14 nets opened at 0530 with a very strong wind delaying opening by 1 hour and restricting which nets could be opened. Most closed at 1100 with some kept open for a further 45 minutes as Chris did a guided talk for three people.

So, the bad news can no longer be avoided!!! – for the first time since Kay & I started coming here in the autumn of 2013 we failed to catch a single new bird during our netting period. In fact, for the last 7 days there have been less than 10 birds caught per day, the only 7 day period in April during the last 30 years of netting that such a low number has been caught. This underlines the really slow start to spring migration that is being experienced on Landsort and in many other Swedish observatories!

There are positives however, the island is a fantastic place to live, the islanders make us welcome and help in so many ways, the organisation is getting stronger all the time and we know the birds will come!!!

Mats & Bosse arrived on the morning ferry and spent a frustrating time trying to find any sign of spring migrants. In the afternoon Chris & Kay spent a couple of hours building new boardwalks in the west gully at SUDD. Completed in a total of 4 hours including yesterday and should now be usable for at least 10 years. Mats needs to do some repairs to the roof tomorrow but may have time to help with re-building the boardwalk in east SUDD, another major task that is overdue.

Though there were few migrants on show C & K did manage to see a female Orre (Black Grouse), a not so common here, perhaps one or two sighting annually on good years.

There are four at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Bosse and Mats.

0, Nil, Ziltch, Nada, NOL !!!!!