Saturday 9th March 2019

720 Cormorant went out fishing. Offshore southbound 5 Brent, Eider & Red-throated Diver with northbound 5 Red-throats & 3 Gannet. Migrants were 40 Starling, single Chiffchaff, Mipit, Skylark & Stock Dove. Purple Sand was on the point for the first time in a while.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff.

Friday 8th March 2019

Migrants today included the first Firecrest of the spring, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk & single Siskin heading north followed by another flying south over an hour later.

Ringing, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest.

LBO Gate Combination

Members please note that the gate combination lock has been changed. This has been texted to members whose numbers I have on my phone or sent in an e-mail. If you have not received the new combination it is probably due to one of the following reasons:

1) You haven't paid your 2019 membership yet.
2) Despite being a loyal member for years we still haven't covered a Health & Safety site induction before unrestricted access to the compound is permitted.
3) Your e-mail bounced back when sent or you have changed your mobile number so the one I have on my phone is incorrect.
4) I am grossly incompetent and overlooked reminding you.

If your membership is up to date and you haven't received the new gate combination code then I sincerely apologise and would be grateful if you would e-mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk so that we can rectify the situation.

Thursday 7th March 2019

Blowing a hoolie ! 660 Cormorant went out fishing. Southbound 16 Barnacle Geese, 3 Brent, Red-breasted Merganser & Red-throated Diver with northbound 20 Brent. At least 1,500 gulls & a Gannet following ships offshore. 6 Greenfinch south is the highest count of the year of a species that we have only noted on a handful of occasions so far - just remember the thousands that passed through here in springs last century ! On site at least 2 Goldcrest, 2 Mipit & a Redwing.

Wednesday 6th March 2019

Wet & windy start followed by just windy and a bit bleak - hence the best photo managed being some Daffs ! The first Chiffchaff of the spring brightened up the morning which is about right for the start of passage. No other grounded migrants noted. Offshore heading south 11 Brent, 2 Dunlin, Gannet & Red-throated Diver with northbound 10 Brent, Gannet & Red-throat.

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff

Tuesday 5th March 2019

We were wondering what had happened to the Barnacle Geese this year as they have become such a feature of early spring in recent times - 40 went north mid-morning. 874 Cormorants went out fishing with a Great-crested Grebe heading north the only offshore record worth a mention. It was only thought that 2 Goldcrest had wintered here but 3 birds were retrapped from last autumn so that just shows how incompetent we are. Another new Goldcrest was trapped but what on earth has happened to the new Blackbirds that are normally a feature of early spring ? Single Stock Dove whizzing around first thing only other record worth a mention.

Ringing: 1 Goldcrest.

Monday 4th March 2019

551 Cormorant went out to sea fishing. Offshore southbound 19 Dunlin, 2 Brent & Mallard with northbound 17 Brent & 2 Red-throated Diver. Heading south overhead 2 Rook plus Skylark north. Vis mig totals of Rook are declining (arn't most things ?) although this is a typical date for a couple of wandering immatures to go over. On site the first new Goldcrest of the season, which is about right for the first of the spring, although last century the first of the spring could be up to two weeks later than this date. At least one of the overwintering birds is also still with us.

Sunday 3rd March 2019

Wet morning. 612 Cormorant went out fishing. Offshore southbound 8 Brent, 8 Dunlin & Great-crested Grebe with northbound 28 Brent, 26 Gannet, 10 Red-throated Diver & Common Scoter. On site 4 Song Thrush & Fieldfare was the only migrant interest.