1st May

May begun as April had ended with a band of rain spanning the Channel and rooted just to the west of the island - today it threatened a deluge but didn't ever deliver more than light drizzle before retreating away to the south. Despite the breeze being firmly offshore it was the sea that provided the best of the day's birds, with 146 Common Scoter, 30 Manx Shearwaters, 10 each of Great Skua and Pomarine Skua, 7 Arctic Skuas and singles of Balearic Shearwater and Little Gull through off the Bill and 7 Eider, 2 Arctic Skuas and a good selection of waders through off Chesil. The Eastern Subalpine Warbler lingered on at Cheyne Weare but interest on the land otherwise consisted of just a light scatter of routine migrants, amongst which 5 Whinchats and singles of Turtle Dove, Redstart, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler were of note at the Bill.

Red Admirals increased very conspicuously and were well spread throughout the island.

Common Tern over Ferrybridge today © Pete Saunders: