Spring certainly showed its colours today with both departing winter visitors and arriving summer migrants on offer. The Water Lane area is turning up a few birds of late and today there were 2 remaining Black Redstarts and two White Wagtails with another Black Redstart (female type) at the Golf Course. Summer migrants were much in evidence with a total of 18 Chiffchaffs and a singing Willow Warbler on the Outer Head, two Blackcaps in the Bay Brambles and single Sand Martin, Wheatear and Chiffchaff at South Landing. Another Sand Martin and two Chiffchaff were also reported from Buckton. Two first year White Wagtails were at Thornwick Pool this afternoon.
On the departing winter visitor front there were Redwings at South Landing (2) and Buckton (1) with a Fieldfare present in a garden on the Outer Head, three dark bellied Brent Geese flew west at South Landing.
Four of the crowd pleasing Lapland Buntings remained at Buckton, all males, and the impressive bunting flock there held 40 Corn Bunting and 60 Yellowhammer. There were also 40 Twite at nearby Bempton.
Other birds of note were 4 Goldcrests on the Outer Head, two Scandinavian Rock Pipits still present and the northern Treecreeper continuing to please its admirers at Millenium Wood. 38 Lesser black backed Gulls were seen to pass north in 45 mins from South Landing and 2 intermedius and 1 graellsi went north off the sea watch point.
