27th and 28th March


Light northerly winds on the 27th moved slowly round to the east giving us a sense of anticipation for the week ahead and it started well with the first 2 Wheatears of the year seen at the top end of the island – a pretty decent earlyish arrival date for us; other landbirds through the day included a good influx of 151+ Meadow Pipits, a Dunnock, 13 Redwings, 6 Goldcrests, a Rook and 15 Snow Buntings.

                One Pink-footed Goose remained with the 708 Greylags counted while other little bits of note comprised 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, a ringtail Hen Harrier and single Water Rail, Jack Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit with the long-staying 2nd winter Glaucous Gull still present.

Pied Wagtail, photo Simon Davies


                It was straight easterly the next day so it was no surprise that there were some additions to the year list with pride of place going to a Hawfinch which dropped in briefly to Holland in the afternoon while the single Brambling and Chiffchaff that were there in the morning were also new for the year as was a male White Wagtail near Gretchen.

                Other counts included 29 Pied Wagtails, 22 Redwings, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 5 Goldcrests and a littoralis Rock Pipit while the Glaucous Gull again mooched around the top end.
Nearly a Rock Dove! photo Simon Davies

Redwing, photo Simon Davies



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