Saturday 28th April
I undertook a trial run for next Saturday's all-dayer; by the time I left at 2:50pm (having started at 5:50am) some 77 species had been recorded. Many thanks to Wheatearlrp, Woodchat, Spoonbill Finder, Dave Jackson and Martin Smith for their sightings in addition to what I recorded.
MOORS POOL
2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Shoveler (m), 2 Teal (ff), 1 Gadwall (m), 28 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Cormorant, 3 Common Tern, 2 Little Grebe, 4 GC Grebe, Whitethroat near East Hide, 2 Willow Warblers on east side. female White Wagtail in Amy's Marsh, Hobby, Peregrine, 3 (possibly 4) Yellow Wagtails in Amys Marsh - a pair followed by a brighter male and then a male that might have been a new bird or the male from the pair, first winter Med Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 2 LBB Gull, Kingfisher, Jay, Kestrel, 100+ Swallows, several small parties of Swift, family party of Moorhen on North Moors.
FLASHES
Sadly no sign of yesterday's Short-eared Owl. 9 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 LRP, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Lapwing, Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Gadwall, Common Gull, 7 Coot, 1 Herring Gull, 4 LBB Gull, 3 Rook in transmitter field. Med Gull relocated to the Flashes early afternoon.
SAILING POOL
50+ Swallows, Grey Wagtail, 6 GC Grebe, 2 Coot
EDUCATION RESERVE
Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler
Whilst not reaching yesterday's heights, 3 new species for the reserve this year (Garden W, Med Gull and Whitethroat) was a good return on a cold and blustery day. The reserve's year list now stands on 120; the month list is 106 (will be interesting to see if May will produce a larger number of species)
The next few days look really promising with strong E / NE winds tomorrow accompanied by rain followed by several further days of easterlies combined with some rain but also some marked increases to the temperature. There will hopefully be a lot of significant passage iminently.