3rd May

Too nice a day for much of an arrival on the ground today and most of what did pitch up didn't linger long. Willow Warbler topped the numbers with around 50 at the Bill but it was the variety of less frequent migrants that provided most of the interest, with 18 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Redstarts, 6 Whinchats, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Hobbys, 2 Pied Flycatchers and singles of Purple Sandpiper, Grasshopper Warbler and White Wagtail at the Bill; a similar selection elsewhere included additional quality in the form of 2 Coal Tits at Pennsylvania Castle. In the rather benign conditions the only reports of note from the sea were of singles of Great Northern Diver and Pomarine Skua through off the Bill.

With the spring having hitherto been pretty dismal for Grasshopper Warblers it was nice to hear one singing well in Top Fields today:



Whimbrel at Ferrybridge © Debby Saunders...



...and Early Purple Orchid at the Bill © Joe Stockwell:


There can be few more agreeable spots for a vis-mig watch than the West Cliffs and this morning was no exception...



...all the better when the rewards include a Hobby and numerous Yellow Wagtails photos © Joe Stockwell:




Playing host today to Anita Rani and a BBC Countryfile crew © Peter Morgan and Countryfile: