30th March

Another bright clear day saw the seeming departure of the Hoopoe at Reap Lane. However, it wasn't all doom and gloom with a far better hirundine passage seeing the first House Martins of the spring. Sand Martins were moving at a rate of over 1 per minute whereas Swallows were slower at just 1 per 10 mins. The second Yellow Wagtail of the year was also located at the Southwell barns as well as a Merlin. A pair of Ring Ouzels graced the top fields accompanied by the lazy Fieldfare. Chiffchaffs were moving again in slightly greater numbers joined by a slack handful of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps.  The sea saw 56 Common Scoters, 8 Red-throated Divers, 6 Black-headed Gulls and the highlight came from a Pintail in amongst the scoters.