23rd and 24th March


A very wet day on the 23rd with rain of various strengths persisting virtually all day; the first notable influx of 23 Black-tailed Godwits was the main reward for those who did brave the rain whilst other birds included the Whooper Swan, the Green-winged Teal (after a four-day absence), 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Ruff (Holland and Westness) and 33 Bar-tailed Godwits.

                On the land, migrants included 2 Woodpigeons, 10 Rock Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, the Black Redstart still, 4 Song Thrushes and 3 Mistle Thrushes.

                A much nicer day on the 24th, dry with plenty of sunshine and a moderate SW breeze; as a result, there were notable influxes of a range of common migrants on the land including 3 Woodpigeons, the first Collared Dove of the year, 153 Skylarks, 33 Meadow Pipits, 10 Pied Wagtails, and 6 Linnets (which have been very slow to arrive this year, there were 65 this time last year).  

Other birds included a Pink-footed Goose, the Green-winged Teal, a Hen Harrier, a big first winter female Peregrine, a Dunnock, 9 Robins, the Black Redstart, 6 Song Thrushes and 11 Twite.


Pink-footed Goose                               George Gay

Pied Wagtail                               Simon Davies

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