Raptors star in a mixed arrival

Yesterday (24th April) proved a real contrast to the previous day with light winds allowing for some great birdwatching. The main valley resounded to bird song early on and Acrocephalus warblers were particularly noticeable; elsewhere there was plenty to see with flycatchers and Whinchars pretty much everywhere. For various reasons coverage of the headland was incomplete today so the following totals are likely to be underestimates: 13 Great Reed Warbler, 17 Sedge Warbler, 30 Whitethroat, 17 Nightingale, 32 Pied Flycatcher, 40 Spotted Flycatcher, 63 Whinchat, 11 Golden Oriole, 3 Hoopoe, 39 Bee-eater, 21 Woodchat Shrike, 9 Garden Warbler and 2 Icterine Warbler.

It was a great day for raptors with an early flurry of harriers around 09.00 and then a marked arrival of Red-footed Falcons at 13.00. Totals for the day were 13 Red-footed Falcons, 4 unidentifiable Falcons (probably Red-foots), 2 Montagu's Harriers, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 late Hen Harrier, 2 Harrier Sp, a Hobby and 3 Kestrel. There were also 5 Short-toed Eagle, including a flock of 4, though there was no evidence that these had actually arrived from the south.

Good coverage of Pipit Plateau yielded 10 Red-throated Pipit and 9 Short-toed Lark.

Oddities were a single Turnstone in Porto Sternes, a juvenile Night Heron in from the south at the lighthouse and a Lesser Whitethroat below Beehive Pass.

Ringing Totals: Blackcap 1,  Sedge Warbler 8,  Whitethroat 8 ,  Pied Flycatcher 4,  Garden Wearbler 7,  Wood Warbler 3, Nightingale 9,  Great Reed Warbler 1,  Tree Pipit 1,  Whinchat 2,  Golden Oriole 2,  Spotted Flycatcher 2.   
Overall total 48 birds ringed from 45m of net.

Some images from the 24th April, Pied Flycatcher, Red-throated Pipit and Short-toed Eagle.