24th April

In comparison with yesterday's totals today's stats might convey an after the Lord Mayor's Show feel to proceedings but that'd be utterly undervaluing another excellent day for anyone wanting to tap into mainstream spring migration at its best, with Swallows in particular staging a mightily impressive return to form after their passage logjam cleared in one fell swoop. The fallout of grounded migrants was again impressive - perhaps helped by an unexpectedly heavy pulse of rain during the hours of darkness - and included another 300 Willow Warblers and 100 Blackcaps at the Bill, the Swallow passage along West Cliffs (...that included a lot of House Martins tagging along) was woefully under-recorded but certainly topped 5000 and likely would have reached a five figure total with more serious coverage, whilst some overdue rarity interest was provided by single Red-rumped Swallows through along West Cliffs and lingering briefly at Reap Lane, and a Cattle Egret at Fancy's Farm. Ring Ouzels were scattered far and wide and cumulatively reached an unusually late spring peak of 8 with, to boot, 2 tardy Fieldfares and a Mistle Thrush in tow; other migrant totals included 200 Wheatears, 30 Garden Warblers, 13 Sedge Warblers, 10 Whinchats, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Redstarts, 4 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Tree Pipits and singles of Merlin, Hobby and Grasshopper Warbler. The sea continued to be worth a squint, with 10 Arctic Skuas and 6 Red-throated Divers among the selection logged at the Bill.

Ring Ouzels above the Verne Moat this afternoon © Dave Foot:


There's a fair bit of tern love action on the go at Ferrybridge right now © John Dadds: