We're fortunate to be spoilt enough with
Serins that they're not of day-saving quality these days and so it proved today, when an unseen songster at the Obs during the morning and likely the same individual - again unseen - in a private garden at Southwell during the afternoon were unable to compensate for the poor migrant showing on ground. Under a clear sky and in an ever-freshening northeasterly the 50
Willow Warblers logged at the Bill constituted the only double-figure grounded total at the Bill; the still lingering
Ring Ouzel at Weston and the Ferrybridge contribution of 2 each of
Whimbrel and
Sanderling and a lone
Grey Plover provided the only minor interest amongst the day's on-ground sightings. It was busier overhead, with
Swallows in particular passing pretty steadily as evidenced by the 90 minute sample total of 404 through along West Cliffs at Blacknor; singles of
Sparrowhawk and
Hobby also passed over at the Bill where 21
Wood Pigeons arriving in off were a surprise. Some early promise offshore that saw 80
Bar-tailed Godwits and 15
Knot pass the Bill just as the sun rose wasn't really maintained, with 7
Arctic Skuas, 2
Great Northern Divers and 2
Balearic Shearwaters the best of the later rewards from the sea.
Manx Shearwater numbers have been well below par so far this spring which has made it pretty straightforward getting onto the couple of early Balearics that have shown up in recent days...
...In the low sunlight towards dusk the few Manx about were looking super sharp and contrasty compared with the paler than average but still very wishy-washy Balearics earlier in the day © Martin Cade:
