18th April

In very different conditions to yesterday the island experienced another fine fall of migrants. Today's event was a classic fair weather arrival: under a clear, sunny sky the chilly headwind dropped birds that to a great extent barely touched down before heading off rapidly northward. The bulk of the numbers at the Bill consisted of 600 Willow Warblers, 250 Wheatears, 200 Blackcaps and 100 Chiffchaffs; amongst the less frequent species wider coverage of the southern half of the island came up with totals that included 40 Redstarts, 20 Yellow Wagtails, 12 each of Whitethroat and Pied Flycatcher, 11 Grasshopper Warblers, 10 Tree Pipits, 8 Whinchats, 7 Ring Ouzels, 2 each of White Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Siskin, and singles of Cuckoo and Sedge Warbler, whilst elsewhere 2 Common Sandpipers were an addition to the tally at Ferrybridge. The only rarity putting in an appearance was a Siberian Chiffchaff trapped and ringed at the Obs. The breeze was always a little too offshore for the sea, but 59 Whimbrel and 36 Bar-tailed Godwits passed through off/over Chesil and 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Great Skua were logged at the Bill.

A Brimstone butterfly was a good local oddity at the Obs.

A few photos from around the island today - Redstarts © Angela Trew (upper) and Nick Stantiford (lower):



...Whinchat © Joe Stockwell:


...Whitethroat © Roger Hewitt: 


...Common Sandpipers © Pete Saunders:


...Linnet © Angela Trew:


...and finally, the in-hand Siberian Chiffchaff © Martin Cade: