A Swallow heading north is the observatories earliest ever by quite some margin. Another first of the year today was a Wheatear with the arrival date being about plum on cue. Other migrants included 6 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, Fieldfare plus a couple of new Robins. Vis mig was represented by southbound 3 Mipit, Stock Dove, Carrion Crow & Siskin. Offshore southbound 12 Knot, 9 Brent, 8 Red-throated Diver, 6 Dunlin, 6 Common Gull, 2 Mute Swan, Great-crested Grebe and Gadwal plus northbound 22 Brent, 9 Red-throated Diver, 2 Mute Swan, Great Northern Diver & Common Scoter. 2 Red-legged Partridge are on, what has become, a classic "spring" date - ever since their extinction as a breeding bird at Landguard the odd record occurs at this time of the year presumably as winter coveys break down and birds wander in search of nesting sites.
Agonopterix curvipunctosa is a site speciality, Red Data Book species and one of the few places in the whole of the UK where this rarity is noted annually. March & early April is when we get the bulk of our records.
6 birds ringed: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 1 Redwing, 1 Blackbird.