Sandwich Terns, Red-throated and Black-throated Diver passing the Bill this morning © Pete Saunders
4th April
With the peak of the turbulent weather not arriving until well into the evening, today passed by in a similar fashion to yesterday, with a busy if not particularly varied passage of seabirds encountered throughout the day. Common Scoters were once again on the up, with 278 logged past the Bill, with 17 Red-throated Divers and singles of Canada Goose, Black-throated Diver, Arctic Skua, Puffin and Sooty Shearwater also through. Six Arctic Terns reported from the Bill Tip marked the first records of the year, whilst the 1000s of auks streaming west likely included a significant proportion of non-local birds. Further scrutiny of the land uncovered a bit more variety with 2 Reed Buntings, 2 White Wagtails, a Firecrest and the first Common Whitethroat of the spring in addition to the steady trickle of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps encountered through the Obs garden. Over the course of the day's seawatch, several groups of Meadow Pipits could be seen arriving in-off the sea totalling up to 100, whilst Swallows and Sand Martins once again just about made double figures.
