Willen Tonight

A brief stop on the way home tonight to scan for Sand Martins. There were none, but there were 2 Little Egrets by the island, Pinky the Pinkfoot flew across and landed on the island as did a Kingfisher.

Down at the Quarry

A trip down to Gayhurst Quarry tonight in the drizzle.
On the Fishing Pit, still masses of Wigeon, in excess of 250, a few Tufteds, Mallard, 4 drake Shoveler, a pair of Teal and a female Goosander. While watching these 3 Chiffchaff flitted about in the trees overhead.
In the fields behind the Pit the monster Mute Swan flock again contained the one Black individual.
On Motorway Pit, another couple of hundred Wigeon,more Tufteds, several Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Oystercatchers, a Snipe and a Little Egret.

Ouse Valley

I took a walk around some waterside meadows - most local birders will know where I mean - this morning. It was a glorious spring morning and many birds were singing, including several Skylarks and a few Reed Buntings. Nineteen Barnacle Geese were present as was a Kestrel. Best birds seen however were 2 Curlews that were foraging in the long grass. One or two MeadowPipits made themselves known as I walked around the site.

At lunchtime I stopped off at Ravenstone Sewage Works to see if any migrants had dropped in. Again Skylarks were in full song and a flock of 17 Stock Doves were on the fields.
Down at the works 3 Grey Wagtails were present, along with 4 Pieds and 7 Reed Buntings. I then heard my first Chiffchaff of the year, which eventually showed itself in the company of 2 Long tailed Tits.
Further down the road I stopped to look over the floods near to Ravenstone Mill. The only bird of note here amongst the Black-headed Gulls was a lone Little Egret.
Near to to Gayhurst I stopped to examine some interesting road-kill, which I'm fairly sure was a Polecat.