Weather: SE force 1 with mist WNW 1/2
Before dawn the sky was clear then the sun rose to a very calm but chilly morning.
Another nice day on the island, not the grounded migrants of recent days (with only 3 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff that arrived after high tide and 3 Wheatear), but still small numbers of finches and alba wagtails (including 3 definite White Wagtails). The Chiffchaff landed an hour or so after noon.
There were of course typical early spring visitors such as a House Sparrow which hung about the island for a while, particularly liking the large pittissporum bush in the obs garden.
A Reed Bunting made itself known, also a single Starling which came down for a short time.
and a single and later 4 other Jackdaws passing over. Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were far fewer today than yesterday but finch species performed almost as well today. Ten Goldfinches were top of the list and others were 3 Chaffinch, 3 Siskin, 2 each of Greenfinch and Redpoll, plus 36 Linnets. Three Wheatears were here again today (2males). As usual the sea was calm when 2 Porpoise were seen swimming off the west side.
Birds on the sea were varied: 2 Red-throated Divers, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, 18 Great Crested Grebes, a Guillemot, a Razorbill, a Wigeon (here with some of the 184 Brent, plus a drak-bellied bird)
and 'our' drake Scaup, 2 Shelduck and 2 Canada Geese, and then another 7 flying off the east side
and a female Eider.
Waders were in normal numbers, including 145 Curlew, 68 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 11 Ringed Plover and 6 Purple Sandpipers. A Merlin arrived and sat on the lifeboat station at high tide (and was later seen pursuing and catching a small wader south of middle with crows also in pursuit).
Nine Rock Pipits are present and 4 Robins and 4 Blackbirds were seen in the gardens and paddocks.
At high tide and with little disturbance Grey Seals can give close views if you are lucky.
Photos CJW, SRW
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