2026
March
22nd March
Two Shovelers and a Short-eared Owl were seen at North Pond.
21st March
A Barn Owl was present at the Farm. The ringtail Hen Harrier is still present and was seen quartering the fields east of the Farm in the morning. Good numbers of Razorbills, Guillemots and Puffins seen in North Haven.
20th March
A male Gadwall was seen at Moorey Mere. The first Puffin was seen on land.
19th March
The day began with the year's first Firecrest at North Pond, followed in quick succession by the first House Sparrow of the year at the Farm. There was a marked increase in Wheatear numbers with 20 birds seen - the vast majority are males, but a handful of females are beginning to arrive. An out of season Grey Seal pup at Driftwood Bay was something of a surprise, as was a spring sighting of two Long-tailed Tits at North Valley Willows. It was the first day when we saw Puffins in good numbers, with 4450 birds recorded in a partial island count.
18th March
On a glorious March day, the first Blackcap and the first Swallow of the year were both seen at the Farm. Here also a Robin began its day by chasing two Black Redstarts. We heard a Grey Heron call as it flew over the fields west of the Farm, as well as the rather more tuneful sound of the first Skylark singing in the same fields. At North Haven and at the Farm we saw a female Chaffinch. As we emptied the compost toilets into the yard bins we saw flocks of nine Ravens, seven Pied Wagtails, and eleven Cormorants. The final highlight of the day was the sight of four Sand Martins.
17th March
A Marsh Harrier was seen at North Pond, to the annoyance of all of the resident gulls. Chiffchaffs were heard at North Valley Crossing and North Valley Willows. A female-type Black Redstart joined us in the yard in the morning.
14th March
Nine Sand Martins were seen flitting over North Pond.
11th March
Two Goldcrests were seen at North Valley Willows. 119 Oystercatchers were seen roosting at South Stream.
9th March
Two Shelduck were seen flying through South Stream valley. Kittiwakes were back on the cliffs at the Wick, though absent elsewhere.
8th March
The first Manx Shearwaters of the season were seen and heard, with a handful crashing down through the dense fog to the Farm courtyard.
7th March
A Goldcrest was seen and heard singing at the Farm. The first Blackbirds were heard singing. A Water Rail was heard at North Valley Crossing.
6th March
A Barn Owl was seen near the old chicken sheds at the Farm.
5th March
A very smart male Wheatear was seen in the fields east of the Farm. Frogspawn was seen in one of the streams running from Moorey Mere, which is holding an impressive amount of water this spring. A Common Snipe was seen near Garland Stone.
4th March
A single Chiffchaff was seen in the willows by North Pond. Three Peregrine were seen scrapping at North Haven.
3rd March
Over 500 Razorbills in North Haven, along with 14 Guillemots and one solitary Puffin. Curlew heard singing in the fields west of the Farm.
2nd March
A Reed Bunting was seen at Moorey Mere and a Sparrowhawk at the Farm. Ravens are on nests and Chough back in breeding territories.
February
28th February
Ringtail Hen Harrier seen over North Pond. Red Kite seen at the Farm. Siskin heard over North Haven.
19th February
Great Northern Diver seen in North Haven.