26th March

The suncream got its first outing of the year during an entire day of warm and sunny t-shirt weather, rather unexpected so early in the year. The year's first Wheatear arrived on cue to find conditions surprisingly similar to its recently departed African wintering grounds, but other new migrants were thin on the ground. A Siskin, 3 Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, a Rook and a Robin were the best of the small birds; a Grey Plover was the most interesting non-passerine, although a Peregrine, 2 Merlins and a Sandwich Tern were also present. A Glaucous Gull was at the north of the island, and 3 Iceland Gulls included 2 lingering birds and a new first-winter. A notable record was a count of 18 Great Northern Divers, more easily visible than usual on the calm sea.