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.
