6th and 7th April
Fairly calm and bright
first thing on the 6th but the wind soon began increasing, bringing
more cloud and eventually heavy rain by mid-afternoon; with the wind largely in
the SE we were hopeful of a few new arrivals but it remained quiet on the land
as totals included single Merlin and Sparrowhawk, a Woodpigeon, a Collared
Dove, 98 Skylarks, a Dunnock, 51 Robins, a Black Redstart, a Wheatear, 2 Mistle
Thrushes, a Goldcrest, 6 Chaffinches, a Brambling and 2 Snow Buntings.
There were some slight wildfowl increases with 17
Gadwall, 14 Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 41 Tufted Duck and a single lingering
Goldeneye. 43 Sanderling were new in,
although they probably just hopped across from Sanday while 57 Curlew included
several small flocks heading high off to the N. Other little bits included 151 Purple
Sandpipers, a Ruff, the Kumlien’s Gull and 4 Sandwich Terns off
the seawatch hide where there were also a handful of Puffins passing by with
other Auks.
A lovely day on the 7th with plenty of
warmish sunshine and very light winds; a few new arrivals were noted including
our overdue first Short-eared Owl of the year, single Merlin
and Sparrowhawk again, a Woodcock, a Woodpigeon, an influx of 162 Meadow
Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 45 Pied Wagtails, 49 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, a Black
Redstart, a Stonechat, 3 new Wheatears, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Chiffchaffs, a
Jackdaw, 4 Chaffinches, 3 Siskins, 36 Linnets and a Carrion Crow.
Elsewhere 10 Great-northern and 5 Red-throated Divers
were offshore, the 3 Barnacle Geese remained, 300 Golden Plover represented a
notable influx along with 58 Sanderling, 47 Dunlin and 4 Ruff and 3 Sandwich
Terns and the Kumlien’s Gull were noted again.
Late news came in the
evening, with a dark phase Arctic Skua which flew along the south
end of the island – the first of the year.
Coot fight!
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