21st April
Another mass overnight arrival of migrants gave a further increase in the number of birds on the island and made for another exciting and busy day. Robins and Dunnocks were everywhere. A count of 149 Robins was the highest spring total since 1993, and 40 Dunnocks was a new all-time record - and we only managed to cover about half of the island. The actual numbers present must have been considerably higher.
Thrushes were again very numerous, including 49 Song Thrushes and a bare minimum of 16 Ring Ouzels, while counts of warblers came to 39 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers and our earliest ever Whitethroat by 3 days. The list of other small migrants included 2 Swallows, 3 Tree Pipits, 1 White Wagtail, 46 Wheatears, 10 Bramblings, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Siskins, 1 Common Redpoll and 4 Carrion Crows.
The first Whimbrel of the year flew overhead, and the only other noteworthy non-passerines were 2 Long-eared Owls, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and the 3 Common Scoters still in Linklet Bay.
Thrushes were again very numerous, including 49 Song Thrushes and a bare minimum of 16 Ring Ouzels, while counts of warblers came to 39 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers and our earliest ever Whitethroat by 3 days. The list of other small migrants included 2 Swallows, 3 Tree Pipits, 1 White Wagtail, 46 Wheatears, 10 Bramblings, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Siskins, 1 Common Redpoll and 4 Carrion Crows.
The first Whimbrel of the year flew overhead, and the only other noteworthy non-passerines were 2 Long-eared Owls, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and the 3 Common Scoters still in Linklet Bay.
Both Long-eared Owls were ringed during a busy morning of mist-netting at Holland House.
The actual number of Ring Ouzels seen could easily have been much higher, but they were very mobile. We couldn't be certain whether or not a flock of 11 seen in the afternoon included birds from the various small groups seen in the morning.
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