29th April

The day after a fall can often feel a little flat, but despite the clear blue skies and chilling breeze there were still a good number of birds to be found - and of excellent variety. The nets produced another great total of 147 between the garden and Culverwell of 15 species. Today was the first day that Blackcaps outnumbered Willow Warblers, and unusually for us, 10 Reed Warblers were trapped in the garden. Around the Obs area four each of Redstart, Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher added to the Pied Flycatcher at the Obs and a Grasshopper Warbler at Culverwell. The most unusual sighting, however, was a Bonxie that decided to take a shortcut and was sighted crossing the land at the Bill heading north towards Southwell. Away from the Bill, a Turtle Dove was in a Southwell garden and a Cuckoo was seen leaving the island at the Verne, but the highlight was a confiding Wood Warbler in the trees at Avalanche Hump. 

The Avalanche Wood Warbler put on an impressive display © Joe Stockwell:


Nothing better than walking along a fence line and seeing a bright red (orange) tail flashing ahead of you © Joe Stockwell:


The Bill has been good for waders during these spring tides with Dunlin, Turnstone and Common Sandpiper to add to the passage Whimbrel © Geoff Orton: