurnal Migration
A few Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 7 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A Merlin and 55 Twite were the best of the rest.
8th March 2026 – dense fog then murk/mizzle E1/2
Grounded Migrants
Dense fog at dawn grounded 2 Crossbill and a Ring-necked Parakeet, however there was little else of note.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 21 Pink-footed Goose flew through.
Miscellaneous
The island’s “woodland” held 6 Coal Tit and single Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper. Barn Owl and Water Rail were the best of the rest.
Mammals
A Badger revealed its presence through a trail of footprints.
7th March 2026 – early fog then sunny spells E1/2
Grounded Migrants
Four Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A Siskin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 100 Sanderling.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and 2 Water Rail and 25 Twite were the best of the rest.
6th March 2026 – sunny spells/calm
Offshore
Observations over the sea (0730-0830) produced 101 Common Scoter, 60 Red-throated Diver 50 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Gannet and 2 Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
Five Goldcrest, 4 Stonechat and a Chiffchaff were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A Sand Martin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1,000 Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains and additional sightings included 2 Water Rail and 12 Twite.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held a Dotted Border.
5th March 2026 – sunny spells SE1/2
Grounded Migrants
Four Stonechat, 3Goldcrest and single Wheatear and Chiffchaff were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A flock of 19 Woodpigeon flew through along with 6 Pink-footed Geese and a Woodcock.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included a Woodcock.
Miscellaneous
At least one Water Pipit remains and a Water Rail was the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held a Mottled Grey.
4th March 2026 – sunny spells SE32
Offshore
A check of the sea produced 17 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver and 5 Shag.
Grounded Migrants
The first Chiffchaff of the year was logged along with 3 Stonechat.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 160 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Brent Goose flock held 441 light-bellied birds and waders included 600 Golden Plover, 350 Redshank, 300 Dunlin, 300 Knot – the latter species has been unusually scarce this winter and 11 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
Three Water Pipit and 40 Twite were logged.
Butterflies and Moths
The light trap held a Common Quaker – the first of the year.
1st March 2026 – overcast/showers later SSE3/5
Notices
The 2025 WBO Report has now been published and is now available for £8.00 including postage and packing.
