Not a bad day!

May 30 - an excellent haul of species today.......first of all, distant views of a Honey Buzzard in the New Forest, with Goshawk and Hawfinch also seen, and Wood Warbler and Firecrest heard. Then positive news from Titchfield, and superb close views of the long-staying Greater Yellowlegs,now in summer plumage. A Med Gull was on a nest among the Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns. Then a well-timed text had me returning home via the eastern sector of the Water Park, and distant scope views of a female Red-necked Phalarope on pit 125, a real CWP mega. 4 Hobbies fed overhead. A good day!

Coombe Hill

May 25 -

Mountain birds.......20-24 May

Black-necked Grebes, and a Hobbyfest

May 16 - good views of the 3 summer-plumaged Black-necked grebes on pit 74, found by Nigel Pleass this morning. Also 3 Hobbies feeding over pit 74 and at least fourteen over 57/42/41 feeding on insects. A spectacular sight.

Farmoor excellent as usual......

May 15 - A Black-throated Diver still at Farmoor for its second day in full summer plumage, but unfortunately in the centre of F2 so record shots only...... Also a superb summer-plumaged Sanderling on the causeway, together with a Dunlin - a Cuckoo calling - 15 or so Common Terns - and a Yellow Wagtail at the water works.

North of the Border

14 May - A sunny West Highland day on Ben Vorlich, Arrochar, and a good selection of mountain birds on territory - 3 Cuckoos calling, a singing Whinchat, 3 Tree Pipits and many Meadow Pipits, 3 Wheatears, and a singing Ring Ouzel heard. Also flyover Ravens and Hooded Crows, and Siskins and Redpolls around the forest edge. A quick look at the Esk mouth at Musselburgh revealed far fewer waders and duck than a winter visit, but 21 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the tide edge, 2 Whimbrels flew over and 3+ Curlew feeding. 80+ Oystercatchers were gathering to roost. Eider numbered over 100 and a pair of Goosander and a pair of Wigeon also present.

Shorncote......and a Spoonbill!

May 11 - A pleasant couple of hours early morning at Shorncote, with a few waders around, namely 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Dunlin, together with 3 migrant Ringed Plovers, 2 LRPs and 15+ territorial Lapwings, including an adult with 2 chicks. 3 Yellow Wagtails were seen briefly, and posed for the camera. Warblers were singing everywhere including 4 Sedge and 2 Reed, Whitethroat, 2 Garden, a Blackcap, with at least 4 Cetti's. A Cuckoo flew over and a Green Woodpecker called. At least 14 noisy Common Terns were displaying, hopefully they will breed on the island.

A quick return visit after work was required when I was informed about a Spoonbill which had arrived at pit 74. Distant scope views were had, and the bird, an adult, even woke up briefly to preen and show its bill.......

Blakehill

May 10 -

Hobbies galore

May 9 -

Election Day birding

May 7 - a bit of evening sanity, before the long night begins........my first Grasshopper Warbler of the year, singing at Knighton, also there Sedge and Cetti's Warblers. Earlier, at CWP, a total of 7 Hobbies at pits 57, 42 and 74. A brief view of 3 Sanderling at pit 74 that flew off, also 2 LRPs and 2 Little Egrets there. A good Warbler chorus and a close Nightingale seen and heard.

Swifts......

5 May - The first Swift of the year over the house this morning, despite the gales and rain.....spring is trying to win out.

Spring morning in the Water Park

May 4 - A lovely Mayday bank holiday morning, still and sunny, and CWP bursting with Warblers of 9 varieties - only Grasshopper missing - also 4 Cuckoos and 3 Nightingales heard.

Farmoor in May......

May 3 - I managed a couple of stops at Farmoor this w/e, the highlight being close views of a flock of 5 migrant Sanderling on the causeway, together with 4 Dunlin - and Whimbrel heard calling overhead. Also seen - 2 Yellow Wagtails with the Pieds, a brief Little Gull and a Hobby feeding low over F2.

CWP Hobbies......and Blakehill migrants

1 May - another quick stop at CWP to try to photograph the Hobbies, up to 4 seen feeding over pit 57 and 1 or 2 fairly distant pics taken.

At Blakehill, a productive hour, with a Yellow Wagtail in the cattle field and Wheatear and Whinchat along the fence line. Also 7 Whimbrel still, and a singing Lesser Whitethroat.