4th April

Despite seemingly favourable conditions (perhaps it's just favourable here and not to our south where they're coming from?) it remained very slow on the migrant front with, for example, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler hardly getting beyond 20 apiece at the Bill, where nothing else got remotely near double figures on the ground; singles of Black Redstart and Firecrest were the only oddities there, whilst another Black Redstart was at Blacknor. There was a little more movement overhead, with the first Tree Pipit of the spring over the Bill and a trickle of Swallows and Meadow Pipits arriving in/off throughout the day; 4 tardy Blackbirds also headed north at the Bill. Sea passage off the Bill was never busy, with 11 Red-throated Divers, 8 Shoveler, 3 Manx Shearwaters, a Great Northern Diver and an Arctic Skua providing the only quality.