Sunday 8th April 2018

Desperately sad news today was that the Peregrine didn’t make it, it had a badly broken wing and had to be put down. It is only presumption and not confirmed but it looks as though it was the female of the pair on Castle Cliffs as today only the male could be located.

On a brighter note today started with a singing Blackcap at Wrench Green; a 1^st winter Mediterranean Gull was at Holbeck Car Park; a male Black Redstart, a male Common Redstart and 2 Swallows were reported from Taylor Way and later in the day a Jack Snipe. Nearby at Burton Riggs there was a female Pochard and Blackcaps were present both here and at Taylor Way.

On Potter Brompton Carr today a Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, female Pintail, 18 Shoveler, 12 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck, 7 Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers, a Redshank, a significant increase in Black-headed Gulls (400+) and 3 singing Willow Warblers, also later in the day there were 3 Swallows but no sign of the Godwit.

Going past Long Nab today there were 2 Pochard (N), 16 Red-throated Divers (S), 2 Whimbrel (N), 12 Curlew (3 S, 9 NE), 2 Golden Plovers (N), 2 Sandwich Terns (1 S, 1 N), 1480 Kittiwakes (S), 5 Swallows (4 S, 1 N), Sand Martin (S), 144 Linnets 68 Carrion Crows plus a Jack Snipe on the scrape and a Willow Warbler at Crook Ness.

Early afternoon a female Black Redstart was located in the fenced off compound to the south of the skatepark on Royal Albert Drive at 13.10 and was still present behind the Marine Drive wall at 14.15 when it had been joined by a female Wheatear. At The Mere Tufted Ducks had decreased to 17 and there was a single Coot, 8 singing Chiffchaffs, 4 singing Blackcaps and 2 Swallows. Finally today the first House Martin of the year was reported from Wrench Green where there was also a Swallow.

Black Redstart - behind Marine Drive - Chris Bell

Chiffchaff - Seamer Tip Pool - Chris Bell

Redstart - Taylor Way - Mick Francis