A Trickle Of Migrants

Huw, Ian and I had a short ringing session this morning at the obs where a trickle of migrants was just detectable. At first light we had full cloud cover and it was calm. As the morning progressed the cloud cover decreased to 6 oktas and the wind picked up to a 5-10 mph northeasterly.

We only ringed 6 birds this morning which were two Reed Warblers, a Dunnock and three Whitethroats. This in combination with a grounded Tree Sparrow indicated that there were a few migrants around. The only vis we had was in the form of a single Swift and Grey Wagtail.

One of the Whitethroats we ringed was an adult in main moult

Amongst the Black-headed Gulls on the fields was a 3CY Mediterranean Gull.

After we packed up I decided to have a quick look in the cemetery and I was greeted with a Wheatear, a Willow Warbler and two Robins. In the warm sunshine a number of butterflies were on the wing including Meadow Browns, Common Blues, Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks.

On my way home I called to have a look at some scrub alongside the estuary at the northern end of the peninsula that can sometimes hold migrants but there was nothing to be seen. There is some rain coming in tomorrow but it should be okay for some birding first thing in the morning.