Saturday, 11 March 2023

11th March 2023

 Weather:  ESE force 3, increasing 4/5 with heavy rain later.

An adult male Stonechat was on the island this morning, Stonechat is a regular visitor here in early spring.

Apart from the Stonechat there was little evidence of any spring movement, although a Skylark was down on Middle Eye. Eider and Goosander have been seen here on most visits this last winter, and today was no exception with 7 Eider and a pair of Goosanders present. A small number of Scoter have also been around the island, there were 5 today.

Cormorant is a common species which is often ignored but in certain plumages it can be quite striking in appearance.

A few wader numbers logged were 10,000 Knot, 1,200 Dunlin, 11,000 Oystercatcher, 350 Grey Plover, 36 Ringed Plover, 58 Curlew, 100 Turnstone and 5 Purple Sandpiper. The heavy rain in the afternoon did not change things much although a pair of Mallard came down on the pond in the rain.The Kestrel was the only raptor seen.

 Photos AS

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