16th and 17th April


Very similar conditions on the 16th with a brisk easterly wind bringing in fog again which drifted in and out throughout the day (although mainly in!); the selection of birds on offer was therefore predictably similar as well although the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was near Holland – again the earliest island record by a few days, what a funny year so far!

                Other migrant totals included 7 Woodcock, 3 Woodpigeons, a Swallow, 23 Dunnocks, 48 Robins, 19 Wheatears, 6 Ring Ouzels, 100 Blackbirds, 75 Fieldfare, 24 Song Thrushes, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Chaffinches, 4 Bramblings, a flyover Redpoll sp. and a Snow Bunting.

                A real change on the 17th with the S / SE wind picking up and blowing the fog away but bringing in rain through the morning, as if by magic though the clouds parted at lunchtime leaving a gorgeous, sunny afternoon – still windy though!   Migrant totals were again down on the last few days but did include a Merlin, 4 Woodpigeon, a Black Redstart, 22 Wheatears, 5 Ring Ouzels, a Mistle Thrush, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, 7 Chaffinch, 7 Brambling and a Snow Bunting.

                Also lingering were the 3 Barnacle Geese, 6 Pintail, 7 Long-tailed Ducks and a Ruff while 41 Curlews included a few flocks heading noisily high north as soon as the weather cleared.


Lesser Whitethroat                                      Simon Davies

Ring Ouzel                                                  Simon Davies

Comments