16th May

A gorgeous day with a light easterly wind produced an excellent array of common migrants scattered across the whole island; the highlights included an Osprey which flew north up the west coast mid-morning, the first Swift of the year, a female Hawfinch which was trapped at Holland House in the evening and two Grey-headed Wagtails near Gretchen - also the first of the year.   The commonest migrants today were counts of 32 Tree Pipits and 35 Willow Warblers which included a Norwegian control trapped at the Obs at lunchtime.
   The roll call of the other species included a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, a Stock Dove, another Turtle Dove, a Short-eared Owl at Hooking, 63 Swallows, two House Martins, 11 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 6 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, three Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 7 Garden Warblers, three Blackcaps, a Wood Warbler, 6 Spotted Flycatchers and 10 Pied Flycatchers.   There was also a few birds which are more associated with winter than the lovely spring day we had with yesterday's Whooper Swan near the lighthouse, a 2nd summer Iceland Gull near Bewan, single Fieldfare and Song Thrush and two late Dunnocks.

 Grey-headed Wagtail

Tree Pipit 

Hawfinch

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