Tuesday 23rd April 2024

A sprinkling of new migrants today, along with a few birds that have been here for a while. Apart from the Cetti's warblers , some of which have been here since October, a second year female firecrest has been undetected here for a week, leaving the local observers doubting their birding skills. 2 Lesser whitethroats, 2 willow warblers and a male blackbird were fresh in. Out to sea the highlights were a pair of fulmars and a handful of waders passing. 3 swallows flew south, still low numbers of this species this year.

Although the larvae get recorded, the Mullein moth is only rarely seen here. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 2, Blackcap 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Linnet 1, Willow Warbler 2. 

 

Monday 22nd April 2024

 

The breeze abated but is still from a northerly direction. Worth a mention are 6 Wheatear, 6 Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 3 Lesser 'throat, Chiffchaff & Whitethroat. At least 26 Curlew came out then north will be heading back to their breeding grounds. Offshore movements almost non-existent.

Ringing: 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap.

Sunday 21st April 2024

 

Considering the northerly breeze slightly better than anticipated on site with 12 Wheatear, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser 'throat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, Chiffchaff & Sedge Warbler. Several Cetti's & singing Black Red still here (if they fail to get a daily blog mention then don't worry as their song is part of the ambiance at present). Considering the Gannets yesterday, just the one this morning with a meagre amount moving offshore including northbound 2 Whimbrel & a Fulmar with southbound Black-throated Diver & a Whimbrel.

Ringing: 3 Linnet, 2 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler.

Saturday 20th April 2024

 

The local Blackies are working hard foraging for their young.

In a chilly northerly airflow offshore were northbound 58 Gannet, 10 Cormorant, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar, 2 Sandwich Tern, Shelduck & Whimbrel with southbound 3 Gannet, Oyk plus a Red-throated Diver that pitched in. On site migrants were 16 Wheatear, 4 Lesser 'throat, Ring Ouzel, Whitethroat & Willow Warbler.

Ringing: 1 Linnet, 1 Willow Warbler.

Friday 19th April 2024

An April shower or two throughout the morning didn't hamper the handful of migrants passing the obs today. Offshore the highlight was two black-throated divers flying south, with a supporting cast of 5 whimbrel and 4 sandwich tern. Wheatear numbers had dropped a little from yesterday, but lesser whitethroats seem to be increasing by the day. A few willow warblers and a blackcap sang intermittently before moving through late morning. The black redstart was once again singing his heart out from various parts of the fort, usually wherever a birder with a camera wasn't. 

No moths at all the previous 3 days, so it was good to get the first Shuttle-shaped Dart of the year.

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 4, Chiffchaff 1, Linnet 1.  

Thursday 18th April 2024

A relatively quiet day, with more waders passing through, whimbrel, sanderling and turnstone. An odd movement was 8 rook south, as most breeding birds would be well into the nesting season now. Wheatear numbers increased to 14 and shelduck numbers to 19. A scattering of migrant warblers included 2 blackcap, 2 willow warbler and a lesser whitethroat, though the latter could well breed here this year. The black redstart was singing again on the fort, for most of the morning, finally giving reasonable views. A sandwich tern north was the first seen this year, previous records were call only. 

Birds Ringed: Blackcap 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Wheatear 4, Willow Warbler 2. 

Wednesday 17th April 2024

Despite strong wind, there were still a handful of migrants around. 2 singing blackcap, 5 chiffchaff, 8 willow warbler, 3 lesser and one common whitethroat were a mixture of local birds and those passing through. 10 wheatear remained on the reserve and a marsh harrier flew north. 

Birds Ringed: Willow Warbler 2.