24th March

A Crossbill flying over the island in the morning was the second earliest spring record of the species for the island, and the highlight from a day of constant thick mist. Other passerines were much the same, with similar numbers of Goldcrests, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Pied Wagtails, although 3 Chiffchaffs were seen during the day's census. A Woodpigeon, a Jack Snipe and 2 of the usual Iceland Gulls were seen; and the goose flocks still contained a Pink-footed Goose, 28 European White-fronted Geese and the single Greenland White-fronted Goose, as well as a newly arrived Canada Goose x Greylag Goose hybrid.

Canada Goose x Greylag Goose hybrid

23rd March

The early stages of migration continued in warm and summery conditions, small migrants beginning to appear in slowly increasing quantity. Goldcrests were clearly a species on the move, with 13 noted around the island, and other newly arrived passerines included the first Siskin of the year, a Rook, 2 Song Thrushes, a Robin, a Dunnock and a further increase in Meadow Pipits to 59 birds. A Water Rail in the unusual location of Holland House garden was presumably a new migrant, and the day's raptor tally came to 1 apiece of Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Peregrine. A Glaucous Gull was probably new; the only Iceland Gull seen was one of the usual long-stayers.

Goldcrest

22nd March

A scattering of new migrants seen during a calm and bright morning census included the first Chiffchaff, Carrion Crow and littoralis Rock Pipit of the year. A Woodpigeon, 2 Song Thrushes, a Goldcrest, a Rook and another Chaffinch were also new, and a Hen Harrier was the first for a while. Another new Iceland Gull arrived, while the long-staying dark second-winter bird made another of its occasional appearances at Westness.

Skylark

21st March

A general amelioration of the weather brought a few new odds and ends, including more Skylarks, an increase to 33 Meadow Pipits and 8 Pied Wagtails trickling through in the morning mist. The first Bean Goose for a few weeks, thought most likely to be of the Tundra race, appeared among the remaining White-fronted Geese; and another new Iceland Gull, a first-winter this time, was found on the golf course. A Chaffinch was at the observatory, and 2 Peregrines were seen. Linnets continued to increase, reaching 24, while the number of Twites dropped further to just a couple of birds. Another breeding species rapidly increasing in number was Black-headed Gull: a count of 156, mostly at the Hooking Loch colony, was the highest of the year so far.

Snow Buntings have been noticeably fewer in number than this time last year, but one or two have been present around the coast .

19th - 20th March

A miserable day on the 19th produced just a long-staying Iceland Gull and almost nothing new. The first day of spring - at least by the vernal equinox definition - on the 20th, was slightly brighter, and produced a new Peregrine and a new adult Iceland Gull in addition to the lingering individual. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen again; at least 5 White-fronted Geese were still present, although the wintering flock seemed to be finally dispersing; and there were 2 Sandwich Terns in Linklet Bay.

Despite the windy conditions, much greater numbers of Black Guillemots were back in the colonies around Twingness.

18th March

A nice surprise so early in the season, and a welcome opportunity to give the red typeface its first blog airing of the year, was a drake Green-winged Teal lurking in the marshes at Hooking Loch in the afternoon. This is the seventh record of the species for the island, but the third in less than a year.

A Sandwich Tern in Linklet Bay was also new for the year, arriving on a typical date for the species. Otherwise, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and the usual adult Iceland Gull were the only sightings to report.

17th March

Two raptor species new for the year arrived right on cue during a very mixed day of sunshine and showers: a Sparrowhawk was on exactly the same date as the first record in 2011, and a Kestrel was one day earlier than the first record in that year. The only other new arrivals of note were a Rook and a small influx of 18 Linnets to the observatory's crop fields. The Greenland White-fronted Goose was back with the European White-fronts and a Pink-footed Goose was seen again with the Greylags.