Cliffs 29th March

Tuesday 29 March 2016

Counting period: 06:30 - 08:30 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW2, cloud-cover 0/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills and Robert Smith S N S N S N Great Crested Grebe    1    -    Blue Tit    1    -    Greenfinch    9    -    Mediterranean Gull    2    -    Great Tit    8    -    Goldfinch    33    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    1    -    Magpie    3    -    Siskin    18    -    Woodpigeon    204    -    Rook    8    -    Linnet    38    -    Skylark    2    -    Carrion Crow    1    -    redpoll sp.    -    1    Meadow Pipit    206    -    Starling    1    -    Reed Bunting    3    -    Grey Wagtail    1    -    Tree Sparrow    29    17       alba wagtail sp.    10    -    Chaffinch    20    -       Totals: 617 individuals, 22 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: A blocking front along the south coast blocked lots off, however bright conditions effected observations as lots went overhead, but not counted.

Butterflies and bees

Friday 25th March was one of the few warm sunny days so far this Spring. As such I spent a bit of time in the garden and couldn't help noticing the large number of bees visiting the flowers on the winter-flowering heaths.  Most were Honey Bees but there were also two Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a Tree Bumblebee (which didn't stay long enough for a photo).  Two Small Tortoiseshell butterflies settled on the gravel briefly before flying off to pastures new.  A reminder that the UKBMS butterfly transects start again for this year on 1st April.

Gadwall

Gadwall, holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck, Holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Woodlarks

Woodlarks, Holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Little Grebe

Little Grebe, Holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Sunday on the Cliffs

Sunday 27 March 2016

Counting period: 06:35 - 08:35 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW3, cloud-cover 0/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mill and Robert Smith S N S N S N Dark-bellied Brent Goose    -    10    Fieldfare    8    -    Tree Sparrow    59    32    Lesser Black-backed Gull    2    -    Redwing    5    -    Chaffinch    19    -    Stock Dove    1    -    Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler    1    -    Greenfinch    6    -    Woodpigeon    295    -    Blue Tit    1    -    Goldfinch    30    -    Swallow    1    -    Great Tit    15    -    Siskin    66    -    Meadow Pipit    329    -    Jackdaw    1    -    Linnet    37    -    alba wagtail sp.    32    -    Rook    4    -    Reed Bunting    1    -    Blackbird    1    -    Starling    6    -       Totals: 962 individuals, 23 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)

Swallows, martins, warblers, 134 Tree Sparrows and much else over the cliffs

Saturday 26 March 2016

Counting period: 05:49 - 08:49 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW5, cloud-cover 8/8, High cloud but gradually thickening as am went on. Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills and Robert Smith S N S N S N Golden Plover    9    -    alba wagtail sp.    87    -    Tree Sparrow    134    -    Lapwing    4    -    Blackbird    5    -    Chaffinch    38    -    Curlew    7    -    Fieldfare    257    -    Brambling    2    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    6    -    Redwing    75    -    Greenfinch    26    -    Woodpigeon    36    -    Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler    3    -    Goldfinch    368    -    Skylark    5    -    Great Tit    7    -    Siskin    346    -    Sand Martin    16    -    Jackdaw    3    -    Linnet    119    -    Swallow    3    -    Rook    8    -    redpoll sp.    7    -    House Martin    1    -    Carrion Crow    1    -    Yellowhammer    1    -    Meadow Pipit    264    -    Starling    188    -    Reed Bunting    7    -    Totals: 2033 individuals, 30 species, 3:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: A really nice morning with good variety and decent nos of some species. The first three common hirundines on the same day is quite likely a first for us. The tree sparrow count was the third biggest, while the goldfinch total was decent for March. The phylloscpus warblers was also very unusual, flying through strongly with no hope of identifying them.

Coltsfoot and Toad

Common Toad, Ringstead Downs, 25th March 2016

Coltsfoot, Ringstead Downs, 25th March 2016

Hunstanton Moonrise

Hunstanton, 25th March, 2016