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Saturday 6th April 2013

Following a frosty start and little wind the sun soon made it slightly warmer compared to recent days. There were still few passerines passing through with a Siskin north and 4 Rooks south the only ones of note. Offshore 1000+ Black-headed Gulls, 56 Common Gulls, 82 Brents, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Kittiwakes, a Curlew and only 2 Red-throated Divers headed north.
An evening seawatch between 1800hrs and 1930hrs was highly productive with a further movents north; 2325 Black-headed Gulls, 460 Common Gulls, 8 Brents, 2 Med Gulls, 3 Little Gulls, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Gannet, 12 Shelduck, 1 Curlew and 8 Avocet.

Fencing - Ground Nesting Birds

It is planned to put up the fencing for ground nesting birds on the reserve this coming Monday 8th April. Many hands make light work so all welcome to attend. Please meet at the cottage at 0930hrs & wear appropriate clothing & footwear for the task.

Friday 5th April 2013

A pair of Mallards were prospecting in the compound first thing and 13 Shelduck were congregating on the common this morning. The only passerine of note was a male Grey Wagtail fighting the wind whilst trying to head north. Offshore 107 Gannets, 59 Red-throated Divers, a Kittiwake and a Common Scoter all headed north, whilst 22 Brents headed south.

Thursday 4th April 2013

Yet another cold windy day with frequent snow showers. Few birds were in evidence apart from a Water Rail and a Snipe flying north overhead. Seawatching was hampered by the poor visibility, but a Guillemot was the sea close inshore and 9 Gannet, 4 Common Scoter, and 18 Red-throated Divers headed north.

Wednesday 3rd April 2013

This biting ongoing north-easterly airflow is getting tedious to say the least. 16 Brents, 14 Gannets & a Fulmar went north with only a handful of Red-throated Divers coming & going this morning. A very small handful of Blackies & Songies are trying to migrate despite the weather conditions including a nice "stockamsel" individual today. Worth a mention is the ringing of a Water Rail who couldn't resist some smelly Sprats in a Potter Trap.

Tuesday 2nd April 2013

Another quiet day, the only birds of note were 2 Water Rails in the compound and a pair of Eider heading north offshore. An afternoon seawatch produced little apart from a Porpoise.

Monday 1st April 2013

Very few passerines again. However offshore passing north were 224 Brent Geese, 108 Red-throated Divers (along with 151 south), 7 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Kittiwake, 2 Canada Geese and another 3 Black-throated Divers, also offshore a Great Skua was blogging back and forth in the morning.

March 2013 Ringing Totals

A total of 95 birds of 14 species were ringed.

Blackbird 40, Song Thrush 25, Chaffinch 6, Long-tailed Tit 5, Robin 4, Great Tit 4, Greenfinch 3, Redwing 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Woodpigeon 1, Long-eared Owl 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Wren 1                  

The only year that less were ringed in March was 1983 when 11 were ringed, the next lowest was 2007 when 134 were ringed.

Sunday 31st March 2013

Sharp frost. Going north 274 Red-throated Divers, 92 Brents, 14 Cormorants, 6 Common Scoter, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 1 Oyk, 1 Curlew, 1 Little Gull plus 4 Red-throats, 3 Brents south. Migrants in the bushes almost non-existent limited to the odd Blacky, Songie & Chaffy new in. Water Rail still with us.