Whimbrel at the Bill today © Dan Law:
5th May
Whilst holidaymakers were lapping up the glorious sunshine and warmth of the start of the bank holiday weekend birders were left scratching around with only meagre fare for entertainment. A brief Red-rumped Swallow at High Angle Battery would have been very popular had it lingered and none of the other oddities putting in appearances, including singles of Coal Tit and Marsh Harrier at the Bill, were any more obliging. Routine migrants weren't at all plentiful but did include 40 each of Wheatear and Willow Warbler, 30 Chiffchaffs and 12 Whinchats grounded at the Bill, where 11 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Tree Pipits and 3 White Wagtails were amongst the steady flow of visible migrants overhead. Less common interest came in the form of a Firecrest at the Bill and 4 Hobbys and a Cuckoo through at points northward. Seawatching was almost completely unrewarding, with 70 commic terns through off the Bill and 7 Bar-tailed Godwits and 4 Whimbrel through off Chesil.
