Today's parting of the thunderstorms as they approached the island was a thing of some marvel and ensured that the island stayed dry as intense rain fell frequently just a few miles away. Sadly, this good fortune didn't extend to the day's migrant happenings with it relatively quiet everywhere: variety wasn't too bad but the totals at the Bill of, for example, 50
Willow Warblers and 40
Wheatears on the ground and 300
Swallows through overhead were hardly impressive for the last third of April; 6
Yellow Wagtails, 4
Redstarts, 3
Firecrests, 2 each of
White Wagtail,
Lesser Whitethroat and
Redpoll, and singles of
Merlin,
Tree Pipit,
Whinchat and
Bullfinch were the best of the less frequent migrants there, whilst singles of
Wood Warbler at Southwell and Weston were the highlights elsewhere. With the breeze remaining frustratingly just north of east the sea was never busy although a
Sabine's Gull reported from the Bill would have been a nice highlight had it shown for more than its single observer; the pick of the more mundane fare were 6
Red-throated Divers, 3
Arctic Skuas and a
Great Northern Diver through off the Bill and 3
Red-breasted Mergansers and 2
Canada Geese through off Chesil.
Another dispersing
Pine Beauty was the only moth of note from overnight trapping.
Before a couple of photos from today we'll go back to yesterday for a recording of the Mealy Redpoll; we've run out of time both yesterday and again tonight to be able to discuss this and the ater Coal Tit's vocalisations, so more on them later:
Willow Warbler and Wheatear were today's most conspicuous migrants on the ground © Nick Hopper:
