14th-20th April

The good weather and good birds continued for the best part of the week with things finally settling down on 20th. Common migrants such as Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Robin built up throughout the week but dwindled towards the tail end when the winds died off and the fog rolled in.

The highlight from the 14th was a Spotted Crake whose ID was finally nailed on from a brief sighting in Holland House gardens the previous day when 1 was flushed from Ancum Willows towards Ancum Loch. A male Sparrowhawk seen thermalling over the obs was another year list addition, with a female also being ringed in the evening at Ancum Willows. The ringing session also proved worthwhile as another year list addition of Little Gull was seen coming to roost on Ancum Loch. The day proved good for raptors when an Osprey flew out south late afternoon. 2 Long-eared Owls ringed in Holland House in the morning and a Redpoll at Viggay during the day also kept the year list ticking over.

The 15th was a quieter day but saw our first arrival of hirundines to the island. 5 Sand Martin at Brides and 2 at Garso, along with a Swallow at the sea watch hide made spring feel like it was properly underway. A male Ring Ouzel at Southness and a Woodpigeon caught and ringed at Holland House kept things interesting.

One of the previously ringed Long-eared Owls continued to hang around and was seen again roosting in Holland House Gardens on the 16th. A Kestrel sat on T1 taunting staff into thinking it might be caught and ringed, but flew off without ending up in the trap.

The 17th was a big day for arriving migrants with 301 Wheatear seen around the island. 7 Barnacle Geese flew south over the obs, another addition to the year list, and presumably the same Little Gull from Ancum Loch was seen in Nouster Bay before being chased of by Black-headed Gulls. The highlight from the day however came in the form of 2 Marsh Harriers, a female seen off the pier in the morning and a male over Ancum Loch in the evening seemed to hang around for a few days before disappearing off south on the 20th. 3 Stonechat at various points around the island, a Ring Ouzel at Howar and a Greenfinch at Sangar also added interest to the day.

The 18th saw very little action due to punding going on around the island, but a Short-eared Owl in the evening over Ancum Loch was a good sighting for the day.

The 19th was a warm, clear day but with a fair amount of sea fog, meant the day proved good for lingering raptors. A Common Buzzard flushed from Ancum Willows in the morning and the lingering Marsh Harrier had its glory removed when two White-tailed Eagles came in off the sea at opposite ends of the island, thermalling round the island upsetting the resident birds before flying out south off of Brideness point. Another Redpoll was also seen in the Cricket Field near the obs. An evening sea watch saw the first Manx Shearwater of the year cruise past Dennishead, along with a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Great Skua, 206 Kittiwake, 59 Guillemot, 26 Razorbill, 31 Puffin, 103 Auk sp and 72 Gannets.

The first breeding wader survey was carried out on the morning of the 20th, when a Tree Pipit was also found in the garden at Lochend. Sea-watching saw 7 drake Common Scoter fly north and a further 4 Manx Shearwater. 

Away from birds, the night of the 19th also proved good for moths with 135 Hebrew Characters and third island record of The Herald.

Wheatear

Stonechat