Saturday 3rd April 2021

Shelduck

 Similar again, grey skies and a chilly NNE breeze; at least 6 Black Redstarts around the point were the only migrants present in any numbers and were the entertaining highlight of the day.   Other birds included a Chiffchaff, a Goldfinch, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robins, a Song Thrush and 4 Wheatears.

Ringing: Black Redstart 1, Robin 1, Long-tailed Tit 1

Friday 2nd April 2021

Black Redstart

 Grey and chilly still with a cutting northerly breeze; unsurprisingly a quiet day in the field but there's always something to find at this time of year and birds included 5 Black Redstarts (including the singing bird still on the fort), a Blackcap, 4 Chaffinches, a Chiffchaff, a Meadow Pipit, 32 Sanderling on the beach first thing, a single Swallow, 4 Wheatear and most unusually, 2 Pink-footed Geese which flew out of the river and went north - only the third April record (43 records since 1995).

Ringing: Black Redstart 2, Blackcap 1, Linnet 1

Thursday 1st April 2021

Large Tortoiseshell - the second Obs record

 A return to grey skies and chilly winds in the morning but the sun came out eventually creating two different days at the same time - very cold and wintery in the cutting NNW wind but still surprisingly warm and pleasant in sheltered spots.   These sheltered spots produced the day's highlight of a Large Tortoiseshell in one of the net rides which showed beautifully for less than a minute before disappearing.

It was quieter on the bird front but bits of note did comprise 3 Black Redstart (including one singing from the fort first thing), a Brambling, 4 Chaffinches, 4 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Buzzard, 2 Jackdaws, 3 Peregrines, 2 Redpolls, a Redwing, a Rock Pipit, 35 Sanderling on the beach and 3 Wheatears.

Ringing: Chiffchaff 1, Great Tit 1

Early Grey - Feeding on Honeysuckle, this is an infrequent and declining visitor here

March Ringing Totals

This bird is a regular by the jetty. If you see a colour ringed gull please make the effort to record & send off the colour and combinations on the rings.

A total of 113 birds of 18 species ringed is the second lowest March total in the past 38 years with only March 2013 with a lower total. This is despite the effort being above par for March. The Carrion Crow is worth a mention as only our 6th ever. 

Wednesday 31st March 2021

This Slow Worm has come out to play in the cottage garden the last couple of days.

Another glorious sunny start with 30 Sanderling on the beach early on soon shifted by the first loose ball chasing dog of the day. Migrants included 10 Mipit, 4 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, Robin, Swallow & Wheatear plus a couple of wandering Blue & Great Tits.

Small Quaker is scarce here and is one of those bland species that can put people off moth identification & even caused us to get the books out. A poor total of just 55 moths of 13 species noted throughout the entire month of March with over 20% of these in the traps this morning following a couple of days with above average temperatures.

Ringing: 4 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 1 Robin.

Tuesday 30th March 2021

Chiffchaff

A glorious day with hardly a breath of wind and wall to wall sunshine, it was though, a classic case of the weather being 'too nice' for many grounded migrants but it was great being out in the fine conditions and there was a scattering of birds to find; the highlights consisted of a Corn Bunting which dropped onto the point but soon disappeared and the first two Swallows of the year heading south.

Other birds included a Black Redstart, a Blackcap, a Brambling south, a Chaffinch, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 4 Goldfinch, a few Meadow Pipits in off, 3 Rooks, single Siskin and Skylark south, 2 Sparrowhawks and 8 Wheatears.

Also of note were a big total of 371 Black-headed Gulls heading south or lingering offshore on the still water, a Peregrine, 24 Sanderling on the beach and the odd wader heading south including 7 Dunlin, a Golden Plover and a Knot.

Ringing: Blackbird 2, Song Thrush 1, Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 3

Monday 29th March 2021

Black Redstart

 Overcast first thing with the WSW wind much lighter than of late, it felt far more spring-like than of late too due to the nice spread of early migrants and with the sun coming out from late morning turning the day warm and very pleasant indeed; the selection of birds through the morning included the overdue first Black Redstart of the spring, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chaffinches, 12 Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Grey Wagtails south, 27 Meadow Pipits, a Marsh Harrier south over the sea, 3 Robins, the first Sand Martin of the year, a good arrival of 15 Wheatears and a Yellowhammer south.

Also of note were single Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Curlew offshore, 33 Brent Geese, 6 Red-throated Divers, 6 Sanderling on the beach and 12 Shelduck chasing each other around out front first thing.

Ringing: Chiffchaff 8, Blackcap 2, Blackbird 3, Robin 1

Sunday 28th March 2021

Herring Gulls

 Overcast with a strong, blustery SW wind; there was a touch of variety offshore although nothing appeared in great numbers as birds comprised 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 2 Dunlin, a Sanderling, a Fulmar, 3 Gannets, a Great-crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Red-throated Divers, 4 Shoveler and 3 Tufted Ducks.   The land was understandably quiet although a new Firecrest was caught in the few nets we were able to open with 2 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest also present.

Ringing: Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 1, Firecrest 1