23rd April 2026

 Weather: ESE force 3  slight mist, SE 4 by afternoon

A huge fall of Willow Warblers this morning and all qualified hands were called upon to catch, ring, process and record the birds. During the day 99 Willow Warblers and 1 Chiffchaff were ringed, we are estimating more than 200 Willow Warblers passed through the islands today, arriving in all places on the island before movinbg into the Blackthorn.

 

The first bird ringed apart from those was a Greenland Wheatear

 followed by a male Redstart,

 and then 2 Whitethroats were caught at the same time, one was an obvious male, and the other a female type. 

 

 

 

A Blackcap was also on the ringng list, and in the afternoon 1 of the 3 Tree pipits recorded flew into the obs mist net. 

 

 The Willow Warblers and other birds being ringed took up most of the available time but there were other species recorded that were much admired. Two Yellow Wagtail flew over and 2 male Whinchats were about the island with another female turning up in later in the afternoon.

A Grasshopper Warbler was heard briefly on the island but could not be located. A highlight for many was a Swift flying low over the island, the first any of us have seen this year.

Seldom have we seen such detailed photos of these fast flying birds. A Raven was a late addition to the daily list.

Whimbrel are increasing in numbers, there were 27 today, also 300 Dunlin and 8 Bar-tailed Godwits. Eight Gannets were out to sea with 60 Sandwich Terns, 16 Common Scoter, 4 Great Crested Grebes and a Guillemot. Others not so far mentioned were 5 Eiders, 2 Little Egrets and 8 Shelduck. A very exciting day, we have only featured one Willow Warbler photo, but i'm sure you will have seen many here in the past, and we have certainly seen many today. 

Ringed: 99 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Wheatear, 1 Redstart, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Linnets. (total 108), one of the busiest days ever.

Photos: CJW, PSW, SRW