The title comes from one of my favourite Simon & Gafunkel tracks,so April is here and we are in England but the weather has been decidedly unspringlike so far.Haven`t done much birding this week,just one afternoon at Stodmarsh a quick walk along the pier on Friday and a brief stroll over the cliffs this morning.On route to Stodmarsh I spotted a little owl in an old apple tree,I managed to park up and walk back and get a couple of shots off before another car came along.
LITTLE OWL Introduced to Britain from the continent in the nineteenth century.
Another introduced species was seen in a field near the village itself and acted like the aristocrats that take pot shots at it all winter,strutting around as though he owned the place.
LORD SNOOTY THE PHEASANT
The reserve offered little photographically but I managed to actually see 5 Cettis Warblers and a pair of Water Rails in a courtship chase.The first Cettis was having a dust up with a long tailed tit that was bathing in its territory,the tit took little notice and after a brief flurry of feathers resumed its ablutions.
LONG TAILED TIT After the bath.
Butterflies are out and about too given a warm sunny spell.
PEACOCK
SMALL TORTOISHELL
The Glaucous Gull remains on the hoverpad,and the first Sandwich Terns were seen in the harbour on Friday.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Numbers have been rising with 18 seen today off the cliffs.
YELLOWHAMMER Singing" Little bit of bread and no cheese".
CHAFFINCH Many birds have been seen along the clifftop recently returning to the continent.
A nice selection Phil, like the 3rd Little Owl shot the best, lots of detail.
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