A DEARTH OF BIRDS

The last fortnight has been extremely disappointing nay depressing on the cliffs with just a handful of migrants showing up viz-2 whitethroats 1 willow warbler several blackcaps &chiff chaffs 1 female ring ouzel minus her tail,a dozen or so swallows 1 black redstart ,4 wheatears and 3 swifts this morning.The camera has stayed in the bag most of the time with only a mistle thrush near home a little grebe at rest harrow and a lone great crested grebe in the wellington dock making the cut.

MISTLE THRUSH TUG O` WAR.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

LITTLE GREBE or DABCHICK

The first small coppers and dingy skippers put in an appearance on thursday morning during a brief bright interlude.

Hopefully May will bring a change of weather and brighten my mood.

DRIP DRIP DRIP LITTLE APRIL SHOWERS

Three wheatears and a new smart male black redstart were the pick of a poor bunch at Samphire Hoe on tuesday

MALE WHEATEAR
Wednesday afternoon went to Stodmarsh where I saw my first british swallows and sedge warblers of the year,walked along the Lampen wall to Grove first for a change,and had to take refuge from a heavy shower in Harrisons Drove hide,it lasted forty minutes,so had plenty of time to count 5 snipe 20 shoveller 10 gadwall,and a dozen teal.At the marsh hide the garganey showed well and single ruff and green sandpiper were of note along with 3 wheatears at the back.

HEAVY SHOWER AT HARRISONS DROVE

DRAKE GARGANEY

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

After an afternoons dabbling a lady needs a bath.......

........and a blow dry, thats much better.
Thursday,went to Dunge to try for the Ring necked duck which had been around for a few days,did catch up with it eventually,right over by the Dusty  Springfield bridge in the company of a dozen pochard and several tufted ducks.Before that there werequite a few sedge warblers on show a couple of willow warblers in song,lots of showy wrens and linnets a little ringed plover on ARC pit and a single house martin not to mention the large cumulonimbus over the downs dropping 18mm of rain and hail in just a few minutes.

SEDGE WARBLER

WREN IN SONG a very big voice for such a little fellow

When you hear the song of the WILLOW WARBLER you know spring is here.

This BLACKBIRD was also in good voice.

Another WREN holding court.

One of the COMMON GULLS on the reserve.

LINNET

STORM OVER SELLINDGE

RING NECKED DUCK

RND FLY PAST

IN THE COMPANY OF HIS POCHARD MATES.
The ring necked duck is a vagrant from america,but could  be an escapee from a collection,however this one does not appear to be ringed so may be the genuine article.

This one was headed for Dunge as I was leaving,looks ominous to me.

APRIL COME SHE WILL(Simon &Garfunkel)

A few bits and pieces from the cliffs at the weekend,Samphire Hoe yesterday and Stodmarsh today.

WHEATEAR & VIOLETS Langdon Hole

FULMAR PETREL

STONECHAT One pair only remain at the Hoe this spring

MEADOW PIPIT

SKYLARK Proclaiming its territory.

A Curious MEADOW PIPIT

This Vixen has just taken delivery of a large rabbit from her partner.

EARLY EARLY SPIDER ORCHID.

This pristine male WHEATEAR was at the Hoe yesterday.

ORANGETIP at Stodmarsh

The biggest surprise today was finding this pair dozing on the main lake

No doubt RED BREASTED MERGANSERS turn up occasionally but it was a first for me at Stodmarsh

The moth trap has turned up very little in the cool clear conditions,this EARLY GREY was good though.