Easterly winds finally produce a Great orme fall of migrants!

With reports of 60+ Willow Warblers ringed prior to 9am on Hilbre, 16+ Whinchats at Point of Air and Montague's Harrier at South Stack - it seems like there was a fall of migrants along the coast during he night. Despite the strong easterly wind which made birding quite tricky, a good number of birds were present on the Great Orme.

Pride of place went to the first Black Redstart of the year, which fed in the hawthorns and along the path by the wall. Three very smart male Yellow Wagtals flew east, low along teh wall at 6.30am. 3 Whincchats were dotted around the limestones, a Grasshopper warbler in the Gulley, Lesser Whitethroat at Powell's well and a supporting cast of Common Redtsart, Whitethraots, Blackcaps, 20+ Wheatear, 3 Swift and a constant trickle of House Martin, Swallow and Sand Martins. 50+ Willow Warbler was a conservative estimate, with most gorse bushes and hawthorns containing birds. In fact, I sat in one spot for 20 minutes and had 12 birds fly east along the heather, showing that they were constantly on the move.