Thursday May 8

After a day of sometimes torrential rain I thought a visit to the patch would surely produce the goods. Think again. Not a single wader on the flash, again, and no migrant passerines to speak of.

Oh well. Sharing the disappointment was Redditch birder Neil Duggan. He at least was a tick. I showed him where the Tawny Owls were, and we both photographed the one bird we located in the canopy.

The pool filled up with a dozen Tufted Ducks, and on the walk back the singing Lesser Whitethroat popped out for just long enough to allow a hastily taken shot.

More wet weather is forecast for the weekend so I guess I'll be trying my luck again.