23rd April

Another very low key day, with migrant numbers showing few signs of picking up. Wheatears were more conspicuous, with 75 at the Bill alone, and Swallows were arriving in their highest numbers so far this spring (maybe 500 through in the day as a whole) but there were only just into double figures totals of both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler there and 2 Common Sandpipers and singles of White Wagtail, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher were the best of the less frequents; elsewhere, singles of Yellow Wagtail and Black Redstart were at Reap Lane. A trickle on the sea included 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua through off the Bill.

It's looking like the majority of Wheatears coming through now are big Greenland/Iceland breeders - this one was trapped today in the Crown Estate Field © Martin Cade:



Recent nocturnal recording efforts have been as unproductive as the daytime watching. Nick Hopper was with us at the weekend but both nights were disappointing poor: a Moorhen, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two flocks of Dunlin and 2 Robins on 19th/20th April and three parties of Common Scoter (distant so probably over the sea), a Whimbrel, two flocks of Bar-tailed Godwits and a Grey Plover on 20th/21st April