A very spring like day with winds originating from the south bringing warm air and clear skies from mid-day. There was a marked increase in thrushes with four Song Thrushes, seven Blackbirds and nine Redwings, there was an obvious arrival of Stonechats too with at least 16 recorded. Otherwise on the land a Snipe, a Chiffchaff, eight Goldcrests, a Firecrest, eight Chaffinches and four Linnets were recorded while the years first Rook and Greenfinch flew over.
Most of the days interest however was on the sea, with the two stand-out avian discoveries being a flock of 110 Eurasian White-fronted Geese at 11:18hrs and a Spoonbill at 12:00hrs, both flying east. Other birds passing offshore included 470 Brent Geese, two Shelducks, seven Shovelers, 24 Wigeons, an excellent 108 Pintails, six Tufted Ducks, 72 Dunlins and 4 Little Gulls being the best of the rest.
The years first butterfly has taken flight in the warm weather with a Small Tortoiseshell in the Trapping Area. Mammals recorded were four Porpoise and a Grey Seal.
Elsewhere, the regular two Whooper Swans were at Cockles Bridge.
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| Most of the flock of Eurasian White-fronted Geese flying east past the seawatching hide |