Winter favourites continue to linger

1st April 2015 – overcast/rain later NW6/7
Offshore
A check over the sea late afternoon (1515-1615) revealed small numbers of Gannet, Kittiwake, Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver and Guillemot .
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 6 Shoveler, 4 pale-bellied Brent Geese and the long-staying Long-tailed Duck. Three Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank were the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
Several Little Egrets continue to linger and a Barn Owl hunted the island.
Ringing
March proved to be another quiet moth with migration seemingly on hold and a total of just 75 birds of 13 species handled. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps in brackets) Goldcrest 5, Blackbird 4, Blue Tit 4 (1), Chiffchaff 3, Chaffinch 3, Great Tit 2, Robin 2, Goldfinch 2 (38), Redwing 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Reed Bunting (5), Dunnock (3), House Sparrow (1).
Moths
The slow start to moth emergence continues though Dark Sword Grass and Common Quaker were new for the year