April 9th 2009

The clear skies started clouding over in the middle of the night with rain showers through out the morning. There were two Oystercatcher on toft bay bank. This is the 4th day in a row this area has produced a wader species so the shoreline is going to be missed if the powers to be have there wicked way. The Green-winged Teal was flighty between toft shallows and grays barn returning to toft shallows and become very elusive and difficult to see under the willows. Rock Pipit still on farborough bank but little else and the Red-necked Grebe eventually seen out in centre and off biggen bay but distant and restless.
A three hour watch from rainbow corner produced the only visible overnight migration with a bedraggled Osprey at 7:30 am enjoyed by the early teal searchers and 200 Sand Martin, 50 Swallow and 10 House Martin over the sailing club. There were plenty of gulls at first light loafing around with 200 Lesser, Black-back and 2 Greater Black-backed Gulls. With two Great-northern Divers still present the rest of the day was quiet until 12 Yellow Wagtail appeared at 3pm on toft bank and small groups of House Martin and Swallow went through.
Also worth noting were 2 Jay, Corn Bunting, 3 Buzzard, 5 male Shoveler, Sparrowhawk 11 Gadwall, 4 Teal and in toft shallows 71 Great-crested Grebe counted in the afternoon.
Chiffchaffs have returned to my estate along with more Blackcaps than usual but Willow Warblers are still thin on the ground and had my first Swallow over the garden at 5pm

Great-northern Diver off hensborough bank 07:30am
For me this aint a bad shot considering I was not wearing me glasses

Bewarned its Easter so everyman and his umbrella could be at the pond so go early or late.

Richard