25th February 2015

Weather: W force 4
The sun broke through during the morning leading to thoughts of spring. The few Meadow Pipits (photo AEH) now back on the island were doing their parachute display flight and the Dunnocks and Robins were also in good voice.
The first Daffodils (photo CJ) opened out into bloom, joining the Crocuses (photo AEH) in making a splash of colour, while the first Frog (photo AEH)and Honey Bee appeared.
 

 Three Skylarks came down around the top of the island and stayed for a short time, at least one was also in song (photo CJ), and another flew strongly north east off the north end. The Brent were counted at 192 including the dark-bellied bird, but only 2 Purple Sandpipers were seen at low tide, more evident were flocks of 120, 100, and 15 Sanderling flying north east just off the tide edge. Soon after dawn 2 Canada Geese flew east across between the islands. The sea was so quiet that it took many minutes looking just to find a single Great Crested Grebe. A male Common Scoter drifted passed the west side and out to sea off the north shore. 

 A Common Seal was parked on a rock just by the main slipway onto the island (photos CJ+AEH), and would not budge despite being closely approached, it may be sick and measures were put in place to have it attended to.
 

 Our regular mammal the rabbit certainly doesn't seem sick and was seen a couple of times racing through the paddocks. A female Kestrel today (photo AEH) could be new in, as most recent sightings refer to a male.

 (DB,AEH,CJ)