Wednesday 1st April 2026

 

Pleasantly calm encouraged the spring arrival of 25 Chiffchaff, Black Red, Sand Martin (first of the season), Stonechat, Wheatear & Willow Warbler with departing winter visitors from the continent including single Brambling, Fieldfare, Robin & Songie. Overwintering Firecrest from last October still present. More wandering Long-tailed Tits turned up & a Skylark is still on the reserve.

Porpoise offshore, which are always easier to locate when its a calm sea.

Ringing: 16 Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Willow Warbler.

March Ringing Totals 2026

Female adult Yellowhammer, 23/03/2026

This month concludes with 190 birds of 23 species, the highest number of birds ringed this month since March 2020 (211 birds), owing to a greater number of Chiffchaff moving through seemingly earlier. The most noteworthy bird of this month falls to the Yellowhammer, a scarce sight at this location, let alone to ring one!!! Also of note was our second to earliest ever Willow warbler - 24th (record 23rd March 2024).

  

Chiffchaff	69
Goldcrest	25
Long-tailed tit	9
Robin	9
Blackbird	8
Redwing	8
Chaffinch	7
Firecrest	7
Goldfinch	7
Linnet	6
Song thrush	6
Wren	6
Blue tit	5
Dunnock	4
Woodpigeon	4
Blackcap	3
Fieldfare	1
Great tit	1
House sparrow	1
Starling	1
Woodcock	1
Willow warbler	1
Yellowhammer	1

Tuesday 31st March 2026

 A misty and cloudy morning, but still, finally sounding like spring with multiple Chiffchaffs singing and we got our long overdue first Wheatear of Spring. The crafty bugger avoided the photographers, but hopefully that changes with my afternoon walk, and certainly will in the next few days!   

Challenging conditions for sea watching, with sporadic spells of fine drizzle, produced 5 Brent geese going north and a siting of a Red-throated Diver. A Firecrest was also observed flitting through the scrub. 

Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) first one this year following an absence of the past 2 years.

Other moths in the trap included 3 Hebrew character, 3 Common Quaker and 2 Small quaker.... pretty early in the season still!  

Ringing: 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Blackcap, 1 Linnet.

  

Monday 30th March 2026

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) seen on the observatory motus aerial . Looks like this might have been one of the males ringed in the past few days. Carduelis translates to thistle or thistle eater... the birds favourite seed. 

Slow day all round with strong WNW wind by late morning, very few migrants around. The Black redstart was still present this morning but very mobile. A Marsh harrier was observed flying south, 4 Rooks, 2 Cormorant, 2 Common gull and a Reedbunting where also seen southbound. A Red-throated Diver, Buzzard and a Cormorant where seen flying North. 

Few moths in trapps once again due to strong overnight wind and rain.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff.

Sunday 29th March 2026

Cold start for the arrival of British Summer Time. A Brambling calling in the half light early morning soon departed inland was the first of the year. Other migrants hard to come by with a new Chiffchaff probably it. Yesterday's Black Red still here. A Gadwal flying south was the only thing offshore worth mentioning.

Ringing:1 Chiffchaff.

Saturday 28th March 2026

Chilly, breezy morning with very few migrants to "upset the apple cart" included 2 Goldcrest, Black Red, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff plus the second Swallow of the spring. Southbound 89 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 5 Med Gull, 2 Rook, 2 Shelduck & Little Egret. Singing Skylark still with us.

Ringing: 1 Goldfinch.

Friday 27th March 2026

 

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) seen near the point of the peninsular. The breakdown of the scientific name; Arenaria meaning sand loving and interpres is messenger, interpreted as between land and sea due to the birds habits of flitting around the shore. 

An overcast start to the morning with few migrants present at the observatory, even with a strong SW breeze!, bar one singing Chiffchaff. With sea watching once again producing the most interesting sightings until rain settled in around 11am, also bringing a swift end to ringing for the day.    

Flying North - 19 Brent geese, 10 Gannet - maybe making their way up to Bempton Cliffs and 3 Red throated diver.

Flying South - 37 Common gull, 7 Red throated diver,  5 Shovelar, 2 Brent and 2 Barnacle geese, a Mediterranean gull and an Oystercatcher.

Moth trapping produced a handful of species including a Grey Shoulder- Knot.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet, 1 Woodpigeon