Not much to mention from me during this quiet period except an early Sand martin in over the cliffs at Fan bay on the 3rd. Today was the first day of light(ish) NW winds after a cold NE blast kick started my spring visits up the cliffs; out at dawn, eager not to miss migrant Chaffinches (of which I counted 440 y’day). They didn’t get started really till 7.40 with squadrons of between 15 and 60 at a time moving NE along the cliffs at varying heights (some very high) until about 09.30 when they seemed to tail off. I’m keen to better my high count of 3,470 (a pittance compared to other local high counts) having missed the movement due to work the past couple of years.
The occasional Siskin was heard, but only a flock of 16 were counted. During this time a Woodlark and 2 White Wagtails also moved along the same line NE.
3 more White wagtails were with the cattle at Fan bay, another Woodlark flushed off the deck near the Lighthouse and seemed to go down in one of the fields and a Red kite Flew N over the valley.
A desperate check of the usual Wheatear spots was fruitless and the completely unexpected highlight of the day came (as it sometimes does) as I walked home over Fox hill down – An adult male Goshawk, which circled up from the direction of the harbour and continued North up the line of the A2. The same circumstances in which I’ve seen Osprey, HB and Redfoot arriving, although it could have been following the coast perhaps.
Slightly stunned I took some distant photos as the bird circled, drawing the attention of local carrion crows before continuing on towards the military school, wreaking havoc among hundreds of corvids and gulls.
The last spring Goshawk along this stretch of coast was a 2cy bird at Bockhill almost 4 years exactly to the day – 13/03/21 . Curious to know today’s bird’s origins.
PERDIX BIRDER 