A great Spring Day

Late April is often rewarding and today was certainly a great day to be out!

The day started with Viz mig at the Cliffs. Gary H was already there when I arrived and we had a reasonable selection of migrants overhead, c60 Yellow Wags, a light passage of Swallow, a few House Martin and 1-2 Sand Martin Linnet, Goldfinch, Mipits, 1-2 Redpoll also noticeable was a good corvid movement, plus 6+ Med Gulls, I added 4 more a little later as well. There were also 5 Wheatear in the car park.

We finished at 7.50 and I was back there with my group for the day at 8.20, there were now 7 Wheatear, plus 4 more Yellow Wags & 4 more Mediterranean Gulls over.

Down at Holme there was at least 13 Wheatear between the entrance gate and the Obs. A Ring Ouzel was heard calling from the forestry area, but wasn't showing. However, 2 Cuckoo, 5+ Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler and 4+ Common Whitethroat were all very showy. We had several Sandwich Tern offshore and a sprinkling of Swallow, Meadow Pipit and Yellow Wagtails continued overhead. Plus a further 4 adult Mediteranean Gulls passed through.
After a call from Gary at the Obs we dashed up there and were very fortunate to watch a Cuckoo being weighed, measured and ringed. Also Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat watched being ringed.

We took lunch, watching 4 "Northern" Golden Plover, these fully black bellied forms were in their full summer finery, beautiful birds!

After lunch we were treated to stunning views of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler as it sat atop the brambles reeling, we had a full stereo effect with a second Grasshopper Warbler responding nearby.

We finished the day off with excellent views of 3 Cuckoo chasing each other and close up views of flying and perched Marsh Harrier.

Insects were evidence in the warm afternoon sun - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Small White, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood. Plus along Bakers Carr the first Hairy Dragonfly, rather early for this I thought.

Cuckoo ringed by Gary Elton