5th April

A brilliant day, pretty much flat calm throughout but overcast and a spell of light rain for a couple of hours from mid-morning; there was a great spread of migrants right across the island, with the highest concentrations around the Obs and Holland where totals included 6 Woodpigeons, a Long-eared Owl trapped in Holland at dusk, 182 Skylarks, an increase to 250+ Meadow Pipits, the first 2 White Wagtails of the year, 50+ Pied Wagtails, 8 Dunnocks, 80 Robins, the first Black Redstart of the year at Lochend, 3 Stonechats, 22 Wheatears, 11 Song Thrush, 36 Redwings, the first Mistle Thrush of the year at the Kirk, 18 Chiffchaffs, 14 Goldcrests, a Rook, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Brambling, a Siskin, 80 Linnets, 14 Twite, a Common Redpoll (one of the wintering birds), 6 Snow Buntings and 12 Reed Buntings.

                Other birds included 6 Great-northern Divers, a Heron, 8 Shelduck, 247 Wigeon (a slight increase), 5 Pintail, 16 Shoveler, a Goldeneye, 19 Red-breasted Mergansers, 313 Golden Plover, 90 Snipe, 24 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Wren