The arrival of a noticeably milder onshore breeze saw spring sea passage kick off quite impressively with 29 Black-headed Gulls, 27 Mediterranean Gulls, 25 Common Scoter, 12 Teal, 9 Pintail, 8 Brent Geese, 7 Curlew, 5 Shelducks, 3 Red-throated Divers and singles of Black-throated Diver, Whimbrel and Great Skua constituting a decent return off Chesil; the Bill fared very poorly, with just 2 Red-throated Divers and a Brent Goose of note. Passerine migrants didn't respond at all, with just 2 grounded Chiffchaffs at the Bill. The day's only other reports of interest concerned one of the wintering Blackcaps still at Southwell and a Short-eared Owl over Weston.
The Southwell Barn Owl's now into its 14th week residing in its box - there have been others in the area but none seem to have struck up a promising friendship with this individual! © Nick Stantiford:
