18th-19th April
The weather has continued to be good to us over the past two days offering up some sort of sunshine and Southerly based winds, unsurprisingly this has kept the year list ticking over quite nicely and always keeps you on high alert for something really good to be lurking around the next corner.
A drake Garganey flushed from Hooking in the afternoon on the 18th was one of those expected but welcome addition to year list and one that we hope attempts to breed again. The 3 White-fronted Geese are also still around but seem to missing at times. Sparrowhawks were present on both days as was a Kestrel in the Southern half of the island. The Ruff that spent the winter on Ancum has clearly decided it quite likes it there and is being seen again almost daily as is the Green-winged Teal on Gretchen despite a foray off to Brides in the earlier parts of the month. It also seems that the Arctic Skuas are back in some degree with 2 birds seen on the 19th, although these could easily be birds just pit-stopping on their way further North. Sandwich Terns are showing early signs of courting behaviours, a bird was seen displaying and carrying fish to another around Gretchen on the 19th. The Stock Dove was also present in the fields East of Holland House on the 18th while the Woodpigeon it had for company appears to have found another of its own kind further up the island. The Dunnock remained around the Farmhouse and the introduction of seed to the bird table there has pulled in 2 Siskin, a Brambling and a much coveted Goldfinch, the latter of which is a welcome year tick. Wheatear numbers rose to 105 on the 19th while the stars of the show were Ring Ouzels on both days, both males one near Gretchen and the other at Snettan. The final yearlist addition was a Lesser Redpoll seen near South Gravity on the 19th. Other birds present have been 2 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest and 2 Rook. The week ahead also looks promising so it makes plugging away for birds a much easier task!
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