30th April 2025 – warm and sunny/hazy/calm
Offshore
Early morning observations over the calm sea (0600-0700) provided 260 Sandwich Tern, 67 Gannet, 30 Common Scoter, 5 Arctic Tern, 2 Little Tern and a Manx Shearwater. In addition, the large flock of Common Scoter remains in the mouth of the bay with 25,000 birds now present.
Grounded Migrants
Totals of 7 Wheatear, 3 Willow Warbler and single Grasshopper Warbler and Chiffchaff were seen were seen.
Diurnal Migration
A Red Kite drifted north over the island and 160 Pink-footed Geese flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 2 Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper.
Breeding Birds
Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler numbers continue to build across breeding sites.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap totals were again dominated by Brown Silver-line along with the first Least Black Arches and Chinese Character of the year. The first Red Admiral of the year was seen.
29th April 2025 – warm and sunny/calm
Offshore
A check of the sea (0630-0730) provided 200 Sandwich Tern, 105 Common Scoter, 80 Gannet, 16 Kittiwake, 9 Red-throated Diver, 5 Manx Shearwater, 4 Little Tern and 4 Shag. In addition, a calm sea revealed the presence of a huge flock of 20000 Common Scoter assembled in the mouth of the bay.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 21 Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 300 Pink-footed Goose flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 56 Whimbrel and single Greenshank and Common Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap numbers were dominated by 44 Brown Silver-line along with the first Green Carpet of the year.
28th April 2025 – overcast start then sunny spells SW2/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0615-0715) provided 5220 Common Scoter, 328 Sandwich Tern, 127 Gannet, 15 Guillemot, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Arctic Tern, 5 Kittiwake, 2 Manx Shearwater and single Velvet Scoter, Little Tern and Shag.
Grounded Migrants
Totals of 15 Wheatear and single White Wagtail, Blackcap and Willow Warbler were logged.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 40 Pink-footed Goose flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Lingering wildfowl involved 11 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 17 dark-bellied Brent Goose and 5 pale-bellied Brent Goose Waders were more prominent and included 3,120 Knot, 2,414 Oystercatcher, 2,180 Dunlin, 282 Sanderling, 172 Whimbrel, 126 Turnstone, 99 Ringed Plover, 45 Grey Plover, 21 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Golden Plover and 3 Greenshank.
Ringing
A colour-ringed Bar-tailed Godwit had been ringed on passage at Revtangen, Norway on 21st August 2024
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap numbers were dominated by Brown Silver-line and Black-headed Conch along with the first Dog’s Tooth of the year.
27th April 2025 – overcast start then sunny spells S2/3
Offshore
Early morning observations over the sea (0645-0745) were highlighted by a summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe. Also seen were 220 Sandwich Tern, 110 Common Scoter, 75 Gannet, 51 Manx Shearwater, 20 Guillemot, 16 Red-throated Diver, 13 Little Tern, 5 Arctic Tern, 3 Kittiwake and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. In addition, the large flock of Common Scoter remains in the mouth of the bay.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 23 Wheatear and a male Yellowhammer were seen.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 300 Pink-footed Goose flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 21 Whimbrel and 3 Greenshank. Just 4 pale-bellied and a dark-bellied Brent Goose were logged.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains and a Peregrine was the best of the rest.
Butterflies and Moths
The moth trap attracted 58 moths of 15 species with Chamomile Shark, Ruby Tiger, Common Carpet and Bright-line Brown-eye new for the year.
26th April 2025 – overcast/murk/early drizzle SE3/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0615-0715) provided 262 Sandwich Tern, 88 Common Scoter, 15 Gannet, 14 Little Tern, 13 Red-throated Diver, 5 Guillemot, 4 Manx Shearwater and an Arctic Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Totals of 3 Willow Warbler and 3 Wheatear were logged.
Diurnal Migration
Again a few Swallows trickled flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 119 Whimbrel and 2 Greenshank while 17 dark-bellied and 4 pale-bellied Brent Goose remain.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains.
25th April 2025 – sunny spells E2/3
Offshore
Early morning observations over the sea (0630-0730) revealed 230 Sandwich Tern, 62 Gannet, 17 Red-throated Diver, 17 Guillemot, 12 Little Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 2 Manx Shearwater and a Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 3 Wheatear and a solitary Willow Warbler and White Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 10 Pink-footed Geese headed north and the first House Martin flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 12 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains and was joined by a second bird.
Breeding Birds
The first Lapwing and Mallard chicks have emerged and 6 Grasshopper Warbler and several Stonechat are now holding territories.
24th April 2025 – bright and sunny E2/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0630-0730) provided 160 Sandwich Tern, 82 Common Scoter, 40 Gannet, 12 Guillemot, 11 Kittiwake, 8 Red-throated Diver, 4 Manx Shearwater and 2 Puffin.
Grounded Migrants
Totals of 5 Willow Warbler and 4 Wheatear were logged and the first Reed Warbler of the year appeared.
Diurnal Migration
A skein of 40 Pink-footed Geese headed north and a few Swallows trickled flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 6 Whimbrel and 2 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains.
23rd April 2025 – sunny spells E2/3
Offshore
Early morning observations over the sea (0630-0730) revealed 220 Sandwich Tern, 170 Common Scoter, 30 Guillemot, 30 Gannet, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Red-throated Diver, 3 Manx Shearwater, 3 Little Tern, 2 Arctic Tern and a Puffin.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to a solitary Chiffchaff.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 3 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The Hooded Crow remains.
22nd April 2025 – sunny spells V1/3
Offshore
A check of the sea (0645-0745) produced 310 Common Scoter, 50 Gannet, 45 Sandwich Tern, 12 Guillemot, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Puffin, 5 Little Tern, 3 Manx Shearwater, 2 Arctic Tern, 2 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Sag. In addition, raft of 3000 Common Scoter were over the mouth of the bay.
Grounded Migrants
Totals of 19 Wheatear, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Blackcap were logged along with the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year.
Diurnal Migration
Just 10 Swallow flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 500 Dunlin and 2 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains.
