Crested Lark at Dungeness - and a look at Elmley

30 April - I delayed my Spain trip by a day, and a visit to Dungeness resulted in views of the Crested Lark, seen several times in flight (upper photo, copyright Dungeness Bird Observatory) with its distinctive profile, then finally on the ground through the scope. A look at Elmley en route home produced excellent views of a pair of Marsh Harriers with the male displaying - also Avocets on the nest (centre pic, JM) and several Yellow Wagtails including singing males. A Hobby flew over and was seen well (lower pic, JM).

Whiskered Tern photos

25 April - a couple of shots of yesterday's Whiskered Tern, copyright James Lees WWT. A flock of 11 has been in Derbyshire!

Frampton and Slimbridge spectacular

25 April - an excellent spring visit to the Severn. First, I dashed to Frampton sailing lake and managed to see the Whiskered Tern 5 minutes before it flew off high towards the estuary (top, record shot) - it was later seen at the 100-acre. 5+ Swifts were also over the sailing lake. Then Saul Warth produced 2 drake Garganey, and Fretherne foreshore held 5 Whimbrel(lower). Slimbridge gave a real bonus in the form of a 2nd summer Med Gull on South Lake, then Zeiss Hide produced an excellent selection of waders - 3 Greenshank and a summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, together with a male Ruff, a Spotted Redshank moulting into summer plumage, and 2 Ringed Plovers. An excellent trip.

Bar-tailed Godwit in the CWP

24 April - a CWP tick! while looking for Hobbies at pit 57, I scanned the "beach" on the far side and picked up a dumpy Godwit in scaly winter plumage with a fairly short bill and legs - when it flew, no wing bar - Bar-tailed! A pretty rare bird in the CWP, not seen annually.
3 Hobbies were also seen hawking over the far side of 57/58.

Upton Warren

23 April - a brief stop at Upton Warren on the way back from a Birmingham meeting produced good views of the 8 Avocets on the Flashes, also 4 LRPs and 2 Common Sandpipers (my first of the year), together with 3 Snipe and a Redshank. A Cetti's warbler sand from the reedbed.

Hobbies back at CWP

22 April - a late evening check on CWP was livened up by 3 Hobbies feeding over the new lagoons at the back of pit 74 viewed from the gate - distinctive flight and colouration, grey upperparts/lighter underparts, rufous thighs and moustachial stripes all viewable through the scope despite the gathering gloom. Also a Redshank there, and 2 Oystercatchers still on Kent End Quarry.

Local odds and ends

19 April - Lesser Whitethoats seem to have arrived - one singing at Blakehill, and one by pit 95.
The usual waders at Keynes Park pit 79 area - 8 LRPs and 3 Redshank, RPs not seen today in a quick check. Reed, Sedge and Cetti's warblers all singing in the small reedbed at the N end of pit 31.

Ashleworth Ham

18 April - an early evening visit to Ashleworth produced excellent views of 3 male Redstarts, presumably actively setting up territory. Otherwise rather quiet, not many warblers, but 3 Curlews and a Little Egret.
On a very brief stop before work, 2 Nightingales were audible from the road at Swillbrook.

Arctic Tern photo

17 April - A fantastic Arctic Tern photo from (copyright) Nic Hallam at Farmoor, a similar bird to the one I saw there on Weds 15th (along with the Bonaparte's Gull....)

CWP pit 16 - Terns

16 April - a visit to pit 16 at CWP after this afternoon's heavy showers produced at least 3 Arctic Terns together with 4 Common Terns, but no Little Gulls. A large flock of hirundines fed low over the water, at least 400 birds, mostly Sand Martins but with a few House Martins and Swallows.

Farmoor this evening

15 April - an evening visit to Farmoor gave good views of the adult Bonaparte's Gull in the roost on F1 (upper) - slightly smaller and more delicate build than the Black-headed Gulls, with a more slender bill and a white underwing, and a slightly darker mantle. Also seen there, an Arctic Tern with the Common Terns, and at least 6 Yellow Wagtails (lower, both pics copyright Farmoor Birding).

Nightingales at Swillbrook!

13 April - an evening visit in fine weather, and 2 Nightingales singing at Swillbrook pits 46/48, one close to the path. Wonderful rich song and always special to hear it for the first time each year.

Grasshopper Warblers and Woodlark

13 April - an early morning visit to Otmoor, and 2 Grasshopper warblers reeling in the field by the car park (heard but not seen), also 2-3 Whitethroats - 7 warbler spp in total including a Cetti's.
A quick look at Farmoor produced 3 Common Terns but no Yellow Wagtails...and I missed the Bonaparte's Gull seen again briefly later in the day!
Finally a walk at Greenham Common eventually produced a distant singing Woodlark (pic), but the Dartford warblers have been hit really hard by the cold winter - one heard calling but none seen. They used to be really easy to see here.
I saw 7 Red Kites during the morning while driving between birding sites - 3 over the A34 at East Ilsley, and 4 from the A4 just east of Hungerford. They certainly seem to be expanding in both numbers and range.

Cleeve Hill and Slimbridge - Ring Ouzels, Wheatears and Avocets

11 April - an early morning visit to Cleeve Hill produced excellent views of at least 4, possibly 6, Ring Ouzuls, all males - they were typically flighty and elusive - upper photo copyright Paul Masters. A Cuckoo flew over - my earliest ever - and 3 Wheatears were on a cut area further east (lower).
A female Garganey was at Saul, and then at Slimbridge 3 Avocets were in front of Zeiss Hide and a Reed warbler was singing. Glos year list is now 128.

CWP again

10 April - Cloudy but dry, LRPs and RPs displaying actively at pit 79 Keynes Park, Dunlin and Redshank also present - a pair of Redshank seen copulating at Kent End Quarry as well, and 5 Snipe at the quarry. The first Sedge warbler in exactly the same place as last year at pit 6, with a Cetti's warbler also heard there. Willow warblers and Blackcaps now fairly widespread.

Otmoor

5 April - an early morning visit to Otmoor, arriving as the overnight mist was starting to clear. Very atmospheric with Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank calling in the fog. A singing Sedge warbler was a surprise, followed by 2 Willow warblers. Cetti's warblers and a Water Rail called in the reedbed.
As it warmed up a few raptors appeared, sadly not including any Harriers but a couple of Red Kites were seen.
The sunrise pic is from Otmoor birding, copyright Adam Hartley.

Swallow from the window!

4 April - the first Swallow of the year flew over the fields by the house late afternoon, seen from my window - it seemed to keep on going N so may not be one of the local birds.

CWP migrants trickle in

2 April - a misty morning in the CWP - 7 spp of wader seen, including 4 LRPs, 2 Ringed Plovers, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher. 10+ Swallows were over pit 12 with the Sand Martin flock, 2 Blackcaps singing at Swillbrook but no Willow warblers yet. The usual Cetti's warblers and Water Rail were calling at Waterhay reedbed (68d). The LRP pic is copyright Steve Burch - they are now actively displaying on suitable areas.
En route home, a Raven was over Blakehill but no sign of any Wheatears after a clear night.