The following summarises only records from our resident birders’ health walks and garden sightings; consequently, it provides a mere snapshot of the true scale of our spring migration.
The weather consisted of a light/moderate northerly wind, sunny intervals and temperatures that reached ten degrees C. A Manx Shearwater, 13 Sandwich Terns and two Common Terns flew past the Fog Station. Puffins also returned en masse, with 348 flying north; 839 birds were also counted on the sea off the North Cliffs.
Non-passerine interest on the headland included a Pink-footed Goose, drake Garganey, four Teal, four Shoveler, a pair of Gadwall, a Marsh Harrier, one Red Kite, a flock of ten Common Buzzards flying north over Thornwick, three Bar-tailed Godwits, one Green Sandpiper, a Grey Plover, two Golden Plover, two Whimbrel and three Snipe. A Long-eared Owl represented the second of spring. Increased numbers of passerine migrants have been apparent over the last two days, with today’s highlights involving: a Hooded Crow, two Grasshopper Warblers, five Sedge Warblers, 20 Common Whitethroats, 15 Lesser Whitethroats, two Ring Ouzel, 17 Wheatear, the year’s first Whinchat, a Tree Pipit, five Yellow Wagtails and two Siskin.
