A few finches were in evidence in the spring-like conditions this afternoon, hence 43 Greenfinches, 25 Goldfinches, 17 Linnets, 15 Twite and 2 Chaffinches.   Also noted were 20 Mallard, 11 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes, 8 Redshanks, 130 Curlews, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 59 Cormorants, 15 Red-throated Divers, Peregrine, Kestrel, Common Buzzard, 2 Grey Partridges and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

An afternoon visit to Quad 3 produced 3 Red-throated Divers, 54 Cormorants, one Shag, 180 Common Scoters, one Wigeon, 4 Teal, 36 Mallard, 4 Tufted Ducks, 4 Shelducks, Grey Heron, Little Egret, 3 Little Grebes, 5 Coots, Common Snipe, 8 Redshanks, 67 Curlews, Kestrel, Merlin, 2 Grey Partridges, 15 Stock Doves, 500 Wood Pigeons, 3 Linnets and 20 Twite.

17th

  What a difference with the fog barely lifting until afternoon.   Not a great deal at Quad 3 hence 205 Pinkfeet, 23 Mallard, 6 Teal, 4 Tufted Ducks, 140 Curlews, 170 Dunlin, 130 Sanderlings, 9 Bar-tailed Godwits, 10 Cormorants and the first Collared Dove since the autumn.

It was a beautiful morning, but not many birds about at Quad 3.    The best were 2 Common Buzzards, Kestrel, Barn Owl, Common Snipe, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Common Scoters, 20 Mallard, 150 Brent Geese, 25 Curlews, 10 Coots, 2 Grey Partridges, 800 Wood Pigeons, 10 Twite, 2 Robins and 11 Reed Buntings.

Nipped down to Quad 3 as there was a decent break in the weather.   Fairly quiet with no birds in the bushes apart from 17 Reed Buntings and a Blackbird.   Otherwise a Barn Owl, 10 Coots, 2 Grey Partridges, 28 Mallard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, 200 Common Scoters, Eider, 60 Brent Geese, 21 Cormorants, 33 Sanderlings, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlews, 4 Redshanks, 6 Oystercatchers and 2 Red-throated Divers.

Water levels have not gone down very much yet and there are still some seals in the old cow pasture.   Parts are still inaccessible, some fencing is down and all the orchid and toad breeding areas are under saltwater.   At least the march of buckthorn will have been checked for some time.   Birds today were 700 Brent Geese, 70 Teal, 17 Mallard, 2 Goldeneyes, 3 Common Scoters, 4 Wigeon, 9 Cormorants, 5 Red-throated Divers, 55 Dunlin, 230 Sanderlings, 14 Oystercatchers, 30 Curlews, 6 Redshanks, 48 Golden Plovers, 45 Lapwings, Common Snipe, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, 3 Lapland Buntings, Song Thrush, 20 Goldfinches and a Little Egret.

5th

A seawatch following high tide this morning produced 9 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 22 Cormorants, a Little Auk, an auk sp., 45 Common Scoters and a Scaup.   Onshore were 140 Sanderlings, 3 Dunlin, 23 Oystercatchers, 104 Curlews, 86 Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Knot and 2 Grey Plovers.   On the landward side were 2 tundra Bean Geese, 5 Pink-footed Geese, 9 Teal, 25 Twite and 100 Lapwings