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.

Shorncote evening

31 March - An evening trip to Shorncote, and no Bittern (has it moved on?) but a nice group of Little Ringed Plovers were displaying, and Lapwings are also nesting. Shelduck, Water Rail, Little Egret and Cetti's Warblers made up the usual supporting cast.