Saturday 17th April 2021

Wheatear

 I'm not going to describe the weather again as I'm sure you can guess...   The highlight was offshore where our overdue first 12 Common Terns and a Sandwich Tern flew north whilst other birds comprised the singing fort Black Redstart still, 3 Blackcaps, a Chaffinch, a Goldcrest, a smart male Lesser Redpoll, 2 Wheatears and three Whimbrel which eventually went south after changing their minds several times.

Ringing: Goldcrest 1, Goldfinch 1, Linnet 1

Friday 16th April 2021

Sanderling

Same same same, a chilly start turning into a lovely, warm, sunny day (as long as you kept out of the cold N wind which reminded you at every turn that we're not quite into full spring yet!); a couple of new migrants comprised a Firecrest and a Blackcap trapped and 2 Whimbrel flew north.   Other birds included the singing Black Redstart still, a Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, 5 Goldfinches, a Sparrowhawk, a Swallow and 5 Wheatears.

Ringing: Firecrest 1, Blackcap 1, Linnet 2

Thursday 15th April 2021

Painted Lady - given the cool conditions, this first for the year was not really expected

 Still stuck in Groundhog Day with chilly (a generous term) conditions, a NE breeze and largely sunny skies meaning there was little change in birdlife either; bits of note included the singing Black Redstart still, 2 Chaffinches, a Chiffchaff, a Curlew, a Goldcrest, 6 Goldfinches, a Great-crested Grebe, a Song Thrush and 3 Wheatears.

Ringing: Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 1

Early Thorn - still very few moths being caught (unsurprisingly given the prevailing weather!), Early Thorn has two generations, one now with the second in late summer

Wednesday 14th April 2021

High pressure & cool light north-easterlies are not doing us any favours at all. In the migrant department 3 Wheatear, Blackcap, Brambling, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Swallow plus a visit from a wandering Great Spotted Woodpecker. Difficult to say that the now, territorial, Black Redstart singing off the Fort is currently a migrant as it has settled in and what an absolute delight to hear his dulcet tones cascading out from one of several vantage points it has chosen. 15 Sanderling were on the beach first thing soon departed plus a singleton on the shore a short time later.

Ringing: 2 Linnet, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Tuesday 13th April 2021

Magpie

 Very similar again, cold and clear first thing developing into a warm morning but the wind picked up and brought some cloud cover from lunchtime; there was just enough happening to maintain interest but the lingering high pressure over us didn't drop many migrants into the bushes.   Birds included 3 Black Redstarts, 2 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, a Chiffchaff, 14 Common Scoter north, 11 Goldfinch south, a Buzzard headed out, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, a Lesser Redpoll, a Rook south, 3 Swallows south, a Willow Warbler, our first 2 Yellow Wagtails of the year south and a Yellowhammer also south.

Ringing: Blackcap 2, Blackbird 1, Robin 1, Linnet 2

Mullein - The caterpillars are regularly seen in the area but the actual moth is a bit of a rarity!

Monday 12th April 2021

Goldfinch

 Clear skies and very calm overnight led to a heavy frost and a very cold start but it soon warmed up into a lovely, warm day; there was a little turnover of birds in the area which included 2 Black Redstarts, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldfinches, a Marsh Harrier south, a Heron and a Little Egret which unusually flew north together, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Robins, a Rook north, 6 Wheatears and a Whimbrel which briefly landed on the beach.

Ringing: Robin 2, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Goldfinch 1

Sunday 11th April 2021

A small handful of migrants as befits the cool northerly airflow with 5 Wheatear, 4 Black Red, 4 Chiffchaff, Blackcap & Robin. Single Sanderling on the beach early morning but, otherwise, it's down to the locals who are just waiting for the weather to improve before getting down to breeding.

Ringing: 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Wood Pigeon.