Wednesday 16th April 2016

Hunstanton Cliffs

Counting period: 06:30 - 08:00 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind WSW2, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Gary Elton S N S N S N Common Gull    2    -    Sand Martin    14    -    Meadow Pipit    773    -    Herring Gull    16    -    Swallow    21    -    Chaffinch    3    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    2    -    House Martin    10    -    Brambling    1    -    Woodpigeon    11    -    Starling    14    -    Linnet    308    -    Collared Dove    1    -    Fieldfare    2    -    redpoll sp.    1    -    Rook    4    -    flava wagtail sp.    1    -    Goldfinch    56    -    Carrion Crow    5    -    alba wagtail sp.    14    -    Siskin    64    -    Totals: 1323 individuals, 21 species, 1:30 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Please note the list above list follows the new species order.

Tuesday 5th April 2016

Hunstanton Cliffs

Counting period: 06:35 - 08:35 Weather: wind SW3, cloud-cover 2/8, temperature 7 ℃ Observers: Robert Smith, Frank Branch, Robert and Andy Brown S N S N S N Woodpigeon    111    -    Swallow    12    -    Linnet    217    -    Collared Dove    3    -    Starling    2    -    redpoll sp.    4    -    Jay    1    -    flava wagtail sp.    4    -    Goldfinch    109    -    Jackdaw    4    -    alba wagtail sp.    6    -    Siskin    49    -    Rook    9    -    Meadow Pipit    148    -    Yellowhammer    1    -    Blue Tit    1    -    Chaffinch    1    -    Reed Bunting    2    -    Sand Martin    9    -    Greenfinch    1    -       Totals: 694 individuals, 20 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: 2 Sandwich Tern were feeding offshore

Monday 4th April 2016

Hunstanton Cliffs

Counting period: 06:30 - 08:30 Weather: wind South2, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Elton, Gary Hibberd, Robert Smith S N S N S N Woodpigeon    21    -    Wheatear    1    -    Greenfinch    2    -    Sand Martin    14    -    Goldcrest    1    -    Goldfinch    27    -    Swallow    23    -    Jackdaw    8    -    Siskin    73    -    House Martin    2    -    Rook    2    -    Linnet    70    -    Meadow Pipit    973    -    Carrion Crow    2    -    redpoll sp.    8    -    Grey Wagtail    1    -    Starling    15    -       alba wagtail sp.    11    -    Chaffinch    2    -       Totals: 1256 individuals, 19 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: Wind dropped before end of count as did numbers

The best meadow pipit day of spring. Black redstart at lighthouse.

Sunday 3rd April 2016

Hunstanton Cliffs

Counting period: 06:30 - 09:00 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW2, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Elton, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills, Robert Smith S N S N S N Little Ringed Plover    1    -    flava wagtail sp.    2    -    Tree Sparrow    4    -    Golden Plover    1    -    Grey Wagtail    2    -    Chaffinch    4    -    Mediterranean Gull    2    -    alba wagtail sp.    29    -    Greenfinch    5    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    2    -    Redwing    1    -    Goldfinch    52    -    Woodpigeon    11    -    Magpie    2    -    Siskin    143    -    Collared Dove    1    -    Jackdaw    4    -    Linnet    40    -    Skylark    1    -    Rook    4    -    redpoll sp.    7    -    Meadow Pipit    763    -    Starling    21    -       Totals: 1102 individuals, 23 species, 2:30 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)    A meadow pipit day only, thick cloud and poor visibility at start of count, gradually improved but still thick cloud at end, wind was cold. The little ringed plover and yellow wagtails were new for the year.

Saturday 2nd April 2016

Hunstanton Cliffs

Counting period: 06:30 - 09:00 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SSE3, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Elton, Gary Hibberd and Robert Smith S N S N S N Marsh Harrier    1    -    alba wagtail sp.    18    -    Goldfinch    29    -    Curlew    9    -    Fieldfare    5    -    Siskin    476    -    Woodpigeon    127    -    Rook    2    -    Linnet    73    -    Collared Dove    5    -    Starling    4    -    redpoll sp.    3    -    Sand Martin    21    -    Chaffinch    6    -    Reed Bunting    5    -    Swallow    17    -    Brambling    2    -       Meadow Pipit    540    -    Greenfinch    2    -         The first good day for meadow pipits. The marsh harrier was green tagged but could not be read.

Friday 1st April 2016

Hunstanton Cliffs

Counting period: 06:25 - 08:25 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SE3, cloud-cover 3/8, temperature 4 ℃ Observers: Robert SJ Smith and Andy Brown S N S N S N Woodpigeon    57    -    Black Redstart    1    -    Chaffinch    4    -    Collared Dove    1    -    Blue Tit    1    -    Greenfinch    2    -    Sand Martin    2    -    Great Tit    1    -    Goldfinch    64    -    Swallow    1    -    Jackdaw    20    -    Siskin    173    4    Meadow Pipit    37    -    Rook    6    -    Linnet    18    -    Grey Wagtail    1    -    Starling    16    -    redpoll sp.    5    -    alba wagtail sp.    7    -    Tree Sparrow    11    -    Reed Bunting    1    -    Totals: 433 individuals, 21 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: The Black Redstart was nice - there was another in my street on my walk home

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Hunstanton Cliffs

Counting period: 06:42 - 08:42 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind WSW2, cloud-cover 0/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Greg Beeton, Gary Hibberd S N S N S N Mute Swan    1    -    Meadow Pipit    182    -    Greenfinch    4    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    1    -    alba wagtail sp.    9    -    Goldfinch    37    -    Stock Dove    1    -    Jackdaw    3    -    Siskin    26    -    Woodpigeon    46    -    Rook    6    -    Linnet    60    -    Collared Dove    3    -    Tree Sparrow    1    -    Reed Bunting    2    -    Swallow    3    -    Chaffinch    20    -       Totals: 405 individuals, 17 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)      Rook - imm (Gary Hibberd)  Rook - adult (Gary Hibberd)    Note the downward pointing and sharp point of bill in both images, carrion crows tend to hold bill on a horizontal carriage, tip always looks rounded in comparison. Immature rooks can take two calendar years before the distinctive grey colours emerge in the bill.