17th March

Quite whether there were migrants on the move during the last few nights might not have been established but there was no such doubt about last night when another dose of heavy rain through the small hours dropped what for the middle of March were pretty decent numbers of Chiffchaffs, with a good 100 scattered across the Bill and plenty more elsewhere around the island. Unsurprisingly, variety was otherwise limited, with no more than 3 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrests and singles of Wheatear and Firecrest at the Bill and a lone White Wagtail at Blacknor. Seawatching was thwarted for several hours by poor visibility and only singles of Red-throated Diver and Manx Shearwater were logged at the Bill once conditions improved.