14th April 2011

A start at dawn because of the early tide, and hopes were high after a south easterly all night but it soon became obvious very little had dropped in, maybe the visibility was too clear. In the paddocks were 2 or 3 Willow Warblers and that was about it - there were no Wheatears on the island or any visible migration overhead. By midday up to 100 Swallows had floated through, but no House or Sand Martins and just a few Goldfinches made themselves known. Later a member while crossing the sands saw 3 Wheatears and a good record of 3 male Goosanders in the Middle Eye area. The 2 Greylags flew around the island again today, this time in company with 5 Canada Geese (left, 2 Greylags with Canada Goose). Sea and shore birds had some interest when 2 Shags complete with head crests were seen on the sea and good counts were made of over 100 Gannets, 7 Red-throated Divers, 30 Common Scoter, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 38 Sandwich Tern, a Guillemot, 350 Knot, 150 Dunlin and 9 Sanderling. There was a rare opportunity this morning to see both Common and Grey seal (below, Common Seal furthest away) together at the lifeboat slipway, the Grey seeming quite unconcerned by the attention. Not the most exciting April morning but with observer coverage for 24 hours over the next few days hopefully there will be plenty of interest to come. Ringed :- 3 Linnets, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Meadow Pipit. (DB,CJ,CJW,PSW et al) [194-29] photos CJ