27th March

Such has been the dearth of birds on the ground that anyone wandering the byways of the island during the last week or so would be forgiven for thinking that migration's currently a non-event; however, venture up onto the West Cliffs and a far truer picture emerges, exemplified today by the almost unending stream of Meadow Pipits hurrying northward - 2500 were logged in six hours but the day's total was no doubt considerably higher than that. The year's first Osprey also passed through, whilst sample counts of the likes of 300 Linnets were further indications of how much was on the move. No doubt there's just as much on the move during the hours of darkness but with barely a cloud in the sky few of these nocturnal migrants are troubling to stop; a round-island totals of at least 11 Black Redstarts was notable but the tally of 10 Wheatears at the Bill was the only other double figure worth a mention. Amongst the miscellany of other reports a Red Kite at Nicodemus Knob and singles of Merlin at the Bill and Weston were noteworthy.