24th and 25th May


Despite the great conditions on the 24th – light mist and fog drifting in and out on the brisk easterly wind it was a pretty quiet day with a Little Stint on Trolla the first of the year while the few migrants on the land included 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Fieldfares.   Other little bits included 4 Barnacle Geese (with a new group of three at Ancum), three drake Garganey on Brides, 3 Whimbrel, a new island record count of 49 Sand Martins, 11 Sedge Warblers (mainly birds on territory), 3 Chiffchaffs and a Common Redpoll.

                A lovely day on the 25th with bright and sunny conditions and a variable W / N breeze; the blast of easterlies yesterday produced a good array of scarcities across the island including a Red-breasted Flycatcher caught in Holland, a Marsh Warbler eventually pinned down near The Mill, a Hawfinch in Holland and at the Obs, a female type Common Rosefinch near Brides and a female Bluethroat at the school.

                A trickle of other migrants comprised 2 Woodpigeons, 3 Collared Doves, 2 House Martins, a Tree Pipit, a Black Redstart at Holland, 7 Sedge Warblers, 15 Chiffchaffs, a Pied Flycatcher and a good flock of 11 Tree Sparrows.   11 Great-northern Divers were offshore, the single Barnacle Goose was still around Hooking, 3 Garganey were still present and waders included 197 Ringed Plovers, 171 Sanderling and 66 Bar-tailed Godwits.


Red-breasted Flycatcher                  Simon Davies

Common Rosefinch                                 Tom Gale

Hawfinch                            Simon Davies

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