April 2nd 2011

Last night remained clear till dawn when the cloud started building up from the south and spoilt my view of the space station only getting on to it when it was in the east against an impressive pink sunrise.
The wind was stronger than expected so should have gone to the pond first but had decided to work the valley then bush hill hoping for grounded migrants and flyovers. Hill Road still had 4 of yesterdays Golden Plover joined by a male Wheatear and 7 Meadow Pipit while Grandborough Field could only muster a Mistle thrush around the horse paddocks.
As I settled down on bush hill both Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail were present but despite my efforts there was not a lot going over with only 10 Meadow Pipits, 4 Fieldfare and female Goosander seen all morning. Things picked up in the afternoon with Osprey at 13:40 heading north followed by another that was much lower down at 15:20 heading north east while in between 20 Swallow, 150 Sand Martin and 30 pipits and 20 wagtails passed through. Also seen were 2 Raven, 9 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Bullfinch, Corn Bunting and 2 Red-legged Partridge locally.
I called in on the pond hoping it would be quieter – not too many folk around though a few undesirables were racing round burning rubber and acting suspiciously around the car park. At least 3 Yellow Wagtail in the country park along with White Wagtail and first summer Little Gull in toft bay joined briefly by a Common Tern which flew off east. Only other birds of note were with 2 female Pintail resting in grays barn and a first summer Med Gull in the roost.
I stayed late so I could enjoy the darken sky’s and observe the rings on Saturn with Tawny and Little Owl calling so by the time I arrived home I had been in the field 17 hours and crashed out after a curry.

Richard