5th March

A sharp decline in quality and quantity today with no more than a handful of cold weather lingerers and precious little by way of newcomers - the weather also didn't help with a deluge through the afternoon curtailing proceedings early. Thirteen Lapwings, 5 Golden Plovers and a lone Fieldfare at the Bill and 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plovers and a Lapwing at Ferrybridge were about all that remained by way of a legacy of the cold, with 5 Stonechats and a small increase in Meadow Pipits at the Bill the only likely new migrants. Twelve Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill and winterers still on the list included 6 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill and 2 Great Northern Divers and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Ferrybridge.