Bits and bobs from last few days

After a concerning start to the Whitethroat movement umbers have increased somewhat and we are getting some double-figure counts.

Stonechats have begun to recover after a suden plunge in numbers of nesting birds over the past few years.

The most noteworthy movement of birds on Sunday comprised of a minimum of 200 Wheatears (a single leucistic bird was amongst them, see below) and 715 Swallows seen moving in both southerly (presumably heading to Ireland) and northerly directions; 11 Sand Martins and seven House Martins were also seen with them. Two Tree Pipits, a singing male Yellow Wagtail and the male Snow Bunting were seen inland, whilst two Grasshopper Warblers, seven Sedge Warblers and 16 Whitethroats were pick of the warblers.

Poor or brief views of this bird would have you thinking it may be an Izzy, but alas just an abarent Greenland Wheatear

The rather educational Wheatear was part of another 200+ count of mostly greenland birds on the island. There were some proper stunners amongst the males

The male Snow Bunting is still on the south end