After a slow start to proceedings our chough moved up a gear today with a further 5 nest sites being confirmed bringing the running total to 7 with at least another 2 pairs firmly on territory. This was no doubt helped by a second day of spring like weather. Yesterday's max temp was 14c - very warm for here in March (although it dropped to 4c overnight and felt like to too!)
By the end of today the wind had shifted round from ESE to ENE and the cooling change was noticeable. The forecast for the weekend is for a more persistent, stronger northerly flow, much more like it for the time of year! No rain again today though and none forecast for at least the next week. Plenty of moisture in the water table after winter but let's hope we don't go from boom to bust in this respect. Cold, dry springs are not ideal for chough when it comes to soil invertebrate foraging.
Pair of chough on Ramsey feeding up for the rigours of the breeding season to come
The cliffs reverberated to the groaning of razorbills loafing around in small groups looking mighty fine in their fresh summer plumage. No guillemots today however so the razorbills had the cliffs to themselves without their quarrelsome neighbours
Razorbill on west coast
The 3rd red kite of the month sailed over late this afternoon, wheatear numbers crept into double figures and at least 2 chiffchaffs were logged. Willow warbler and swallow should be next, plus those long overdue sand martins that must be skirting by us as everyone else records them!
Looking out to the southern islets of Ramsey this morning. Unusually calm seas and warm temperatures for March but cooler northerlies are on the way