Non-avian highlight of the day was a Large Tortoiseshell seen at Church Ope Cove, with up to 6 Hummingbird Hawkmoths by day and the year's first Dark Sword Grass from last night's moth traps further evidence of some recent arrival.
18th March
With the wind veering right round to the east and bright, clear conditions overhead, evidence of grounded arrivals was fairly slim at the Bill, with just a scattering of Chiffchaffs, alongside 2 new Firecrests and singles of Wheatear, Black Redstart, Yellowhammer, Siskin and Greenfinch; further coverage up-island unearthed the first Willow Warbler of the year at Easton and 3 White Wagtails on the Reap Lane puddles. Visible migration showed signs of improvement, with totals of 84 Meadow Pipits, 43 Linnets, 5 Goldfinches and 2 Sand Martins from a sample hour on West Cliffs. It was a bit of a duck day offshore, with 199 Common Scoter, 27 Teal, 7 Pintail and 5 Shoveler heading east off the Bill along with 5 Red-throated Divers, 6 Sandwich Terns, a Bar-tailed Godwit and Manx Shearwater.
