This is a news service only and the reports are unchecked. All records submitted via the "Submit record" page will be sent to the Bulletin Bird Notes Compiler and entered onto the DOS database even if they do not appear here. Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)
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A very different month when most observers sensibly operated within the mobility restrictions required of us. Surprisingly, that produced a near record number of reports as new areas were explored on foot. Many of these reflected the incoming migration as Hobby, Swift, House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat and a number of warbler species were all seen for the first time this year.
It was clearly an opportunity for new 'garden ticks' and those reported included Osprey, Black Tern, Whimbrel and Tree Pipit. Surprisingly, however, no one latched onto the White-tailed Eagle that was satellite tracked as it crossed much of the county.
Assessing wildfowl, wader and gull numbers was only partly possible, with key sites closed, but a report of Red-breasted Mergansers was welcome; a once much more common species. There were also four species of tern sighted.
An increase in Grey Partridge records was another encouraging sign and another benefit of local surveying was the excellent counts of Mandarin Duck, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Then came news that one of 'our' Twite had reached the Isle of Skye.
Bryan Barnacle and Kate Barnacle