28th to 30th Apr – Another Wood Warbler and more Whimbrels

28th April

A dreich day with thick mist and drizzle for the most part and a stiff easterly wind. But thankfully the clouds cleared and the winds dropped by mid-afternoon for a spot of decent birding.

Highlights included another Wood Warbler foraging in Millcombe Wood and a flock of 10 Whimbrel in Barton Field.

Wood Warbler (the third of the year), Millcombe, 28 Apr © Dean Jones

Other birds logged were the female Sparrowhawk, a male Kestrel, singles of Sedge and Reed Warbler, three Whitethroat, ten Blackcap, nine Willow Warbler, three Chiffchaff, one Goldcrest, 18 Swallow, 23 Sand Martin, three House Martin, a single White Wagtail, three Yellow Wagtails, two Tree Pipit, a single Song Thrush singing away in Millcombe and a small fall of Linnet which included a flock of 24 along the High Street track.

Thankfully the rain held off just long enough for us to enjoy a beautiful sunset, 28 Apr © Dean Jones

29th April

Heavy rain and strong south-easterly winds in the morning brightening up by the afternoon. Moderate south-westerlies later in the day and then more heavy rain and gale-force winds by the evening.

Trickier birding today due to the weather, though there were a few nice migrants hiding around the island, including the female Sparrowhawk hunting in St John’s Valley, seven Whimbrel in Barton Field, a Common Sandpiper calling from White Beach, a single Swift over Pondsbury, two Sedge Warbler, two Whitethroat, 17 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, nine Willow Warbler, three Chiffchaff, 79 Swallow, 13 Sand Martin, 20 House Martin, a single White Wagtail, a female Common Redstart, one Spotted Flycatcher and a few migrant Wheatear, which included one Greenland-type bird on the High Street track.

Six of the seven Whimbrel in Barton Field, 29 Apr © Dean Jones

Whimbrel, Barton Field, 29 Apr © Dean Jones

30th April

Another wet, drizzly morning which cleared up nicely by 11:00. Strong to moderate west/south-westerlies throughout.

It was very quiet on the bird front, probably the quietest day yet for the spring in fact.

Birds logged on a day of planting willow cuttings in St John’s Valley, fitting new deer-proof tree cages on a number of young saplings and clearing the last of the Alexanders from Millcombe included: 11 Whimbrel, three each of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, just two Blackcap, one Sand Martin over the Terrace, six Swallow and a flock of 18 Linnet in High Street Field.

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