4th to 5th May

A decent arrival of birds in the last couple of days with many spring migrants registering their first appearances of the year. It was perhaps not as busy as expected, but a light sprinkling of passerines all over the island on 4th included 2 Redstarts, a Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Sedge Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, Pied Flycatcher, 9 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs and 2 Siskins. There was also a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, 7 Whimbrels with a wave of 84 Arctic Terns moving through north while one of the most impressive sights were the 36 Carrion Crows (31 of them in one flock!) and 7 Hooded Crows which went south late on. The 5th produced slightly more variety, with Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Whinchat and Garden Warbler new for the year. Other migrants from the day included a Sparrowhawk, 47 Arctic Terns, 2 Woodpigeons, an eared Owl sp, a flyover 'flava' Wagtail, 2 Redstarts, Ring Ouzel, 62 Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrests, a Pied Flycatcher ringing control and 2 Bramblings. Maybe we'll get that scarcity tomorrow...

Pied Flycatcher (Molly Laban)