2nd March 2018

Weather: East 6-7, inc force 8, 6/8 cloud inc 8/8, poor vis inc to moderate
The day began as the rest of this week with the temperature below zero. A Song Thrush on Middle Eye and three Starlings passing over and heading towards the mainland were signs of yet more cold weather movement.

A Snipe was flushed from by the frozen pond on the main island, but returned to the same area later in the day.

A search of the South End was productive again this morning when a Golden Plover was found and flew a short distance onto the shore below. 

Three more Golden Plover were seen during the day but surprisingly no Lapwings were noted today.
Seawatching was tough going in the easterly gale but a couple of Red-throated Divers were notes along with c200 Common Scoter, 8 Great Crested Grebes and 5 Eider remained around the Islands, particularly between the main islands at high tide.
Nine Purple Sandpipers were counted at the North End and other waders included another colour-flagged Knot found in the south cove, which had been ringed in Iceland in May 2017 and was actually seen at West Kirby Marine Lake yesterday!

The first of two ornithological highlights of the day was a much predicted Woodcock which was possibly disturbed from the Old Obs garden unbeknown to one observer and was seen by two others as it flew past them by the Telegraph Station, it was flushed again from between the pond and the Obs and then finally from the South End (very similar to the last two occasions Woodcock has occurred on the island - photograph below from 20th March 2015).

The second highlight was surprisingly the first ‘spring’ migrant (considering the weather!) a male Stonechat was found by the pond before moving to the bungalow gardens and promptly disappearing.
photos AEH,CJW,SRW