I took a look at Norwick mires at dawn that proved enjoyable watching the spectacle of plenty of displaying waders but I failed to see the Night Heron. I then walked to Skaw where my first Marsh Harrier of the year proved the highlight and also the first female Wheatear that I've seen. On returning to Norwick we then saw the Night Heron fly across the mires and then on towards North Dale. On returning home Brenda saw a Blackcap and there was a male Hawfinch and 2 Tree Sparrows attending our feeders.
Skaw: Merlin, 9 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Robin & Wheatear
When I spoke to JFC yesterday evening he told me there was an influx of Night Herons in the country. Fast forward to this morning and a walk to Skaw produced only a Wheatear of note and that may have been one of the two seen a few days ago. However, as I walked around Norwick, I was just negotiating a barbed wire fence when an adult Night Heron flew from the burn alongside - superb - the first that I've found in the UK! It circled me a couple of times, called and then flew out over the mires and landed alongside the main burn. Norwick also produced my first Collared Dove and Sand Martin of the year.
Skaw: Wheatear, Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing & 5 Fieldfare.
Norwick: Night Heron, 2 Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Song Thrush, 11 Redwing, 5 Chaffinch & 2 Brambling.
The obvious highlight today was provided by seeing my first two male Wheatears of the year.
Norwick: Sparrowhawk, first-cycle Glaucous Gull, 2 Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, 4 Robin, 15 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Chaffinch.
Skaw: Woodpigeon, 3 Robin, 18 Redwing & 3 Chiffchaff.
Norwick: Woodcock, 4 Woodpigeon, 6 Robin, 15 Blackbird, Song Thrush, 3 Redwing 3 Chiffchaff.& 3 Chaffinch.
A very early start whereupon a walk around Norwick produced a male Pied Wagtail and a couple of Song Thrush as the only newly-arrived migrants that I could find and there had been something of a clear-out of the migrants seen yesterday. I decided to walk to Skaw where my first Black Redstart of the year proved my reward.
Norwick: first-cycle Glaucous Gull, 5 Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, 17 Robin, 15 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest & 13 Chaffinch.
Skaw: 2 Woodcock, 3 Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Black Redstart, 12 Robin, 10 Blackbird, 12 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush & 5 Chiffchaff.
North Dale: Robin, 20 Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, 14 Redwing & Chiffchaff.
