Wednesday 29th March 2017

Despite the weather relenting finally, to give us at least a hint that Spring is on its way, most interest was on the sea. The highlight was a Sandwich Tern that plodded north after leaving the river mouth. Apart from that, most sightings were of Red-throated Divers with 7 going back north, along with 12 Brent Geese and 2 Shoveler, whilst southbound 6 Dunlin, 5 Golden Plover, 1 each of Red-breasted Merganser, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Gannet. On site only 2 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were the highlights.

2 Birds ringed : 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Long-tailed Tit.

Tuesday 27th March 2017

The dreaded north-easterly airflow has gone to be replaced by FOG. A real "pea souper" earlier is only now starting to thin out (and they promised us a glorious sunny day !). A few migrants have battled through regardless with roughly five each of Goldcrest & Chiffchaff on site plus single migrant Robin & Song Thrush. Difficult to know what's out on the reserve as one can not see a lot of it from in here. As the fog lifted the first White Wagtail of the spring was noted towards the point early afternoon.

8 birds ringed: 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin, 1 Great Tit, 1 Song Thrush.

Monday 27th March 2017

Purgatory at the moment - not sure what sins we have committed in a previous life but we are sure being made to pay for it ! Today's migrants on a cold dreary morning were a couple of Mipits, single Brambling, Grey Wagtail and a new Robin. The Linnet numbers are steadily increasing but apart from that it's bleak out there, but not as bleak as it was for one of the Collared Doves that was taken by a Sparrowhawk (that's 2 Collared Doves predated in recent days so one must assume they taste pretty good). Misty & murky offshore which obscured what little was out there.

Ringing: 1 Robin.

Sunday 26th March 2017

Still hard graft due to the north easterly airflow although the odd migrant is battling through as evidenced by a Ring Ouzel alongside View Point Road early on and this Chiffchaff with a mass of sap & pollen above its bill which it will have acquired during the winter from vegetation around the Mediterranean area. Single Skylark & Mipit went south and a couple of Goldcrest are loitering on site. Offshore, apart from a mass of seagulls, just a couple of Red-throated Divers & Gannets noted. The Iceland Gull put in another appearance as the Stena Britannica went out.

2 birds ringed: 1 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff.

Saturday 25th March 2017

What we don't need at this time of the year is high pressure over Scandinavia plus a cold north-easterly airflow. As such migrants are very hard to come by. A Brambling was here at stupid o'clock early doors (thank god the clock is changing today), with the only other migrants being singles of Goldcrest, Chiffchaff plus a new Robin. Starring offshore a waste of time with a lot of effort put in starring at seagulls producing nothing of note. Turnstone has been on the point in recent days.

Ringing: 1 Robin + a control Blue Tit.

Friday 24th March 2017

166 Gannet heading north so far (early blog so if numbers go up this will get updated later) plus a couple following ships into the river. Also northbound 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar & a Knot. Yesterday's Iceland Gull put in another appearance (and as I write is sitting just inside the dock along View Point Road) and at least 2 Bonxie have been off the estuary mouth. Cold ENE gale not conducive to many migrants on site although single Chiffchaff & Goldcrest are new in. Late news is off 2 Black Redstart around the Fort in the afternoon.

Iceland Gull is a second-winter - didn't see it well enough yesterday to work out it's age.

2 birds ringed: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest

Thursday 23rd March 2017

Spot the Iceland Gull which loitered in the harbour for about an hour or so. Also noted offshore 5 Gannet, 5 Barnacle Geese, 4 Common Scoter, single Red-throated Diver, Fulmar, Brent Goose, Bonxie & Curlew moving one way or the other but the cold wind drifting around to the north-east as the morning went on did not make for a pleasant experience. Migrants in the bushes almost non-existent although yesterdays Black Redstart is still with us.

3 birds ringed: 2 Collared Dove (pullus), 1 Wren.