Spring in full swing

With SW followed by E winds there has been some good overhead passage including Hooded Crow, Spoonbill and up to 7 Tree Pipits, as well as a good grounding of migrants in the recording area, including 2 Nightingales, Redstart, 2 Ring Ouzels, up to 50 Wheatears and up to 6 reeling Grasshopper Warblers, one of which was captured fantastically well by Lawrie Webb:

Spring ringing

With spring migration well underway a couple of photos from birds that have turned up in the nets - a typical male spring Reed Bunting (photo by Sophie Barker) and a highly unusual Marsh Tit (only the 8th observatory ringing record - photo by Jed Andrews).

Thornham LEO 1

long eared Owl Thornham 20 February

An amazingly obliging and visible Long Eared Owl that spent much of the day roosting on an exposed perch by a roadside hedge - much to the delight of both the assembled birders and the casual walkers passing by.

Roydon - more shots of the Turtle Dove

Roydon - unseasonal Turtle Dove

Away from Holme, this unseasonal Turtle Dove was present in a private garden in Roydon on 23rd and 24th January at least.

2010 - what a year!

An amazing year for the observatory - the following where the highlights in the recording area:

Hume's Warbler (2nd for Holme)

'apparent' Northern Harrier

Pallid Harrier (1st for Holme)

Arctic Warbler (4th for Holme)

Red-flanked Bluetail (1st for Holme)

Gull-billed Tern (2nd for Holme)

Alpine Swift

Snow Goose

Corncrake

Red-necked Phalarope

Grey Phalarope (3)

Icterine Warbler

Barred Warbler (4+)

Rough-legged Buzzard

Honey Buzzard

Red-backed Shrike (2)

Great Grey Shrike (2)

Wood Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler (3)

Siberian Chiffchaff

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Sabine's Gull (3)

Long-tailed Skua (2)

Wryneck (2)

Thanks to all who found birds and contributed records. Hopefully next year will be just as productive!