26th March

Another beautifully clear day with little in the way of numbers but the Hoopoe gave itself up for a showing granting some excellent quality. Numbers of common migrants were thin on the ground with just a smattering of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Wheatears and Swallows. However, we did have our second Tree Pipit of the year and the highest Sand Martin count of the spring with 28 passing over. The sea produced five Manx Shearwaters, six Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver and four Common Scoters. Elsewhere on the island, the Large Tortoiseshells were making the rounds being seen at three separate locations throughout the day.

Today's Hoopoe wasn't too far away from the private garden in which one spent yesterday afternoon so was more than likely the same individual © Martin Cade:

These two Large Tortoiseshells were at Tout and Kingbarrow Quarries, with a third individual at Weston Street © Jeremy Palmer: