First Blackcap this spring with other migrants including 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Mipit & Woodcock. Southbound 28 Red-throated Diver, 9 Wood Pigeon, 7 Common Gull, 2 Gannet, 2 Oyk, 2 Knot, Heron & Rook with northbound 54 Red-throats. First Comma butterfly of the year was seen.
Ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Woodcock, 1 Wood Pigeon.
Chilly morning. 472 Cormorant went north a fair way out. Very few migrants included single Redwing, Skylark, new Blacky & the first White Wagtail of the spring. 4 Rook flew south.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing.
Overnight gale subsided but very little to report. On site 2 Goldcrest, 2 Stock Dove, Chiffchaff & Skylark plus 3 Chaffinch flying south. Offshore southbound 13 Dunlin, 6 Brent & a Shelduck with northbound 3 Gannet.
Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren.
Ringing: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff.
21 Skylark is the highest spring count since the mid 1990's & only the second double figure March count this century. Decent selection of early/mid-March fare with 15 Blackies, 11 Mipit, 8 Goldcrest, 7 Redwing, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Song Thrush, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Jackdaw, 2 Siskin, Greenfinch & Yellowhammer. Single overwintering Fire & Goldcrest from last autumn noted as was the Snow Bunting from early January & the male Stonechat from recent days. Southbound 39 Brent, 17 Barnacles & 4 Oyks. A marauding "murder of 35 Crows" was less welcome as a large gang of juvenile delinquents last spring had a deleterious effect on ground nesting birds.
Ringing: 6 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 1 Linnet, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Song Thrush.
Fog, unpleasant for both birds & human observers, doesn't stop those disorientated individuals from turning up. Newbies in today include 12 Mipit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Skylark, Curlew, Redwing, a couple of new Blackies & the first Black Redstart of the spring around by the Museum. Leftovers from recent days include 3 Goldcrest, Fieldfare & Stonechat. Lingering Snow Bunt still here. Wing lengths on Chaffinch's up to 95 mm indicating that they originate well to the north-east of here.
Ringing: 3 Chaffinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackbird.