Friday April 29

Normally at this time of the year I am champing at the bit to get out, but this present period of cold weather is tending to dampen the spirits. Today was typical, with a fresh westerly breeze bringing northerly air around a low pressure system and with it lots of cloud, some sunny intervals, and showers of hail.

I am now in full winter plumage.

The birds were hard to find as expected. There was not much singing, and by the time I reached the flash field I was reflecting that the highlight of the morning had been five House Sparrows (more than normal). Some relief was gained by the presence of a pair of Shelducks, the first for about a month, and almost as unusual here in spring, a pair of Starlings on the flash with a Little Ringed Plover and a Redshank. All the Teal seem to have gone.

I was pleased to hear a Willow Warbler singing from the same patch of hedge it was frequenting earlier in April, perhaps it has set up a territory there.

The most enjoyable birding came from under the canopy of Stapenhill Wood which was providing shelter from the wind. At least four Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs, and a Treecreeper kept me interested, but I couldn't confirm any of the songs related to anything unusual.

So one or two useful birds for next week's bird race, except that I can't take part because we have friends visiting and theatre tickets to use. Perhaps I'll sneak out on Friday and do an unofficial one.

Wednesday April 27

What a strange April it has been. Tonight's visit rather encapsulated the strangeness of it all.

I had planned to go anyway, but Sue kindly texted me that she had heard the Cuckoo this morning, and House Martins were starting to build a nest under the eaves of her garage. Ironically I neither heard a Cuckoo nor saw a House Martin.

I did see a Barn Owl though. Having arrived in bright sunshine, I was making my way towards the beehives when it flew over my head. No chance of a brilliant photograph I'm afraid (I did take an appalling one) it was away over the hedge in a few seconds.

Speaking of beehives, the beekeeper was doing his stuff as I walked past.

No doubt the bees did not appreciate the cold north-westerly breeze. Obviously there was no chance I was going to see any unexpectedly early migrants, such as the Common Swift which I was startled to see flying towards me. This was my first ever April Swift here, my previous earliest one was on May 1 2011.

Shortly afterwards it started to sleet, then hail, spectacularly.

I reached the flash field which contained six Teal, two Redshanks, and a Little Ringed Plover, while 15 Swallows flew around and a male Wheatear paraded on the ploughed field.

The sky stole the show on my return journey.

The evening had one last twist. As I was driving towards the village, a party of six Fallow Deer crossed the road. A patch mammal tick for me. I slammed the anchors on, and ran round to the boot to retrieve my camera while the deer made a smart exit. Fortunately one was a little more curious than the rest.

No doubt these deer are more regular here than I had believed. I actually saw five species of mammal this evening, none of them indigenous to the British Isles; Grey Squirrel, Rabbit, Brown Hare, Muntjac, and Fallow Deer.

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.

Saturday April 23

A bonus visit due to Lyn getting the opportunity to go shopping with her friend from Australia. Thank you Maureen, I took full advantage.

I normally avoid afternoon visits, so a 13.30 start seemed less than ideal. It was also a bit chilly, particularly when great cumulus clouds obscured the sun and allowed the north-westerly wind to bite.

Initially I found only a handful of Whitethroats which were reluctant to burst into song. However, as I approached the pool a distant call caught my attention, it called again, and was evidently a north-bound Yellow Wagtail. Frustratingly I couldn't actually see it, but as I scanned I picked up a distant Sand Martin with a few Swallows.

At the flash field I eventually saw two Sand Martins, and later one with Swallows and House Martins over the ploughed field. The flashes contained two Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, eight Teal, a Snipe, and a Little Ringed Plover. Sadly the Yellow Wagtail had not dropped in.

I headed back, scanning the ploughed field to discover four male Wheatears. A Buzzard flew over from the direction of Bannams Wood. It was followed a minute later by another raptor, this time a Red Kite.

Red Kite

This used to be a real rarity here, but in the last few years they have been annual. I suppose we have lost Tree Sparrows, but gained Red Kites.

Wheatear

As I was counting Wheatears in the ploughed field I noticed a distant chat which had me wondering. I switched to the scope and discovered it was a male Whinchat. I did photograph it, but it was rather distant. A Peregrine added to the raptor tally, and as I reached the dragonfly pool field another male Whinchat gave me a second chance for a photo.

Whinchat

What a stonker !

Thursday April 21

After a couple of sunny days, and with this morning again largely sunny I was hopeful of some more migrants today. Unfortunately appearances can be deceptive, and an increasingly brisk easterly made it feel quite cold.

There were a few signs that spring is advancing; four newly arrived House Martins, two singing Whitethroats, four singing Lesser Whitethroats, and a male Wheatear. But there was nothing new to report.

Blackcap

Walking along the road, I got the opportunity to photograph a reasonably co-operative Backcap, and then found a Mistle Thrush, a pair of Marsh Tits, and a Coal Tit nest-building in Bannams Wood.

The pool contained just eight Tufted Ducks, while the Flash produced a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, and 10 Teal.

By the Pheasant pens I disturbed, appropriately enough, a pair of cock Pheasants in the final throes of a vicious battle which appeared to leave one of them moribund. I walked up to the loser whereupon it suddenly revived, eventually getting groggily to its feet and literally stumbling away through the grass.

After just coming round

He's ok

No he's not

He lives to fight another day

My accidental intervention probably saved his life.

Monday April 18

A cold grey morning with a chilly westerly breeze.

I walked the length of the road without seeing very much, noting that birdsong was somewhat understated. Eventually I dropped down the the pool to commence a more typical circuit, but things remained bleak.

At least I managed to see one of the singing Lesser Whitethroats, although even that was happier to make occasional "tuck" calls rather than burst into song. The pool now contains a pair of Little Grebes with six Tufted Ducks, while the pair of Redshanks were back on the flash along with a Green Sandpiper, six Lesser Back-backed Gulls, a Black-headed Gull, and 18 Teal.

I completed my route without adding any new migrants, so set off back to the pool, still hoping to see one of the Whitethroats which Dave had seen yesterday. Three Sparrowhawks circled, and four Swallows zipped about, but even the Chiffchaffs were reluctant to sing much.

I gave up and headed back to the car, where I was at least able to photograph a singing Yellowhammer.

Yellowhammer

Back at the car I was about to take my wellies off when a familiar song stopped me in my tracks. A Whitethroat was singing from the hedge a few yards away.

Whitethroat

Probably the commonest summer migrant which occurs at Morton Bagot, but the first of the year is always a bit special.

Sunday April 17

I didn't visit the patch today, but Dave did. He reports seeing a vocal female Redstart and two Common Whitethroats near the pool, as well as three Lesser Whitethroats.

The Redshanks appeared to be absent. Hopefully they will reappear in due course.