18th and 19th April
We kept the brisk S / SE
winds on the 18th but it stayed dry and bright and it was generally
very pleasant to be out and about; there was a nice array of migrants across
the island as totals included 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Merlin, a Woodcock, a
Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Doves, 2 Tree Pipits, 18 Dunnocks, 36 Robins, a Black
Redstart, 24 Wheatears, 2 Ring Ouzels, a Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaffs, a
Willow Warbler, 2 Chaffinches, 3 Bramblings, 3 Siskins, 108 Linnets and a
corking adult male Common Redpoll trapped at Holland as it came into roost – it
was a huge bird with wing of 79mm, weighing 17g, wonder what population that’s
from!?
Other little bits included some decent wader counts
including 221 Purple Sandpipers, 158 Turnstone and 161 Redshank (which included
several big flocks heading high to the north), 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, the
Kumlien’s Gull still and an increased 12 Sandwich Terns.
A gorgeous day on the 19th as the moderate
southerly breeze first thing quickly dropped off to virtually still conditions
by lunchtime; there was a general increase in migrants across the island with counts
of 2 Woodpigeons, a Collared Dove, a Woodcock, the first Sand Martin of the year over The
Links, 3 Swallows, 168 Meadow Pipits, 14 Dunnocks, 33 Robins, a Black Redstart,
31 Wheatears, a Ring Ouzel, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaffs, 7
Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 5 Brambling, a Siskin, a flyover
Lapland Bunting and a lingering Snow Bunting.
A good array of other birds included a Black-throated Diver in Nouster with 5 Great-northern Divers, the single Whooper
Swan showing no signs of leaving, 4 Long-tailed Ducks still, 6 Red-breasted
Mergansers, a good count of 294 Golden Plover, 53 Sanderling, a single Knot,
and a 3cy Iceland Gull lingering off the south end of the island.
Iceland Gull Simon Davies
Swallow Simon Davies
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