30th March - 4th April
The last six days has seen continued passage of early spring migrants and continued additions to the year list. 30th March saw 7 Woodcock, 349 Skylarks, 204 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat, 5 Chiffchaffs, 37 Redwing, 82 Blackbirds, 2 Jackdaws and 2 Wheatears. A White-fronted Goose remained at the Kirk and 4 Pink-footed Geese were seen around the island. 31st March was busier, headlined by a new record count of Skylarks on the island, totalling at 636 birds, including a huge flock of 208 around Lurand. On the west coast, the first Grey Wagtail of the year was seen around the airfield and 7 Siskins flew south past the Lurn. Elsewhere there was a Short-eared Owl at Kirbest, 6 Wheatears spread out around the island, 16 Woodcock, 6 Goldcrests, 7 Chiffchaffs and good numbers of thrushes, including 361 Blackbirds, 111 Fieldfares, 17 Song Thrushes and 310 Redwings. The first Mistle Thrush of the year was also seen by the Obs crop.
April began with a bit of a clear out of birds from the previous day, although the first Sandwich Terns of the year were seen at Gretchen. Other birds seen included a Collared Dove, 208 Skylarks, 125 Meadow Pipits, 7 Robins, 8 Wheatears, a Black Redstart and 2 each of White-fronted Geese and Grey Wagtails. Three Long-eared Owls were seen roosting at Holland along with two Sparrowhawks. The highlight on the 2nd was the arrival of the first Sand Martins of the year, with two seen at Quoybanks in the morning, followed by 3 at Ancum in the evening. The 3rd was a sunny and blustery day, with fewer numbers of birds seen, although Meadow Pipit passage continued with 197 birds moving south. There were a few finch highlights, with the first Brambling of the year in the Obs crop, a Common Redpoll around the Lurn and a Goldfinch at Snettan. 4th April saw a mobile Lapland Bunting at Neven and a notable increase in Wheatears, with 37 seen in total. Thrush numbers were lower than previous days, although 94 Blackbirds, 22 Fieldfares and 62 Redwings remained. 3 Collared Doves were seen around the island, with birds at T5, Verracott and Garso.
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