April action

There's been very little unsettled weather for much of April, resulting in a distinct lack of notable drops of migrants. While all 3 hirundine species have been seen, none have been in any significant numbers, while species such as Yellow Wagtail have been very hard to come by.

Still, the migrants did trickle in and there's been some nice local highlights. A surprise Cattle Egret was a good find - appearing on Graven Hill flash in Bicester, before relocating to Bicester Wetland reserve - a first for the site.

Gareth and I also had a couple of particularly good Grimsbury Res patch birds on 16/04, with an early morning fly-through Great White Egret, following by a Sandwich Tern, that dropped in for a short while with a couple of Common Tern. Only my second patch records for both species.

Migrants began to appear in with Sand Martins, Willow Warbler, Blackcaps etc etc. Wheatears were thin on the ground, particularly compared to this time last year. Hinton Airfield, a local hotspot for them did eventually provide the first couple on 14/04.

A few winter visitors were also clinging on, particularly Bramblings as they filtered their way back to Scandinavia or perhaps Russia, after a really bumper winter for them here in the UK. A bit of singing was heard both in Brackley and Hinton Airfield, while the latter also held an almost complete summer plumaged male with a black head. Both were firsts for me.

Fingers crossed for an increase in interest and a few more scarcities over the coming few weeks!

Away days in Norfolk

Had a lovely, sun-filled 5 days (18/04 - 22/04) in north Norfolk on a family holiday last week. Lots of family stuff going on, but a few snatches of birding here and there. Being north Norfolk too, you're never too far from decent birds.

Birding highlight of the week goes to the adult Red-Breasted Goose (a lifer for me) clinging on with what were still good numbers of Dark-Bellied Brents off Blakeney Quay. An amazingly stunning bird that fingers crossed, buggers off soon, to add to it's credibility!

Other highlights included a male Ring Ouzel, Whimbrel, Firecrest, Gropper, Bearded Tit, Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, Barnacle Goose, Whooper Swan, as well as first for the year Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat.