Weather: SE force 5/7 S 6 with showers by noon
Too much strong wind combined with overnight rain meant migration came to a standstill, even if the wind was in the 'right' direction. An adult male Greenland Wheatear was trapped this morning and a female was also here. A great many of the Wheatears caught in spring are in their second calendar year so it was nice to see one in full adult plumage.
A male Redstart was also here, probably from yesterday. About the island were 2 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a Pied Wagtail. Present on the island were a pair of Swallows, which seem to be returning breeders, also 3 Sand Martins and 2 House Martins on passage. Ten Goldfinches were the only finches today....
.... apart from the 20 or so breeding Linnets.
The very strong winds brought some good sea birds passed the island including 35 Gannets, 150 Common Scoter, 70 Sandwich Terns, 4 Great Crested Grebes, a Red-throated Diver and 18 Manx Shearwaters, some of which managed to pass the island on both sides. Five Guillemots and a good count of 48 Razorbills showed.
A female Red-breasted Merganser was in the south end of the gutter, another pair was also noted and there were 2 male Eider and a female today.
There was still a single Purple Sandpiper to be seen with 60 Turnstone and 50 Ringed Plover. Curlew numbered 180 with 2 Whimbrel and Dunlin 270. Two dark-bellied Brent were with another 18 pale-bellied.
Ringed: 1 Greenland Wheatear, 1 Robin, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Linnets.
Photos BT, SRW
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