Late April?

I question late April in my blog title as it most certainly didn't feel like late April this morning as I set off for a walk round the Obs with hat and gloves on, and in a cold biting 10 - 15 mph northeasterly wind! Even though it was cold there were a few migrants about.

From a grounded perspective I had three Whitethroats, a Grasshopper Warbler, a male Whinchat, two Sedge Warblers and a Blue Tit. Yes, a Blue Tit. In the Japanese Rose behind the sea wall I had a feeding Blue Tit and this is a long way from any suitable habitat for Blue Tits, particularly at this time of year.

 Whinchat

There was some vis early on in the form of twelve Meadow Pipits, two Whimbrels, nine Goldfinches, 32 Swallows, 18 Linnets, two Alba Wags, a Skylark, three White Wagtails and a Sand Martin.

The sea was very quiet with just an Auk sp., two Red-throated Divers, four Sandwich Terns, a Curlew and 28 Dunlins.

I then headed off to the water treatment works to remove the ropes and empty feeders form the feeding station. A number of warblers were singing including Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. I also heard a Redstart calling and just caught the end of a red tail disappearing in to cover, so it remained unsexed.

Back home in the moth trap it was very similar to recent catches with two Early Greys and four Hebrew Characters.

It's looking a bit mixed on the forecast this week so it might stir things up a bit, but whilst the weather remains fair tomorrow I have a breeding wader survey to complete in east Lancs, so it will be at least Tuesday before I am back out at the Obs again.