16th April

Yet again bright and breezy but the strong SE wind felt a touch warmer than of late – or maybe that was just wishful thinking however, there was a spread of new migrant arrivals across the island; the day’s highlights consisted of the first Redstart of the year – a male at Westbeach (the earliest island record by five days), the first Swallow of the year past the Kirk, a Long-eared Owl in Holland, the first Greenshank of the year at Westness (also an early record) and the first Carrion Crow of the year at the Obs.

                Other totals included a Sparrowhawk, 3 Woodpigeons, 2 Dunnocks, 18 Robins, a Black Redstart on Torness, 17 Wheatears, a Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 13 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Jackdaw, 2 Chaffinches, a Common Redpoll and 4 Snow Buntings.   Also of note were a Pink-footed Goose, 13 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, a drake Goldeneye still lingering on Brides, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bonxies and 4 Sandwich Terns.

Redstart

Black Redstart