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Saturday 20th April 2013

A ground frost at the start but sunny with a light NE breeze. There were a few migrants about with 2 Yellow Wagtails (1 south), 14 Wheatears, a male Ring Ouzel, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and single Jay, Coal Tit,  Redpoll south and a male Redstart present. Offshore a Common Tern was feeding close in but very little else. a !st winter Yellow-legged Gull was seen early on in the docks from the car park.

18 birds were ringed: 4 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, 2 Linnet, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit and single Blackbird, Redstart and Great Tit.

Friday 19th April 2013

A day with frequent showers. A good selection of migrants were about today with 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Blackcaps, 16 Wheatears, 6 Swallows south, 2 House Martins south, 3 Firecrests, a male Ring Ouzel, 5 Redstarts, 4 Whitethroats, a Jay and a Little Ringed Plover flying upriver. Offshore 223 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Dunlin, 3 Common Scoters, 16 Whimbrel, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 23 Brent Geese all south and 2 Egyptian Geese headed upriver after flying in from the north.

11 birds were ringed; 5 Wheatear and single Blackcap, Wren, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Redstart.

Thursday 18th April 2013

A very windy day resulted in any migrants keeping their heads down, however a Lesser Whitethroat, a Firecrest, 7 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 2 Whithroats and a pair of Redstarts were found in the bushes, there were also 2 Black Redstarts and 12 Wheatears on the Common and a Hobby flying in off the sea. Small numbers of hirundines passed through south with 5 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows and 2 House Martins noted. Offshore 1 Fulmar, 4 Whimbrel, a Little Tern and 2 Sandwich Terns headed south.

13 birds were ringed; 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Great Tits and single Blackbird, Chaffinch and Chiffchaff.

Wednesday 17th April 2013

The day started with drizzle followed by fog, clearing by late morning. A few spring migrants continue to trickle through with 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Swallows (south), 4 Blackcaps, 4 Willow Warblers, 15 Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats, a Black Redstart and a Firecrest. Offshore a Shag headed north, whilst southerly movements included 174 Black-headed Gulls, 70 Common Gulls, 2 Gadwall, 6 Dunlin, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (& 1 north), 2 Med Gulls, 3 Kittiwakes, 6 Common Scoters and 4 Whimbrel.

14 birds were ringed; 3 Wheatear, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and single Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Song Thrush and Great Tit.

Tuesday 16th April 2013

Strong SSE winds greeted us today and there was a noticeable clear out of yesterdays migrants. The only migrants were the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year along with 2 Blackcaps, 3 Firecrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat, 13 Wheatears and a Cuckoo south (offshore), 4 Swallows south and 7 Siskins south. Movement offshore involved Whimbrel 7S, Red-throated Diver 23N 3S, Little Egret 1S, Common Scoter 1S 6N, Velvet Scoter 1N and 3 Great Skuas including 2 south.

11 birds were ringed; 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest, a Greenfinch and a Chaffinch.

Monday 15th April 2013

Light SSW winds brought a good arrival of spring migrants today with 50 Wheatears, a Cuckoo, 7 Firecrests, 7 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, a Merlin, 20 Willow Warblers, Swallows 51S & 1N, 4 Whitethroats, a Yellow Wagtail, Sand Martins 5S & 1N, 2 male Redstarts, a Black Redstart and a Nightingale. There were also 7 Whimbrel south, 8 Brent South and 6 north, 2 Little Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns north offshore.

61 birds were ringed; 7 Firecrest, 7 Goldcrest, 15 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 6 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 3 Whitethroat, 9 Chiffchaff, 4 Great Tit, 2 Linnet, 2 Robin and 3 Wheatear

Sunday 14th April 2013

After heavy over night rain, showers continued during the morning, becoming sunny in the afternoon. There were a few less spring migrants about today. At dawn 100 Starling, 30 Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, 45 Blackbirds and 8 Song Thrushes were about with most soon departing. Spring migrants included a Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, 6 Wheatear, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Swallows (8S,1N), 2 Blackcaps, 2 Firecrests and 2 fine male Redstarts. Offshore a Great Crested Grebe, 7 Whimbrels, a Teal, a Gannet and a Great Skua all headed south and 18 Red-throaterd Divers headed north.

9 birds were ringed; 4 Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing and a Goldcrest. A Belgium ringed Blackcap was also trapped.