Wednesday 23rd April 2014

A clear sky overnight with light easterlies. A fresh collection of migrants were in this morning with another Nightingale that was singing behind the Obs after being ringed, a nice male Redstart also caught early on, other birds included 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaff & a Black Redstart. The only Ring Ouzel of the day was seen briefly along the road and on the reserve 14 Wheatear were located including one that gave a brief song. A few Yellow Wagtails, Swallows and a Sand Martin passed overhead. Offshore a couple of Kittiwake & Fulmar flew past and a Little Tern headed north.

12 Birds ringed; 2 Blackbird, 2 Willow warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and single Chiffchaff, Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat & Nightingale. A control Dunnock was also caught.

Tuesday 22nd April 2014

The overnight rain had cleared leaving a damp and misty morning with light southerly winds. Expectations were high for some quality birds, and at last we were not disappointed. A Nightingale was singing around the entrance gate from before dawn and later flew into a net. Several migrant warblers turned up on site including 10 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, and a small number of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers. A Dotterel was heard calling by several observers but alas could not be located. A pair of Little Ringed Plovers were displaying in the aggregate yard before being flushed, and 15 Wheatear, 5 Ring Ouzels, 3 Fieldfare and a superb male Pied Flycatcher showed off and on behind the obs lookout. A few Yellow Wagtails, Swallows and Goldfinchs passed overhead, while offshore 3 Little Tern, 20 Curlew, 8 Whimbrel, a Fulmar and a Little Gull all passed by. On the ringing front a much better days total was had.

Birds ringed 25.  6 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Nightingale, 1 Swallow, 1 Wheatear, 1 Robin, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Linnet.

Monday 21st April 2014

A north to north-easterly breeze gradually increasing as the morning progressed. Following overnight rain there was a nice selection of migrants about. On the reserve there were 14 Wheatear and a nice group of 4 Ring Ouzels, other migrants included 4 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Yellow Wagtails (north), 6 Swallow(1 south, 3 north & 2 west) and single Black Redstart, Sand Martin, House Martin & Jay (the last 3 all north). Other birds of note were a Common Tern that flew out of the river and then north and a Grey Heron also north.

A Hairy Dragonfly put in an appearance at the southern end of the compound, a species that is not frequent here and was as far as I am aware the earliest record for the site. Also of note was a Brimstone on the Butts which was the first since 2004.

8 Birds ringed; 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and single Greenfinch, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & Linnet. The was also a control Blackcap.

Sunday 20th April 2014

Despite the conditions having the potential for a good fall of birds, the cloud and rain came too late to drop anything in. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. The days  meagre offerings consisted of 1 Gannet and 2 Swallows north and 1 Whimbrel south, plus 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff on site.

Ringing was equally poor with the only birds ringed being the 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

Saturday 19th April 2014

An overcast day with a stiffening northerly. A fairly quiet day apart from 6 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat (4 at the north end), 3 Blackcap and single Chiffchaff & Lesser Whitethroat. Offshore highlights included 90 Common Scoter & a Whimbrel heading north.

6 Birds ringed; 3 Linnet and single Chaffinch, Chiffchaff & Blackcap.

Friday 18th April 2014

A bright day with a stiff north-westerly and a light shower mid morning. Migrants continue to trickle through the site, the highlights being 4 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat and single Whitethroat, Black Redstart & Chiffchaff, whilst overhead single Swallow & Yellow Wagtail headed north. Offshore 2 Sandwich Terns & 2 Whimbrel headed south and 16 Common Scoter, 7 Curlew & 2 Whimbrel headed north.

10 Birds ringed; 5 Linnet, 4 Blackcap & 1 Chiffchaff.

Thursday 17th April 2014

A nice overcast start to the day with a slight southerly breeze. A selection of migrants had arrived overnight including 7 Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Yellow Wagtail, 13 Swallow & 2 Sand Martin south. On the reserve were 4 Wheatear, a female Redstart, a male White Wagtail, a couple of Lesser Whitethroat and a Sanderling on the beach. Offshore 58 Barnacle Geese, 2 Whimbrel & 7 Curlew headed south.

11 Birds ringed; 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Wheatear and single Song Thrush & Sparrowhawk. Plus a control Blackcap.