Sunday April 24

Conditions were similar to yesterday, with a cold north-westerly breeze and sunny intervals.

Shortly after I got out of my car I heard a Cuckoo, unfortunately it was literally just one "cuckoo" and not a single other note was heard. A year-tick, but a bit unsatisfactory, I hope that doesn't turn out to be the only record this year.

Dave arrived and immediately relocated yesterday's Red Kite. This time it showed well for twenty minutes, and was briefly mobbed by a Raven.

Red Kite

It seemed to have an oddly shaped slot in its right wing. We wondered if it was a wing tag, but even when I have blown up the photos I have been unable to confirm it.

Unlike yesterday afternoon, Lesser Whitethroats were in full voice, and we eventually counted at least seven singing males (a site record). It is very likely that some of these birds were just passing through. Whitethroats are also on the increase, about five being logged.

The route past Bannams Wood produced a pair of Mistle Thrushes, a pair of Marsh Tits, and an adult Peregrine.

Peregrine

The water courses were pretty disappointing again, six Tufted Ducks, 11 Teal, two Redshanks, and a Little Ringed Plover. In the hedge at the flashes I had a brief view of a Sedge Warbler, and we listened to the song of a highly mimetic Blackcap which was doing its take on Blackbird and Sedge Warbler interspersed with normal Blackcap song.

Our return journey took us past three Wheatears before we found a male Redstart in a hedge near the Pheasant pens.

Redstart

This bird really gave us the run around. It took 15 minutes from the initial brief sighting before we saw it well enough to even confirm that it was one. Another migrant to put in a brief appearance was a singing Willow Warbler.

That was about it for today. The forecast is for continuing cold northerlies, but it seems the birds will get here no matter what.