An improving picture

Little change in the conditions with a brisk NE wind whipping through the garden but ringing was slightly improved with 18 new birds caught including 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Redpoll.   Also seen in the garden was the Hawfinch again briefly, at least 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats and a Great-spotted Woodpecker.

One of the singing Lesser Whitethroats was this bird, presumably a returning local breeder as it was originally ringed here in May 2013

 

The day was more notable for some good visible migration through the morning with a good, steady stream of mainly Linnets and Meadow Pipits overhead (several hundred of each) along with smaller numbers of Redpolls, Goldfinches and Siskins, a single Tree Pipit and a few Swallows.

   The sea was also a bit busier than of late with a brief burst of Terns early morning producing 7 Little Terns, 2 Common Terns and 30 Sandwich Terns while 4 Black-throated Divers, 7 Sanderlings and brief views of a White Stork which flew east out at sea but promptly vanished into the murk as visibility was quite poor.   Single Marsh Harrier, Red Kite and Merlin were also on the move past the station.

 

A nice flock of hirundines lingering around the tip in the afternoon was comprised of 30 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins and a House Martin while 2 male Blue-headed Wagtails were feeding in the fields with 25 White Wagtails.

 

Other highlights through the day in no particular order included Hans bringing some more pastries for us, Johan coming back from the shops with some half price Easter eggs, a Grass Snake by one of the nets and a Roe Deer which only just avoided running through a net!