Tuesday 28th February 2012

On the move this morning were 5 Chaffinchs in off the sea, 2 Mipits & a Crow south. A couple of new Songies & Great Tits in the bushes are obviously on the move. 11 Magpies are less welcome as birds wander around in search of nesting sites with one of our pairs getting keen carrying sticks to suitable nesting locations.

Monday 27th February 2012

Mist nets put up for the season this morning. 3 Skylarks & a Siskin going south overhead were today's migrants. The male Peregrine was on one of his regular perches but little else of note.

Sunday 26th February 2012

Pleasant late winters morning. Migrants almost non-existent. A handful of Brents & a Shelduck on the move offshore is about the sum of it. The Rock Pipit is still with us and was the highlight of a walk round the site..

Saturday 25th February 2012

A handful of new Songies in today is dead right for the start of spring passage. On the move 2 Rooks, Curlew, Skylark & Reed Bunt going south. In the last couple of days the local Ringos have started to reappear on the reserve which is indicative of the improving weather & lengthening days. Rock Pipit still on the point & Sanderling still along the shore. A Pale Brindled Beauty is only the 2nd site record - does this species exist here at a very low density or is this just a wandering individual ? If this is just a transient specimen, and the species is not resident here, then he is wasting his time coming here as the females are flightless.

Friday 24th February 2012

Following on from almost tropical conditions yesterday, more signs of spring movements today including the first new Robin & Great Tit of the year trapped & ringed. First Great Tit of the spring is spot on date wise with the first new Robin of the spring a week to ten days earlier than expected. 40 Linnets on the reserve first thing is a high number for February suggesting that this lot were not wintering to far away from here. Some visible migration this morning included 3 Mipits, 2 Jackdaws, 2 Crows, Rook, Stock Dove & Siskin going south plus a Lapwing in off the sea. Also on the move two flocks of Barnacles totalling 20 birds going south, presumably on their way back to the continent. The moth traps were put out for the season three nights ago with the first moths of the year in the traps this morning - Tortricodes alternella, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla & The Chestnut. The tortrix is good for us having only been recorded in three previous years despite it apparently being abundant in oak woodlands inland.

Thursday 23rd February 2012

Almost tropical conditions for the end of February. Today's migrant was a Rook flying south. A Woodcock may be one left over from the cold snap or a spring migrant. Apart from these two birds it's very predictable.

Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Windy, overcast & not a very pleasant morning. Bird wise about as riveting as the weather. 2 Great-crested Grebes, 2 Shelduck & a Brent south offshore are this mornings highlights !