Friday 6th March 2026

The trickle of early March migration continues with the first 3 Goldcrest of the spring plus 5 Jackdaw, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin, Fieldfare & Red Kite. In the days before the mass introduction of Red Kites in England March was the month when genuine wild Red Kites would occur as rare visitors to our shores so its impossible to know whether this one is a genuine migrant or offspring from the release scheme. Murky offshore although 4 Pintail south worth a mention & only 7 Common Scoter noted. Single Snow Bunting still here.

First Clouded Drab of the season which is an extremely variable species. 

Ringing: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Robin.

Thursday 5th March 2026

 

Glorious sunny, mild morning. A new Firecrest is a tad early for the first of the spring, as opposed to the over wintering individuals. Other migrants include 3 Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Mipit, Robin, Rook & Skylark. 24 Common Scoter offshore & Snow Bunting still present. Nice to get a couple of Peacock & a Small Tort butterflies in the sun.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1 Robin, 1 Wren. 

Wednesday 4th March 2026

 

Small arrival of Chiffchaff with other migrants limited to 2 Redwing & a new Blacky on a murky misty old morning. Some new wandering Long-tailed Tit turned up, over wintering Firecrest encountered again & we are down to one remaining Snow Bunting.

Ringing: 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird.

Tuesday 3rd March 2026

First Chiffchaff of the spring is bang on cue although other migrants were limited to a Skylark heard & a new Dunnock which may, or may not, be on the move. Raft of Common Scoter still offshore & one of the wintering Firecrest was noted.

Twin-spotted Quaker is another one of those early season flyers that we don't encounter annually.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Linnet.

Monday 2nd March 2026

Pleasant sunny morning with a southerly breeze produced very few migrants to bother us with a new Robin & a Skylark overhead about it. A single male Shelduck was walking around the reserve early on looking for luv, which will cause disruption when the locally paired breeders turn up any day now. 2 Snow Bunting still here.

Small Quaker is an early season flyer occurring in small numbers most years although it has failed to appear in others.

Ringing: 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Robin.

Sunday 1st March 2026

Meteorological spring supposedly begins today but it still feels like winter down here. 105 Cormorant went out fishing early doors. Raft of Common Scoter offshore & 2 Snow Bunting present & accounted for. 2 Song Thrush singing in the compound which explains the new one ringed.

Ringing: 1 Song Thrush.

Saturday 28th February 2026

 Dull very predictable end to the month. 2 Snow Bunting still here. Roll on spring !

Only our third site record of Early Moth which is one in each of the last two year's plus this one today. It is on the IUCN Red List as "vulnerable".