What a really strange period of migration this is: quite how we can be tapping into so many record-breakingly early arrivals during a period when the majority of grounded common migrants are so abysmally represented defies logic but it happened again today, as the island's earliest ever Sedge Warbler arrived in tandem with grounded totals at the Bill of, for example, no more than single figure totals of the likes of Wheatear and Chiffchaff. The unforecast clear-ish sky and brightness did see diurnal migrants get moving in fair supply, with totals of 881 Meadow Pipits, 22 Linnets, 10 'Alba' Wagtails, 9 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, 3 House Martin and a Grey Wagtail through during the sample four and a half watch on West Cliffs, where a Ring Ouzel also briefly pitched in. Also on the ground, a new Firecrest joined a linger at the Obs and multiples of White Wagtail and Black Redstart, and a single Redwing were around the centre of the island. The highlight from the morning's Bill seawatch was a Black-throated Diver, with an additional 127 Common Scoter, 17 Red-throated Divers and 3 Sandwich Terns also heading up-Channel. A more varied selection from the Chesil included 22 Brent Geese, 4 Dunlin and a Sanderling.
Today's Sedge Warbler at the Bill was a full week earlier than the previous earliest arrival there on 29th March 1998 © Jodie Henderson:
2x black redstart reap lane barns to cliff, wheatear in adjacent ploughed field, white wagtail still. redwing hunkered down at barleycrates. 1/2 dozen swallows in. song thrush old hill and barn owl still at nest hole. less than hoped for in decent weather.
— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
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