April 2005

Saturday 30th

An interesting day with 5 Wheatears and single Redstart, Stonechat and Tree Pipit. It was the call on the radio that a treecreeper had been found at McSwiggans that got us all running - the bird refused to call and despite showing a strong supercilium, analysis of the wing structure show a SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER:

Email KOSNet 4 May refers.

          

 

Friday 29th

An good range of migrants with 1 Hobby, 50+ Swifts, 50+ House Martins, 50+ Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 13 Wheatears with single Whinchat, Ring Ouzel and Turtle Doves. A Common Buzzard came in.

Tuesday 26th

Just 1 Great Skua and 4 Red-throated Divers on the sea, with 1 Redwing and 3 Wheatears in the area.

Monday 25th

A definite arrival today, with the drizzle, of 11 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 13 Swifts, 3 Ring Ouzels, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Redwing, 11 House Martin, 1 Black Redstart, 9 Swallows and a single Willow Warbler. Wheatear by Tony Morris:

 

Sunday 24th

Harder work today with 11 Swallows, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Wheatears, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, single House Martin, Cuckoo, Swift, Yellow Wag and White Wag with 8 Common Terns and a single Great Skua on the sea. The Ring Ouzel was still present - this excellent shot is by Gerald Segelbacher:

The first Early Spider Orchid was also in flower:

Saturday 23rd

More birds in the area today with 9 Swallows, 10 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps and single House Martin, Swift, Yellow Wagtail, Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart, Crossbill, Siskin and Reed Bunting, although 2 Hawfinches were birds of the day. Despite poor visibility, the sea also produced the following moving upchannel: 71 Gannets, 63 Common Scoters, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 11 Greylag Geese, 21 Whimbrel, 450 Kittiwakes, 102 Common and 88 Sandwich Terns, 1 Great and 2 Arctic Skuas with single Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin.

Thursday 21st

A male Ring Ouzel in the Paddock was the only bird of note today.

Sunday 17th

Not so good today, with 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 31 Swallows, 4 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin,  4 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs and 2 Blackcaps with 33 Carrion Crows upchannel and 208 Linnets north. Two species of Bee-fly were found in the garden this afternoon: Dark-edged and Dotted.

Saturday 16th

The best day of the month with 2 Marsh Harriers north, 7 House Martins, 27 Swallows, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Sand Martin, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Harbour Porpoise.

Friday 15th

Despite the constant rain, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Wheatears, 3 Swallows and a Cuckoo were seen today.

Wednesday 13th

4 Wheatears in the Freedown this evening.

Monday 11th

Better today with 12 Swallows, one Chiffchaff and the first Yellow Wagtail of the year.

Sunday 10th

Just 4 Swallows, a single Blackcap and Chiffchaff and another Coal Tit today.

Saturday 9th

Sunny, but cold conditions produced a small movement of finches with 52 Chaffinches, 19 Greenfinches, 1 Brambling, 1 Siskin, 2 Bullfinches, 3 Coal Tits and a single Black Redstart. A Common Lizard was found basking in the weak sun.


Thursday 7th

A slight improvement with 8 Swallows and 42 Sandwich Terns south.

Tuesday 5th

Just 2 Swallows.

Sunday 3rd

4 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Black Redstart and 92 Linnets south were the only birds of note. 4 Brimstones were also seen. Non avian highlight was this Dotted Bee-fly.


Saturday 2nd

1 Swallow, 3 Black Redstarts, 1 Brambling and 50 Chaffinches north.


Friday 1st
The only birds seen were: 1 Swallow, 21 Carrion Crows, 1 alba Wagtail, although a fine Yellow-fronted Canary did its best to brighten up the day.