28th April

A lovely day with a light easterly breeze throughout, cloudy in the morning but brightening up in the afternoon to produce a stunning evening; it was a good day’s birding without being jam-packed full of migrants as totals included two drake Garganey on Hooking still, a Sparrowhawk, a Merlin, a late Jack Snipe on Hooking (only the third of the year), a Whimbrel, a Collared Dove, the first 2 House Martins of the year, a brilliant total of 90 Sand Martin commuting between Hooking and The Links (by far the record island count – previously 66!), a Tree Pipit caught at the Obs in the evening, 15 Robins, a Redstart, 58 Wheatears, a Ring Ouzel, an influx of 33 Fieldfares, 4 Song Thrush, a Redwing, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, 9 Willow Warblers, the Yellow-browed Warbler which reappeared at Ancum Willows, an influx of 13 Carrion Crows and 13 Brambling.

                Other little bits included 13 Great-northern Divers, a Heron, the 3 Pink-footed Geese which reappeared by The Mill (last seen on the 21st), 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Water Rail at Ancum and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Tree Pipit