Wednesday 24 March 2010

Winter 'Terns' to Spring

The team in action preparing boardwalks
Wednesday 24th March comments:
The wind may have been blowing but it was another day for the team to prepare the islands for the visitors (we open on 1st April!!). The breeding birds remain erratic as Puffins have completely gone (as forecast in the previous blog write up) but the Guillemots have arrived in numbers. It was another interesting day for migrants, as the first Sandwich Terns arrived in the roost, having winged their way all the way from West Africa. Other long distant summer migrants arriving on the islands for the first time this year included Wheatears and a Chiffchaff. Despite their presence, the low chill factor (it was cold today) reminded everyone its not quite summer yet!

Highlights: Common Scoter ca 100, Shelduck 5N also pair on island, Sparrowhawk female, Peregrine, Snipe, Sandwich Tern 4 (first of the year), Wheatear 3 males (first of the year), Chiffchaff (first of the year), Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Reed Bunting 2

Breeding Birds: Plenty of Guillemots but Puffins have gone!

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