A six hour trek around my patch this morning failed to turn up any new summer migrants, mind you with the wind blowing from the north, which made the morning feel very chilly, I wouldn't turn up here if I was a summer bird either!

There were the odd splashes of sunshine to be had at times though, and the hardier migrants gave some territorial song during these more springlike moments, both BLACKCAP and CHIFFCHAFF numbers have increased on my patch over the last few visits. Two Pairs of SWALLOWS have returned to thier traditional breeding sites, one at the College Stables and one at the private stables opposite my house, I would expect at least 6 more pairs yet.

In the scrub around the lake it was sheltered from the wind, and song was heard from COAL TIT, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST as well as the more common ROBIN, WREN, DUNNOCK, SONGTHRUSH and BLACKBIRD. A pair of LONG TAILED tits were observed collecting lining material for their nest as I listened to the songs.

In the clearings of the scrub the early Butterflies were seen, including my first Small White of the year, Comma and Peacock.

So an average April patch walk today, just 44 species were recorded, with nothing new for the month or year list, but i'm sure my week off this week will provide something for both those :-)

I took my camera out today and took the following....

A male HOUSE SPARROW, one of a dozen or so that live around the college stables

Below is one of the Chiffchaffs, their song fills the air at the moment

Below is a Comma

Below is my first Small White of the year

Lastly a a view of the countryside to the NW of my patch

More settled weather for this mornings patch walk, although a cold NE wind blew, keeping the temperature down from the highs seen yesterday.

I had a friend walk round with me today, and I was hoping to find a new migrant species to show him, but it's still the waiting game as far as they are concerned, and no new summer visitors had arrived overnight.

The cold of the morning depressed much of the bird song and activity, and there was not much to show to my companion, but we managed to tick off a steady list of common species, as well as the summer migrants that had arrived, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, and SWALLOW. One of the highlights of the walk was hearing a LESSER REDPOLL (62) go over Migrant Alley, calling as it went.

A walk over to the lake area provided another highlight, in the form of the feral BARNACLE GOOSE (63), a plastic monthly tick, which also by the way, brings the combimed 9 year April count to the magic 100 mark! It was interesting to see it paired up with a CANADA GOOSE, maybe we will see some Canacle Geese later this year :-) Also on the lake were 3 GREYLAG GEESE, but not one Mallard!

We ended the walk with a 20min skywatch at Migrant Alley, which produced HERRING and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, a pair of BUZZARD and a calling LITTLE OWL from the small copse behind the Greenhouse Complex.

Back out again eraly tomorrow - surely a Cuckoo will call for me ?

No pics today - I thought it a bit rude to take the camera out in company :-)