Wow, what an exciting migration day. The portents were there right from the outset - in fact they'd been perfectly accurately forecast by the weather services - with mizzly rain in the air and a brisk northeasterly blowing as dawn broke and these ingredients more than delivered on their promise. A Red-backed Shrike in the Pulpit Bushes was the bird of the day, as much because this is a species that's been been inexplicably absent for four years, but the likes of 2 Yellow-browed Warblers trapped in the Crown Estate Field, a Hen Harrier through, the lingering Wryneck and singles of Jack Snipe and Dartford Warbler amongst others provided lots of other scarce interest to get amongst. If that wasn't enough, the first decent push of thrushes of the season - including 150 Redwings, 40 Song Thrushes, 25 Blackbirds, 6 Fieldfares and a Ring Ouzel through at the Bill alone - demanded constant attention, whilst 5 Merlins, 4 Black Redstarts, 3 Bramblings, 3 Snipe, 2 Lapwings, 2 Firecrests and singles of Golden Plover, Hobby and Bullfinch featured amongst the occasionals. Common migrant-wise, at the Bill 100 Chiffchaffs, 75 each of Stonechat and Robin, and 30 Goldcrests were worthy totals on the ground, whilst 820 Linnets, 300 Swallows, 300 Goldfinches, 80 Chaffinches and 60 Siskins were amongst the movers overhead. The continuing presence of upwards of 3000 auks off the Bill made the sea seem just as busy as the land and the sky, with 200 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas and the first Manx Shearwater for a long time adding further interest, even if the passing waterfowl tally of just 13 Common Scoter, 2 Brent Geese and a Teal fell way short of expectations.
Ringing numbers a wee bit depleted today because our third site at Culverwell was out of action but 103 new birds between the Obs and the CEF was still nice. Chiffchaff 31, Robin 18 and Gcrest 13 the top three, thrushes on the up, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers the scarces.
