More Windy Weather

Highlights - Saturday 9th April 

Another day with limited numbers of grounded migrants, though at least with lighter winds in the morning observation was a bit easier, not that was much to see!

The day was redeemed by the finding of 2 Stone-curlew on the ridge crest between pipit plateau and swallow hollow; they flew off east when accidentally flushed. The Rufous Bushchat was still present in the same location.

In the early afternoon there was another small arrival of Spanish Sparrows - with eight chirping ‘balls’ of migrants whizzing  through ‘Windy Gap' in less than 15 minutes, a total of 143 were counted. Also on the move in the afternoon were Turtle Doves with 33 birds appearing in small flocks. We presume both these species leave North Africa at first light given the timing of their arrival.

Grounded Migrants: a sparse showing - 2 Wryneck, 5 Hoopoe, 5 Woodchat Shrike, 17 Short-toed Lark, 3 Nightingale, 8 Whinchat,11 Redstart, 10 Northern Wheatear, 13 Black-eared Wheatear, 3 Pied Flycatcher and 1 Ortolan Bunting.

Winter visitors are still passing through with 1 Black Redstart, 2 Song Thrush and a Robin.

Warbler numbers were also poor with just 5 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 8 Subalpine Warbler, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Eastern Bonelli's, 3 Chiffchaff and 3 Sedge Warbler recorded.

Visible Passage: Spanish Sparrow and Turtle Dove were the two species most obviously moving, there were also 17 Swallow, 2 Red-throated Pipit, 18 Tree Pipit and 10 Tawny Pipit.

Raptors: Just 2 Kestrel and 1 small falcon sp.

Bird Ringing: 14 new birds of 8 species: 5 Eastern Subalpine Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Eastern Bonellis Warbler

Weather: Wind W 5-6 increasing F 6-7 in afternoon. Generally bright with some patches of cloud.  Visibility moderate to fair.

Rufous Bushchat - present for its sixth day

Northern Wheatear at Mianes