Skaw: Sparrowhawk, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear & Carrion Crow.
Norwick: Wheatear, Robin, Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin, 6 Brambling & Chaffinch.
Haroldswick: 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Wheatear, Redwing, Brambling.
I completed two Common Bird Census squares and on a visit to the shop we took a look at the Great Grey Shrike that Mike found yesterday.
Skaw: Robin.
Norwick: 2 Great Northern Diver, Sparrowhawk, 2 Pied Wagtail, Robin, Goldcrest, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 8 Redwing & 3 Siskin.
Very slow going in the never-ending northerlies...
I completed my third and final 'first count' Black Guillemot transect again recording a healthy population of Black Guillemots but single Pied Wagtail, Wheatear and Redwing were the only migrant passerines seen. I then took a quick look around Norwick.
Just finishing surveying for the day coincided with a marked improvement in the weather, so in the now warm sunshine, I decided to make a visit to Clingera as the willows along the entrance track had the first 'green haze' of Spring and plenty of pollen spikes. It proved a good move, as right at the start of the entrance track, a Coues's Arctic Redpoll jumped off the ground and onto a fencepost before flying off towards Ordale - my first rarity find of the year!
Baltasound: 2cy Glaucous Gull & Coues's Arctic Redpoll
Given the calmer conditions I completed my second Black Guillemot transect of the season that again produced a good count compared to the same time last year. I then took a look around Norwick.
Norwick: Grey Heron, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Wood Pigeon, 2 Swallow, Robin, Dunnock, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Redwing, Siskin, Brambling & 8 Chaffinch.
Millfield: Great Northern Diver, 3 Long-tailed Duck, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch & Tree Sparrow.
Millfield: Swallow, Dunnock, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling & Goldfinch.
With the first calm conditions from dawn and a forecast of four hours of daylight before the onset of rain, I decided to complete my first Black Guillemot survey of the season necessitating at 5.00am start. Whilst walking the cliffs north of Skaw 2 Jackdaws flew ashore and headed straight inland. Nearer to the Holm of Skaw I encountered a pod of c.8 Risso's Dolphins that seemed very content milling around close inshore. Whilst watching them my first Bonxie of the year flew west. I then checked Norwick seeing my first Swallow and Yellowhammer of the year. The promised rain arrived but on checking the Haroldswick pool rosa regosa on our way home from the shop it was playing host to my first Willow Warbler of the year.
Skaw: Great Skua, Pied Wagtail, Robin, 5 Icelandic Redwing, 2 Jackdaw & Chaffinch.
Norwick: Grey Heron, 2cy Glaucous Gull, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Icelandic Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 8 Siskin, 5 Chaffinch, Brambling & Yellowhammer
Haroldswick: Willow Warbler.
Despite the ongoing wintry weather the Heogs produced my first Wheatear of the year - a smart male - and a Carrion Crow.
Skaw: Great Northern Diver, 2 Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 6 Robin & Chaffinch.
Norwick: 2 Great Northern Diver, Eider, 2 Long-tailed Duck, Great Tit, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 20 Blackbird, 5 Robin, Black Redstart, 2 Pied/White Wagtail overflew, 20 Chaffinch, Brambling & 2 Hawfinch.
Norwick: Long-eared Owl, Great Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 5 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 10 Chaffinch, Brambling, female Northern Bullfinch & Siskin.
After another snowy week it was good to see the first signs of a thaw, and even better, what feels like the first sign of Spring in the form of an Oystercatcher in the snow-free cliff-edge fields in front of our house!
