15th April

A pretty low-key day with no more than a small flurry of new arrivals. Hirundines were pulsing through in fair numbers throughout the day but grounded totals from the Bill area didn't get beyond 40 Willow Warblers, 25 Wheatears, 10 each of Chiffchaff and Blackcap, 7 Whimbrel and 3 Grasshopper Warblers; the Red-legged Partridge was also still about there, whilst a Pied Flycatcher dropped in at Southwell and 2 Whimbrel and the first settled Sanderling of the spring were at Ferrybridge. With little else to entertain the sea got plenty of looks but was also quiet, with Bill totals of just 9 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Divers, 3 Sandwich Terns and 2 Great Skuas.

Whimbrel at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders:


We mentioned a few weeks ago the presence of Canada Geese out on the Portland Harbour breakwaters and Nick Stantiford has kindly sent us through an update on happenings there; Nick reports that both the pairs of geese have now settled down to breed © Nick Stantiford:



...and it looks like there'll be at least one pair of Shelducks making an attempt © Nick Stantiford: