16th March

Far less on the move today, with visible passage in particular reduced to little more than a trickle of incoming Meadow Pipits and alba wagtails. It certainly wasn't leaping on the ground either, with the prevailing chilly easterly pegging back migrant arrivals: singles of Black-tailed Godwit and Scandinavian Rock Pipit were new for the year at Ferrybridge, whilst the first migrant Blackcap showed up at the Bill; further newcomers at the Bill included 5 Redwings, a Wheatear and a Firecrest, with an additional Firecrest, at least 2 Long-tailed Tits, a Water Rail, a Short-eared Owl and a Black Redstart all still lingering on there. Two Tufted Ducks through off the Bill were another first for the year, with 12 Common Scoter and 5 Red-throated Divers off the Bill and 40 Black-headed Gulls, a Red-throated Diver and 2 settled Slavonian Grebes off Chesil providing further sea interest.