Sandwich Tern

My regular ride into work this morning took me along the north shore of Gunwade Lake where a migrant party of about 20 Meadow Pipits were leaping about restlessly. I was just moving off from there when I heard a distant call that sounded like a tern. I scanned the lake again looking for a possible early Common Tern but then heard the call again, this time unmistakably from a Sandwich Tern. I soon saw there were two birds flying over the lake getting some hassle from the local Black-headed Gulls; had they just arrived?

I just had time to make a couple of phone calls and get the scope set up when they headed off high to the north over Milton Park never to be seen again.

Only my third encounter with the species in the area I think. A true rarity.

102 Sandwich Tern

Afterwards, on my way through the reserve, I got my first Willow Warbler of the year sinigng.

103 Willow Warbler

Swallow

True to form the Egyptian Goose that was on Heron Meadow in the early afternoon was nowhere to be seen when I cycled through on the way home. A Swallow was with a good 50-60 Sand Martins.

101 Swallow

Brambling

Things have been getting a bit frustrating. Stuck on 99 with any number of possible additions being seen by others (Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Egyptian Geese, Curlew, Water Pipit and even a mythical Raven) I just don't seem to be able to connect with anything. The Egyptian Geese keep vanishing whenever I'm at Ferry Meadows, and, despite several attempts, Lesser Spots remain off the list. Even the trickle of early migrants like Swallow, Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler have avoided me.

However, this lunchtime I did the circuit out to the High Wash and, at the limit of my journey along the green wheel on the northern edge of King's Dyke NR, I heard an unfamiliar call. There were quite a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches by the track, then I noticed the Brambing up in one of the trees. Just then it flew off past me and kept flying west. Frustratingly brief views but a tick nonetheless and the century up at last.

100 Brambling

Marsh Harrier

The only birds of real note in a lunchtime tour of the North Bank, High Wash and Bradley Fen were three Marsh Harriers.

99 Marsh Harrier

Oystercatcher

I don't want to complain too much but this is now two dips in two days. Lesser spot yesterday and now Egyptian Goose today. The latter disappeared from the Ferry Meadows area between mid-morning and when I got there at around lunchtime. At least the Oystercatcher that has been on Overton Island for some time finally showed itself.

98 Oystercatcher

Nuthatch and Jack Snipe

Rode through Old Sulehay this morning on the way to Thornhaugh Quarry. Plenty of Nuthatch activity in the wood but no Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers unfortunately.

Thornhaugh Quarry produced the usual array of snipes with 15 Common and 3 Jacks.

96 Nuthatch
97 Jack Snipe

Sand Martin

Just two days later than last year a couple visiting nest holes at the Town Bridge this morning. They were reported yesterday.

95 Sand Martin