18th April

Just to say sorry for the lack of sightings recently. I had to pop up to Norfolk to visit my mother in-law, who has been unwell recently. Dave kept an eye open, but the weather patterns were not that favourable, so little turned up apart from our 2nd Wheatear of the spring and a handful of Willow Warblers and 3 Linnets.

Today was slightly better.

Reed Warbler: two were singing from the reed beds close to Hanover Bridge and near the Boathouse, areas 1 and 5.

Common Whitethroat: a male was singing in the Cricket Pen, area 31.

House Martin: two birds were over the lake throughout the day.

I was slightly frustrated this afternoon when a phone call from Adam Wilson relaying a message from Franco that 1st a Honey Buzzard and then a couple of hours later that a male Montagu’s Harrier were heading in the general direction of the park. Due to the absence of any cloud cover at the times the birds might have passed close to or over the park, searching was virtually hopeless, but I gave it ago.

Norfolk was slightly better and here are a few photos from the trip.

Shorelark

Northern Wheatear

Avocet

male (above) female (below)

Sandwich Tern

Ruff

note the diagnostic split rump

Eurasian Curlew (above) Black-tailed Godwit (below)

Marsh Harriers

Linnets were on the move in good numbers.

Woodlark (above) and Skylark (below)

White Wagtail (above) and odd looking Yellow Wagtail (below)

Meadow Pipit (above) and Wren in full voice (below)