Monday 1 April 2013

1st April 2013

An extremely cold wind this morning made things difficult for both observers and birds and it was no surprise not to find any grounded migrants, even the resident birds were reluctant to show. Highlight of the day was the sighting of 25 Little Gulls off to the north west as they moved first one way then the other while feeding. A Merlin was seen soon after dawn but did not stay for very long unlike a male Kestrel that hunted most of the day. Apart from the Little gulls the sea was fairly quiet with 28 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red-throated Divers, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Razorbills and 3 Common Scoters. A passing Skylark was the sole passerine that was definitely not a resident bird. No birds were ringed and it is interesting to compare this year with last when up to 1st April 2012, 295 birds had been ringed and this year a mere 25 in this very slow season. The Stoat is still present and was today seen to interact with the rabbit, the rabbit surprisingly running off after the Stoat !
 Photos below from today of Scoter and waders by PSW
female Common Scoter

Grey Plover

Purple Sandpiper

Turnstones
(CJ+VB,CLW,NDW,PSW,SRW,TGW,CJW,GIW,FPW)

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