Our first Wheatear arrivals touched down on 7th, preceded by a stunning re-sighting of one our colour-marked wheatears at Nouadhibou, Mauritania on 2nd - that's some 4,500 km away! The earliest ever Lundy Sedge Warbler was also logged on 28th, smashing the previous record (7 Apr) set in 1940.
There was limited island coverage until the 10th due to time off island around the Bird Obs Council AGM and RSPB-led Biosecurity training. Teal numbers have dwindled as the month progressed, dropping down to one pair by 25th. A single Stock Dove on 21st became the first record of the year, along with two Collared Dove logged individuals between 11-16th in Millcombe. Water Rail recorded daily in Millcombe through the month, never exceeding two individuals. Another quiet month for wader movements, with the only two Golden Plover logged during a nocturnal survey around the Airfield. Auks are being recorded in the low thousands more consistently along the west coast, and the first (47) Puffin were logged 11th among accompanying the 1,230 Guillemot and 1,715 Razorbill across the S and W coast from Benjamin's Chair to Janny's Cove. Light Great Northern Diver passage detected through the month saw singles off the SE coast, supplemented by a Red-throated Diver on 6th. First returning breeding Manx Shearwaters were detected on 9th March, calling over the village. Cormorant logged on 4 days between 17-30th
A brief female Sparrowhawk sighting on the evening of 26th over Millcombe was never encountered again. Hints of corvid passage came in the form of two Rook, one on 12th and a second bird overnighting 28-29th, coinciding with peak Carrion Crow counts of 47 and 38 respectively. Blackcap started trickling through from 20th while a scattering a single figure Chiffchaff counts were observed through the month, the first double-digit 'chiff' total arrived on 25th, just before the first (2) Willow Warbler were logged on 26th, opening the way for a mini-fall of 29 individuals the following day. Firecrest were ever-present in singles, with a short-lasting influx of four detected on 25th, coinciding with a modest arrival of Goldcrest, reaching 10 on 28th. Black Redstart were recorded across Benjamin's Chair, South West Point sidelands, North End, Landing Bay and the Village. The first White Wagtail on 11th and a male Bullfinch graced Millcombe between 16-18th. Linnet and Goldfinch began being recorded on a daily basis from 12th, with the only Siskin appearance on 13th and a female Reed Bunting at Quarter Wall on 28th.
Ringed as 2nd calendar-year male at Pilots Quay 1 Jun 2024, this male Wheatear was photographed at Nouadhibou, Mauritania, on 2 Mar 2025!