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Saturday 18th April 2015


The continued north easterly winds pursued overnight and into the day, further halting any signs of any new migrants hoping to feel the warm weather or start their migration again.

Despite the high pressure at the moment, our resident Collared Dove has began incubating at the observatory, showing that the weather doesn't put them off.

Migrants included 6 Wheatear, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest and 5 Jay.

During a seawatch this morning, 1 Grey Heron flew South, 29 Cormorant, 24 Shelduck, 11 Brent Geese, 1 Common Tern, 1 Gannet, 2 Fulmar, 2 Red-Breasted Merganser, 4 Common Scoter and 11 Common Gull.

Several Hebrew Character and Common Quaker in the moth traps this morning.

Ringing: 5 birds ringed this morning, 3 Linnet, 1 Blackbird and 1 Chiffchaff.

Friday 17th April 2015


Due to the north east / easterly winds overnight which continued throughout the day, the observatory was rather quite bird wise. Migrants included 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Wheatear, 1 Siskin and 2 Swallow.

A sea watch early morning produced 6 Common Tern, 50 Brent Geese,  15 Shelduck, 1 Fulmar, 32 Common Gull and 1 Mediterranean Gull.

One of the moth traps this morning produced this migrant Dark Swordgrass which was a rather unexpected surprise.

Ringing: 2 birds ringed today which included 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Linnet.

Thursday 16th April 2015


Overnight intermittent patches of mist and clear skies, with a north-easterly wind, left a few grounded migrants this morning. 11 Wheatear, 12 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Tern and 3 Whimbrel.

Hirundines included 5 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin and 1 House Martin.

Black-headed Gull numbers have been notable over the last few days with 52 heading South this morning, most likely to their breeding grounds for this year.

Many of our resident species are now pairing up and displaying, ready for the forthcoming breeding season. Several pairs of Song Thrush (above) keeping a careful eye on their neighbouring predators.

Ringing: 16 birds ringed this morning including 7 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Great Tit and 1 Blue Tit.

Wednesday 15th April 2015


The wonderful weather continues and so does the migrant activity, with plenty of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs making a welcome appearance, along with a few Yellow Wagtails, (like this stunning male), also 12 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Yellowhammer and a Whitethroat on-site. Offshore, waders are moving through with 10 Whimbrel north and 9 Grey Plover south along with smaller numbers of other species, which included 2 Jays in-off and then north. Insect wise the first Holly Blues of the year put in an appearance today.

35 birds were ringed, 14 Blackcap, 9 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, and 1 each of Wren, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Whitethroat, Robin and Song Thrush.

Tuesday 14th April 2015


Spells of clear skies, followed by intermittent patches of mist overnight, provided a lovely Spring filled observatory this morning. Migrants today included 11 Wheatear, 17 Swallow, 4 Common Tern and 1 Sandwich Tern, along with 6 Whimbrel, 2 Black Redstart, 1 Common Redstart, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Redpoll, 1 Common Whitethroat, 12 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler and 8 Blackcap.

A lovely male Common Redstart was found on the nature reserve mid morning, later ringed at the observatory.

The sunny, hot day brought the butterflies out in good numbers with Green-veined White, Peacock, Small White and Small Tortoiseshell being seen.

Ringing: 25 birds ringed this morning including 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Wren, 1 Linnet, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Wheatear and 1 Common Redstart.

Monday 13th April 2015


Scattered patches of light cloud and clear skies last night gave to a stunning sunrise but otherwise good numbers of migrants on-site. Despite conditions not being ideal for a mass amount. These included, 4 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Willow Warbler (some singing), 3 Firecrest, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 13 Wheatear (above picture), 8 Swallow and 1 Whimbrel.

Small flocks of Woodpigeon with a total of 86 heading South, 14 Brent Geese, 1 Red-Breasted Merganser and 17 Cormorant were seen offshore.


The cold nights that were are having at the moment, moth trapping is still poor. Just the 3 moths this morning, although they do illustrate some of the variation in Hebrew Character. 

Ringing: 13 birds ringed this morning with 3 Linnet, 3 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Wheatear, 1 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler. 

Sunday 12th April 2015


Good numbers of Linnets are currently present on site.

With the weather beginning to behave a bit more like spring things are starting to happen. With the first 2 Yellow Wagtails of the year, flying over and 5 Wheatear on site, along with another Firecrest (the 11th to be ringed in the last month). Other birds of note today were 2 Common Terns and a flock of 30 Curlew going north and up to 2 Merlin passing through. Chiffchaff numbers are also building up with around 15 seen today.

10 birds ringed, 6 Chiffchaff, and 1 each of Blackbird, Wren, Blackcap and Firecrest.