21st April

Amazingly flat calm first thing with the overnight light rain slowly petering out by mid-morning leaving some misty, murky, low cloud lingering until lunchtime when the wind, now back in the SE picked up to around force 3-4 by the evening.   There were a few new arrivals across the island, no new species but most things increased in numbers as totals included 2 Sparrowhawks, a Merlin, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Woodpigeons, a Collared Dove, 20 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows, a White Wagtail, 24 Robins, a Black Redstart, a Stonechat, 75 Wheatears, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 2 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 3 Rooks, 2 Chaffinches, a good flock of 26 Bramblings at Holland, 2 Goldfinches and 2 Common Redpolls.

                Lingering birds included 2 Pintail, a single Long-tailed Duck, 14 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Snow Buntings still by the pier.

Brambling and Sparrowhawk