Sunday 7 April 2013

7th April 2013

Still cold today especially early morning but at least a south easterly to bring some migrants to the island. A fall of about 30 Goldcrests, also 6 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackbirds, 9 Robins happened in the first 2 hours after dawn then reduced to a trickle for the rest of the morning. The large Meadow Pipit movement however continued throughout  the morning with at least 500 travelling south in small parties of up to a dozen. The second and third Wheatears for this year landed as did a Grey Wagtail, 20 alba Wagtails, 3 Chaffinches, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Greenfinch, a Reed Bunting and a Redwing.
A female Merlin flew to Middle after high tide, and 2 Woodpigeons and a Jackdaw were again recorded, and a Skylark was singing over Middle after the tide. Seen during the sea watch were:- 2 Red-throated Divers, 5 Red breasted Mergansers, 3 Gannets, 6 Sandwich Terns, 10 Little Gulls, 8 Common Scoter,2 Canada Geese, a male Goldeneye, a Harbour Porpoise moving south down the Dee, and a Goldcrest in off the sea landing on a members tripod. Seven Purple Sandpipers were recorded, about as many as have been present lately, also 126 Turnstones. All observers agreed that at last it seemed more like spring in terms of the birds passing through and the total of 26 birds ringed almost exceeded the total previously ringed this year, such has been the delayed migration season.
Ringed:- 8 Goldcrests, 6 Robins, 5 Blackbirds, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Wheatear, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Chaffinch. [ 56-16 ] 
(DB+ESCA,ME+HW,AEH,CJ,KMc,BT,NDW,SRW,TGW)   photo CJ 

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