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.