A flat calm morning today, a slight breeze and heavy cloud. A nice variety of birds passing through the observatory during the day.
Sea watching was pretty decent this morning with totals of 103 Black-headed Gull, c.300 Great Black-Backed Gull, c.30 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, c. 1,500 Herring Gull and 5 Common Gull along with 34 Cormorant, 22 Red-throated Diver, 326 Brent Geese, 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Canada Geese (above), 4 Shelduck, 1 Mallard, 1 Gannet, 7 Dunlin, 5 Oystercatcher, 4 Turnstone, 1 Great Crested Grebe and a very welcome record of a Slavonian Grebe which is the first ever spring record and the 10th record for the observatory.
Other migrants involved 42 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark, 3 Grey Wagtail, 50+ Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 32 Chaffinch, 19 Siskin, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Yellowhammer and 2 Woodcock (one heading out to sea).
The first record of Silver Y moth for the year this morning in the moth traps.
Ringing: 7 birds ringed this morning including 4 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Siskin.