A shift back to the wet and windy Spring days we’ve been having recently. But a moderate south‑easterly wind at force five, gusting seven meant birds were on the move. Visibility moderate to poor as light rain moved in sheets through the island, occasionally relenting for no more than ten minutes.

After last night’s Manx Shearwater walk, the students were treated to a massive lie in, having to meet a member of staff for census at …. 8am. After shadowing either Steve, Ezra, Joel or Saffron for census, Joel went through the moth trap with the students. Steve then followed lunch up with an identification session with the students, running through the identification of a lot of the migrants that were to be expected this week. They then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the island and returned to the Observatory for log and a bonus talk from Steve.

A handful of warblers were fresh in, including a noticeable increase of Blackcaps. But the star of the show was incredible Goldfinch migration with the highest recorded count seen moving through the island, mainly in large flocks.

A handful of seabirds were recorded today. Manx Shearwaters totalled 19 and Gannets reached nine. Cormorants numbered five whilst lots of Shags were noted, totalling 31, with 23 along the West Coast.

Five Shelducks were seen between the beaches and Mallards reached 14. A single male Gadwall was at Pwll Cain. Moorhens totalled 5 with a pair on Tŷ Pellaf pond successfully hatching two chicks.

Raptors included two Sparrowhawks, a female sat above Cristin and a male flushed off the mountain. The resident male Peregrine was seen chasing small passerines attempting to leave the island at the North End.

Whimbrel migration appears to made a proper start with 11 seen across the island including seven birds by the North End hide. Elsewhere, a Ringed Plover, four Turnstone and two Snipe were seen. Oystercatchers reached 99.

Two Sandwich Terns were at Solfach, flying close by the students at times. Razorbills reached 29, with 26 rafting off the South End.

Swallows reached 19, with birds moving north and south. A House Martin moved south through the North End.

Meadow Pipits totalled 44 and Rock Pipits, nine. Pied Wagtails were seen at several places on the island totalling up to five. Only three ‘alba’ wagtails flew over, heading north.

Stonechats numbered seven, including pairs at the North End and Carreg Bach. Wheatears reached 11, with eight at the South End, including a Greenland‑type bird. Blackbirds totalled nine across the island.

A high Blackcap count relative to 'phylloscopus' warblers today, reaching 19, with 13 at Nant. Chiffchaffs totalled 27 and Willow Warblers totalled 22.

An incredible day for finch movement with the highest ever day total for Goldfinch with 520 moving over the island through the morning in decently sized flocks of 20-40. Good numbers of Linnet were also recorded moving with 227 recorded. Two Lesser Redpolls were recorded flying over the Mountain and the Wetlands and a single Chaffinch was at Tŷ Pellaf.