Med at last

15th March - whilst listening to the climax of the 6 Nations on the radio - it was fate that Ireland won, especially after France's missed penalty and try in the last 5 minutes - I took my daughter down to the Little Owl site.  We sat for ages, as the light faded - a Buzzard moving from telegraph pole to telegraph pole can't have helped.  Eventually, at 6:45pm, I gave up and started the car up just as a Little Owl appeared at the top of the dead tree.  My first sighting this year despite several attempts.

In the morning a whistle stop visit to Pump Lane to check for Wheatear drew a blank.  A Blackcap in full song by the car was nice though.

16th March - Alan S had a huge gull roost the previous day and a flyover Woodcock at dusk, so I decided to give the roost a go tonight.  It's so nice to have a gull roost again after all the flooding had moved them elsewhere.  Lots of gulls arriving all evening, predominantly Common of which there were easily over 2000 birds and BHG almost as many.  Fewer than 100 LWHG and mainly Herring, but nice to get these back on site as well - still time for a scarcer LWHG to come in!  Almost unbelievably a Med Gull has eluded the site so far this year, so it had to happen and I eventually picked out a nice adult bird in full summer plumage, apart from a small fleck of white above the bill.  It flew to the main Common Gull congregation on the spit and luckily stood at the front.  The light was dipping, so as ever, I was unable to focus the camera.  A truly awful record shot just about shows the bird - it's the one with the black head and red bill!

A large flock of 10 Shelduck was also present.  I tried for the flyover Woodcock without success.  I also missed Sand Martin seen earlier in the afternoon and LRP seen briefly yesterday.

18th March - nothing much to report from today.  A Redshank was on the spit and at least 12 Snipe.  A pair of Shelduck and plenty of singing Chiffchaffs too.