The most perfect Sunday morning, bright sun, gentle breeze. So I was out with Willow at 7am, wandering up the hedgerow in the hope of finding the first summer migrant.
The first sign that spring has arrived for definite was a calling Curlew from the river meadows ,a first for the year ,I hear them as they arrive back on their breeding areas .A few pairs manage to hang on along the river.
Skylarks had decreased to 8, no doubt some birds had taken advantage of the clear night to migrate ,likewise the Meadow Pipits were at 24 plus, some perched on the wire fences maybe taking a break before moving on.
A small flock of birds caught my attention and at first they seemed to be all Linnets ,but one bird caught my attention and low and behold a fine female Reed Bunting showed herself, another year tick.
A Raven passed over eastwards and a pair of Shelduck zoomed over heading due north ,this was turning out to a good morning.
A small flock of 20 plus Lesser Black Backed Gulls fed on a sheep pasture , the rest of the vast numbers of Gulls we have being seeing have moved on.
Winter Thrush"s numbered 50 plus Fieldfare and just 7 Redwing today again most having moved on in the clear night.
As I got close to the cottage thinking why had I not managed to find at least one summer migrant a Chiffchaff burst into song ,another year tick and evidence that birds are arriving and departing as spring migration picks up.
Its gonna heat up over the next few weeks .
The patch list now stands at 59
