Garganey pit 74........

30 Apr - 2 drake Garganey on the scrape mid-morning, they seem to appear on and off. Smart birds. Otherwise fairly quiet, Swifts and Sand Martins now much in evidence.

Slimbridge

29 Apr - I had to go to Slimbridge this morning, so I opted to visit the hides - well worth it, with both an adult and a 1st-year Little Gull on South Lake, and a pair of superb 2 yr Mediterranean Gulls on the Rushy. Amazing close views of the breeding Avocets on the lagoons, also summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits.

Ham Wall

28 Apr -

Spring back in England......

24-26 Apr -

Tarifa 19-23 April

Blakehill

18 April -

Avocets and Med Gulls.......in Glos

17 April -

Eysey

April 16 - A quick post-work look at Eysey, and 3 LRPs seen well, also Oystercatcher in flight.

Waterhay

15 April - A quick look at Waterhay this morning, and a passage of mixed hirundines included my first House Martins and Swifts of the year. Also my first singing Reed Warbler amongst the Sedge Warblers in the reedbed. Unusually 4 Jays out in the open, and good numbers of Warblers now widespread.

Nightingales and Warblers.......

14 April - 2 Nightingales singing well at pit 43 this morning, hard to see but 1 perched up briefly, though obscured. Also Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler new in. An obliging Green Woodpecker was less wary than usual. 6 Black-tailed Godwits circled pit 74 at 7.15 pm. No Ring Ouzels at Liddington late morning, reported earlier but as usual extremely elusive. Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings and Kestrels much in evidence.

Blakehill revisited......

April 12 - Nice views of 3 Wheatears, a male and 2 females, along the central track, Skylarks very active singing and setting up territories. A Swallow over.

CWP Little Gull etc........

9 April - A good find - an adult Little Gull hawking for insects at pit 83 along with Black-headed Gulls. Very smart as usual, striking black underwing and almost complete black hood with grey primaries, and distinctive tern-like buoyant flight. More Warblers also now in, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Sedge Warbler all singing.

Shorncote patch.......

8 April - An enjoyable morning, with classical spring showers and a few migrants. Highlights included a male Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail and my first Sedge Warbler of the year, along with singing Blackcap and Willow Warblers, Sand Martins prospecting the quarry, and good numbers of Meadow Pipits, together with the usual residents - Cetti's Warblers, Chiffchaffs, a Water Rail, 2 Little Egrets, and lingering Shoveler and Teal. A cacophany of bird song now that April is well under way, from the resident Reed Buntings, Thrushes and Robins. One Little Ringed plover seen feeding, Lapwings incubating and several Snipe seen.

Odds and Ends........

7 April - to and from the Oxford Literary Festival.........a male Stonechat the highlight at Liddington, but no Wheatears or Ring Ouzels. A quick look at Farmoor en route home revealed the 2 Great Northern Divers still on F1, and 2 bright Yellow Wagtails on the causeway along with several Reed Buntings. 15 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows feeding over the reservoir and a Willow Warbler singing in the car park.

Cleeve Hill early morning.......

April 5 - Early morning at Cleeve Hill, and, after a search, good but fairly brief views of a male Ring Ouzel feeding on the slopes at the northern end. Always elusive, and a challenge to see and watch undisturbed. 2 Swallows flew N, and Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Skylarks and Yellowhammers also logged. En route home, a brief circuit at Waterhay produced 3 singing Willow Warblers and a singing Blackcap, as well as 20+ Sand Martins. A beautiful spring morning.

Springlike Farmoor

3 April - A very productive late morning at Farmoor - a springlike feel, with Swallow, Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler all logged. A smart adult summer Little Gull was on F1....Oh, and the long-stayers, summer Red-necked Grebe, and 2 Great Northern Divers, still present......

Blakehill - and Wheatears.......

2 April -

Greenham Common

1 April - An early morning visit to Greenham in fine weather, and both singing Woodlarks, and skulking Dartford Warblers, obliging in the end, after a bit of searching. Also Stonechats, Meadow Pipits and Linnets, a smart flock of Golden Plovers circling the airfield, and Red Kites much in evidence. A quick stop at Blakehill on the way home produced the bonus of a circling Peregrine, and singing Skylarks in full voice.