Late March - early April

By 29^th March another typically early migrant made landfall at Long Nab and was added to the growing year list, a Wheatear in fields just north of the hut, soon followed by a further two just a little further north at Hundale Point.
At least nine Shorelark remained also.
Another year tick came in the form of some real #patchgold – a Red-legged Partridge on the entrance road just near Clifftop House.
Other than that things remained rather quiet, as they did the next day, the only real difference being two White Wagtail by the Cover Crop.

April began well up at Long Nab with that real feel of spring about it. Starting out early the first two hours proved interesting with a push of passerines south along the cliffs before the wind dropped a little and all but killed the action, still the mornings highlights came out at 53 Meadow Pipit, 1 Greenfinch, 115 Linnet, 22 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin south.
The sea was, as expected, quiet although 11 Whooper Swan north early doors were a nice surprise.
A good walk around didn’t result in much, at least 13 Brambling were still in the ringing site, a ‘few’ Shorelark were scattered around the fields and Chiffchaff numbers had increased slightly.

Deciding to leave Long Nab and head south a final check of the inland ridge revealed a Red Kite heading north.
Cromer Point pond held a drake Garganey – one of the Johnson’s Marsh birds out on a wander, while close by a Bar-tailed Godwit was with a few Curlew and a Swallow passed south in the company of a Sand Martin.

Further south still at least 15 – 20 Sand Martin were now in the Scalby Nab – Jackson’s Bay area and two Sandwich Tern were feeding of Scalby Nab

Wheatear, Meadow Pipit and Chaffinch at Hundale Point.

Chaffinch at Scalby Mills