The strong easterly wind prevented MS Oldenburg from sailing on Saturday 18th, so it was choppers to Hartland for both Paul Holt and Tony John who left the island today. The same gusty east wind conspired to make birding difficult and mist-netting impossible in Millcombe on Friday and Saturday, so there is a corresponding lull in news. Yesterday brought the first Reed Warbler of the spring, seen by Paul in upper Millcombe, while Tony saw a Snipe at Pondsbury. A Pied Flycatcher was in Millcombe today. There still seemed to be plenty of Phylloscopus warblers and Blackcaps around, but not the numbers of earlier in the week, though many birds were doubtless keeping their heads down due to the windy conditions.
More migrant moths found their way into Tony's trap at Little St John's, with four Dark Sword-grass and a Diamond-back Moth on the night of Thursday 16th/Friday 17th.
Finally, on a sad note, a pile of feathers and a leg found at the top of Millcombe this morning (18th) seem likely to be the remains of a Hoopoe... Whether the same bird as seen at Mousehole & Trap and Gannets' Combe recently, or another individual from the remarkable April influx to Britain & Ireland, we will never know for sure.
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