23rd April

One of the better days of the year so far produced no fewer than six new species for the year-list. A drake Green-winged Teal, the fifth record of this species for the island, was found on Hooking Loch in the morning, and later relocated at Kirbest. Also on Hooking Loch was a drake Garganey. A Whinchat was only a day later than the earliest ever spring arrival of the species here, while Lesser Whitethroat and Pied Flycatcher both set new early arrival records: the former by one day, the latter by three. The first Grasshopper Warbler of the year was singing in the garden at Holland, and a Great Tit was found at Sanger.

Other small migrants were scattered around the island, including 5 Sand Martins, 14 Swallows, 3 White Wagtails, a Dunnock, 164 Wheatears, a Ring Ouzel, a Mistle Thrush, 4 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings, 3 Siskins and 2 Redpolls. 20 Lapland Buntings were also still present. The best non-passerines were 4 Woodpigeons, 4 Collared Doves, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 2 Whimbrels, 14 Sandwich Terns, 3 Grey Herons and 3 Pink-footed Geese.

Green-winged Teal

A Ring Ouzel became the latest addition to the ploughed field list.