Thursday 21 April 2016

21st April 2016

Weather: ESE 2, 3/8, slight mist around estuary


One of the first birds noted this morning was a Grasshopper Warbler which moved along between clumps of daffodils in the top paddock before briefly alighting in 'Little Bunting Bush' before being trapped in the Heli.  The first to be caught and ringed this year.  It had a fairly high fat score so could have been yesterday's bird having fed up.  Later in the afternoon a Gropper was heard singing down the east side but was not seen so we do not know if there were two birds present.


Willow Warblers were a steady trickle today with 9 recorded but the only Chiffchaff was a retrap from yesterday.


The potter traps proved their worth today with a single first year male Greenland Wheatear caught and a similarly aged and sexed first White Wagtail of the year caught at the North End (five were recorded today).


The first flava Wagtail of the year for the islands was heard calling as it passed overhead and there was a smaller finch passage than yesterday but a single Lesser Redpoll was caught and ringed.


Waders were much in evidence today with good numbers of Dunlin and smaller numbers of Ringed Plover around the main island and 11 Whimbrel were noted including this flock on the Whaleback with a single Bar-tailed Godiwt.


As the day wore on Swallows began to pass over West to East perhaps in front of advancing cloud with 35 noted as well as the 'local' pair.  A single House Martin was only the second of the year.

Again the evening produced some suitably nice spring skies. [147-19]

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