First visible migration watch of the spring today

With the wind forecast to be in the southeast, I was up and out by dawn ready for the first vis-mig count of the season. Nothing earth-shattering, but a nice start, with good variety typical on these winds. An adult Med Gull on the green by lighthouse was a bonus. Few birds seen during rest of day,  with a Peregrine in the harbour and a Woodcock in the forestry being the highlights. A Common Quaker, a Mottled Grey and a March Moth caught by Sophie in the NOA trap, 2 toads and my first frogspawn of the year were the non-avian delights. Here's the vis-mig count with a link through to Trektellen.nl, the visible migration website, which, for those not familiar with it, has a mass of data from visible migration watchpoints all over Europe.

Hunstanton Cliffs (Norfolk, England) Saturday 8 March 2014

Counting period: 6:12-8:12 Weather: wind SSE3, cloud-cover 7/8 Observers: Andy Brown

S N S N S N Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 - alba wagtail sp. 33 - Chaffinch 3 - Woodpigeon 654 - Jackdaw 6 - Greenfinch 11 - Collared Dove 3 - Rook 6 - Goldfinch 57 - Skylark 5 - Carrion Crow 1 - Siskin 82 - Meadow Pipit 104 - Starling 3 - Linnet 72 - Rock Pipit 3 - Tree Sparrow 13 - redpoll sp. 1 - Totals: 1059 individuals, 18 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)

Comments: First watch of the spring and a nice start. An adult Med Gull was by the lighthouse with c200 Black-headed Gulls ad 5 Common Gulls Common Toad, Holme NWT, 8th March 2014 Egg sacs of the Polychaete worm Scoloplos armiger beach pool, Hunstanton, 8th March 2014 Queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris, Hunstanton 8th March 2014