13th April 2026

 Weather:  SE force 2, slight mist around the estuary early, In the afternoon S  light air (0) 

It was clear overnight with a light breeze from the south east meaning although many Chiffchaffs and a few Willow Warblers were grounded ( most of the phylloscopus arrived in the first 2 or 3 hours ), there was not much movement overhead during the rest of the day. A total of 21 Chiffchaffs (30 estimated) 

 and 6 Willow Warblers (10 estimated ) were ringed. 

 Two male Blackcaps were caught this morning then a female mid afternoon and another male late afternoon after a brief spell of rain. 

 

Other migrants were 7 White Wagtails, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Siskin, a House Martin and 12 Swallows. 

 

More chunky arrivals and fly-overs included a Woodpigeon, 5 Jackdaws and 2 Greylag Geese that joined with the 70 Brent Geese briefly at dawn in the gutter.

 

........... while 20 Pink-footed Geese flew out of the estuary at dawn, there were 8 Shelduck, 3 males and a female Mallard on the pond and of course a pair of Eider.

Gannets fed in good numbers again (60) and there was a Red-throated Diver, 12 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Guillemots and 5 Razorbills. Four Little Egrets and a Grey Heron on the shore and approximately 300 Sandwich Terns were about.

 A few of the waders seen were 42 Ringed Plover, 42 Turnstone, 65 Redshank and 1 Purple Sandpiper. Butterflies flying were 2 Peacock, a Small Tortoiseshell and 2 male Orange Tips. 

 

Ringed: 21 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Linnets, 1 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 1 Linnet. 

Photos SRW