18th April 2023

 Weather: ESE force 4

A big fall of birds this morning, the conditions were ideal, an east south easterly with plenty of mist about. Right from soon after dawn 3 splendid male Redstarts wrere found.

 

 There were 3 males and a female that arrived later in the morning.

 

Two Grasshopper Warblers were singing and later 2 of te 4 present today were trapped for rimging.

As usual they were difficult to glimpse in the field among the undergrowth.

Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were grounded in numbers, about 20 Chiffchaffs and 100 Willow Warblers.

Luckily several ringers were present so bird numbers did not become an issue early morning. During the day 89 birds were ringed in total. On that list were 1of 3 Blackcaps,

 and a Sparrowhawk.

A Raven came to the island, while other visitors were a Goldcrest, 24 Swallows, 6 Sand Martins, a Chaffinch and 26 Goldfinch, a Grey Wagtail, several dozen passing Meadow Pipits and a female House Sparrow.

  and 8 Wheatears.

 

Two Canada Geese were around, also the pair of Eider with just 2 Brent remaining. The Pink-footed Geese exodus (1150 birds) were merely a sideshow first thing.

There were 10 Whimbrel today, 1,500 Dunlin with some Sanderling.

Sixteen Bar-tailed Godwits looked resplendant on the east hoyle in their summer plumage.

Terns featured 12 Common and 200 Sandwich Terns.

Meanwhile back to normal service were the Grey Seals

and the Blackbirds were carrying food.

FRom the light trap last nigjht, a Water Carpet 

 

A Common Sandpiper visited the island in the late afternoon. A peaceful scene after a hectic day.

 

 

 Ringed: 50 Willow Warblers, 16 Chiffchaffs, 3 Redstarts, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Blackcap. 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Goldfinch, 13 Linnets.

Photos AEH, AS, CJW, SRW