News From The Rock #9 - March Round Up

Well March has flown by and it is safe to say it was unlike any other month I've ever known out here. In a bid to keep a semblance of normality in this strange world we find ourselves in here is a good old fashioned recap of the month's bird sightings:

At close of play on 31/3 our year list stands at 55 - not ground breaking but not bad! The highlights being marsh harrier, coal tit and black redstart with notable mentions for red kite, bullfinch, fieldfare, rook and hooded crow. Not all 'A listers' to many of you but in island terms some of those are right up there in scarcity value!

March traditionally sees the first arrival of migrants with first dates this year being:

Chiffchaff - 16/3

Wheatear - 20/3

Goldcrest - 20/3

Blackcap - 22/3

Still waiting on sand martin (usually a dead cert for March) and swallow and willow warbler (both any day now)

Other highlights saw chough start nest building and reaching an impressive 9 pairs by the end of the month, ravens incubating, peregrines setting up territory (at least 2 pairs so far) and on the mammal front, grey seals continued to haul out on their traditional beaches to conclude their annual moult peaking at 135 mid month

So what can we look forward to in April? - hopefully some settled weather and light south to south east winds which will help funnel migrants our way. We'll be hoping for regulars such as spotted flycatcher, sedge warbler and house martin and by the end of the month whitethroats should put in an appearance. Scarcer out here but logged in most springs are ring ouzel, whinchat and common redstart. And taking it up a notch April has in the past seen hoopoe and subalpine warbler on more than one occasion.

We'll continue to keep you up to date with island news and sightings throughout April and please do keep in touch as we really appreciate the support people are showing both for Ramsey and the RSPB as a whole. And if you are on Twitter or Instagram don't forget to tune in to #BreakfastBirdwatch every weekday between 8-9am

Diolch yn fawr

View along the east coast at dawn from Foel Fawr