7th April

The day started cloudy and cold leading to a reduction in the passage we saw yesterday. However the phylloscs were present in higher numbers keeping our ringers happy. The highlight from the garden was the first Pied Flycatcher of the year, a fully-grown male. Other than this, land-based migrants included a pair of Ring Ouzels, a pair of Redstarts, 23 Wheatears, and a Merlin. Visible migration had slowed compared to yesterday to just 200 Meadow Pipits per hour, however, the passage of Linnets had increase, and both Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were noticeably moving North along the cliffs. The sea again was quieter than yesterday but a pair of Artic Skuas, a Great Northern Diver and low double figures of the usual suspects were enough to provide entertainment for the morning.

Nothing says spring like the first Pied Flycatcher of the year © Martin Cade: