Wednesday 12th April

Migration was in evidence over the evening tide with 102 Ringed Plover in the Bight along with 35 Grey Plover, 10 Dunlin and 10 Sanderling. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was offshore, three Wheatear were on site and a Snipe was on the Main Pond.

Wheatear - Dean Hall

Monday 10th April

The first Osprey of the year passed over mid morning with at least 16 Wheatear on site but other migrants remained at a premium with just a single Willow Warbler in the bushes and eight Swallow and four Sand Martin overhead. Elsewhere 45 Turnstone, 19 Ringed Plover and eight Whimbrel were in the estuary, eight Sandwich Tern and three Red-breasted Merganser were offshore and three Little Grebe chicks remain on the Main Pond.

 Little Grebe - Simon Thurgood

Wheatear - Simon Thurgood

Sunday 9th April

A Red Kite that headed north over the site mid morning was taking advantage of the warm and clear conditions. However this same weather meant a dearth of grounded migrants with a single Sedge Warbler that spent the day in a bramble on the Wryneck Plain the only noticeable arrival. Elsewhere two Yellow Wagtail, 12 Swallow and a Sand Martin were also overhead, 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 38 Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Whimbrel and five Sanderling were in the estuary and a first summer Iceland Gull was off John's Watch this evening with 11 Sandwich Tern and a first summer Mediterranean Gull.

Wildlife News: Sand Crocus and Upright Chickweed continue to flower in both Greenland Lake and the Crocus compound, six species of butterfly were on the wing and Striped Millipede are now to be found on areas of bare sand.

Striped Millipede - Mick Spencer

Saturday 8th April

An early Yellow Wagtail overhead this morning was the pick of the few migrants on offer with 11 Swallow, five Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and a Wheatear also recorded. Elsewhere a Purple Sandpiper on the seawall was the first of the year, 15 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, five Sandwich Tern and a Whimbrel were in the estuary and a pair of Pintail offshore were the days third addition to the year list.

Purple Sandpiper - Lee Collins

Thursday 6th April

A continuing trickle of migrants with a couple of Willow Warbler and five Swallow new arrivals. Other records included now three Little Grebe on the Main Pond, two Jay on Dead Dolphin Wood, two Whimbrel in the estuary and seven Sandwich Tern offshore.

Wildlife News: The first Green-veined White and Small Copper of the year were on the wing with at least a dozen Speckled Wood.

 Green-veined White - Alan Keatley

Speckled Wood - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 5th April

A look from Cockwood Steps early evening saw 82 Turnstone, seven Dunlin, four Ringed Plover, three Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel on the mudflats and a Slavonian Grebe in the estuary channel. Elsewhere a Willow Warbler was on site with two Blackcap and two Chiffchaff and a Red-throated Diver and six Sandwich Tern were offshore.

Linnet - Dave Jewell

Tuesday 4th April

Slim pickings on a low tide today with five Sandwich Tern in the estuary, with another eight offshore. Elsewhere a Water Rail remains on the Main Pond, four Shelduck were in front of the hide and three Great-crested Grebe were offshore.

Stonechat - Dean Hall

Wildlife News: The continuing good weather is provide ideal conditions for viewing the Warren Crocus.

Monday 3rd April

Three Willow Warbler were singing on site this morning with three Wheatear and a couple of Sand Martin over the pick of the other migrants. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver and seven Sandwich Tern were offshore, 37 Bar-tailed Godwit were in the estuary and a Jay was in the Entrance Bushes.

Robin

 

Chiffchaff

 

Wildlife News: Sand Crocus remains in flower. 

 

Sunday 2nd April

Migrants were again thin on the ground with four Sand Martin and four Swallow overhead and just a single Wheatear on the ground. In the estuary the Slavonian Grebe was still present with 307 Oystercatcher, 190 Curlew, 64 Knot, 60 Grey Plover, 26 Redshank, 12 Sandwich Tern, 10 Brent Geese and two Greenshank. Elsewhere two Red-throated Diver and 12 Common Scoter, a Jay was in the Entrance Bushes and a Snipe was on the Main Pond.

Wildlife News: Two Dark-edged Beefly were seen today along with Buffish and Short-fringed Mining Bee (Andrena nigroaenea & A. dorsata) with five butterfly species on the wing included a female Brimstone and the first two Orange-tip of the year. The Sand Crocus remains in flower with large numbers in both Greenland Lake and the Crocus Compound.

 Dark-edged Beefly - Debs Rylands

Buffish Mining Bee - Debs Rylands

Saturday 1st April

Migrants continue to trickle through with three Blackcap, a couple of Wheatear and two Swallow seen today but the year's first Coal Tit was the most notable. Elsewhere two Whimbrel were in the estuary with 88 Turnstone, 71 Knot, 70 Grey Plover, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit, now just 10 Brent Geese and two Greenshank; three Red-throated Diver and seven Sandwich Tern were offshore and a Snipe was on the Main Pond.