Spring in the air

8 April - A lovely cool spring morning, buds bursting and a chorus of birdsong in CWP on a visit before work, including Reed Buntings (2,3) Sedge, Willow and Cetti's Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. Also seen at Shorncote, a female Wheatear (4) with good numbers of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails, 2 pairs of LRPs displaying (5-7), a Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, Sand Martins back at their colonies on the quarry faces, 2 Swallows passing through N, and a hunting Kestrel (1). A female Redstart appeared briefly in the hedge at Waterhay. At pit 74, a migrant flock of 4 Knot was an excellent record, along with Dunlin, Curlew and Redshank.