The seasons are starting to change and this week was particular noticeable and not just with the improvement in the weather with warm sun developing through the week but a change in the birds in the harbour. The week began with the continued presence of the pair of Whooper Swans on the North Wall as they through their weight around with the local Mute Swans. These are very typical winter birds to the south, as is the Glaucous Gull and the Iceland Gull which both put in appearances during the week. There were still large numbers of waders around with increasing numbers of Brent at the being of the week but these soon saw their opportunity to have a quiet flight northwards as the winds dropped, soon many of these birds had left with only about 30 Brent left by the end of the week and the only notice waders in large numbers were the Curlew.
With the winter birds gone things became much quieter out on the mudflats however the migration in to the harbour from the birds that spent the winter in Africa had started to drip in. A furry of Spoonbills was reported through the week, joined by the odd Wheatear, Black Redstart and Sand Martin. Over the next few weeks this trickle will turn in to a flood as birds return to breed. Ferry Field has been filled with the sound of Lapwing and a few Avocet have taken up residence
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon