Nets were open again at Cristin from early in the morning, and again a number of finches were trapped. Yet another Common Redpoll was caught, along with eight Lesser Redpolls and 16 Goldfinches. A male Brambling also paid a visit to the observatory garden, but failed to find its way into the nets. In the afternoon a wave of Wheatears arrived from nowhere and in a short space of time 53 of them were present around the Narrows and the west coast. The first Common Sandpiper of the year was discovered on the rocks near Cafn, and a Grasshopper Warbler was nearby. Other noteworthy birds seen included a Tree pipit, 25 Willow Warblers, ten Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, five White Wagtails, 17 Swallows, two Ringed Plovers, a Snipe and a Collared Dove.

This smart male Blackcap sang from the Obs Sycamore for much of the morning (c) Richard Brown

Moth trapping has only just begun on the island this year, but already a new species has been added to the island list. Two Blossom Underwings in the trap in Cristin Withy were probably migrants that had only recently arrived.

Blossom Underwing (c) Richard Else