There was wall to wall sunshine right from the off today, making for a very warm patch visit.

The very enjoyable weather conditions today didn't provide much in the way of bird activity, with no new species added to the month or year lists. I felt sure a Cuckoo would be heard to call this morning, their median average arrival date on my patch is the 14th April, they have only been later than the 15th on 3 out the previous 13 years, so the wait goes on.

 MAGPIE

The most notable thing that happened on todays 5 hour patch walk was the sighting of 3 CORMORANTS that flew over in perfect alignment and the continued MEADOW PIPIT passage that has been under way for weeks now.

BLACKCAPS, CHIFFCHAFFS and SWALLOWS are here in good numbers now, making it all very summer like, plus all the scarcer woodland species were found today, the best of those being GOLDCREST, TREECREEPER, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT and BULLFINCH, but STOCK DOVE, JAY, MISTLETHRUSH, GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKER were also seen.

The three regular Raptor species were all up hunting over the area, with 2 SPARROWHAWKS, a group of 4 BUZZARDS and the KESTREL pair all showing well.

Whilst at home this afternoon I saw Orange Tip and Green Veined White Butterflies in the garden, visiting my ladies Smock flowers, I tried to get some images, but chances were fleeting, plus I cocked up on the camera settings with the Orange Tip, most annoying as opportunities with this species are hard fought here!

Orange Tip - just a bit over exposed  :-(

Green Veined White, not quite all in view, its hard work getting the images you want sometimes!!

Early fog was a bit of a pain this morning, not clearing until 09:00hrs, but when it did the day turned warm and sunny, the warmest of the year so far I reckon  :-)

I got round for a full patch walk, finding 48 species in all, which was a few less than recent visits, I didn't see regulars like the Long Tailed Tit, Treecreeper or the Little Owl in the Greenhouse Copse today.

One species was added to the year list though, when a lone SAND MARTIN (82,67) flew over the Ashes Lane Fields, not a regular spring sighting here, with only 7 of the 14 years having a spring record, the median average first sighting date for this species is the 14 April, bang on cue then!

The GOOSANDER had returned to the ornamental lake, but there was no sign of a Coot, the adjacent Scrubby Woods had at least 4 BLACKCAPS and 5 CHIFFCHAFFS singing, as well as the regular songs and calls from BULLFINCH, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, WREN, ROBIN, DUNNOCK, SONGTHRUSH, BLACKBIRD, GREENWOODPECKER, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, JAY and STOCK DOVE.

Flyovers today included yet more MEADOW PIPITS, I heard several singles and saw a small group of 7 go over Migrant Alley, a single YELLOWHAMMER also went over, a couple of SKYLARKS were seen, a GREY HERON, a SPARROWHAWK the KESTREL pair from the Greenhouses and a gathering of 5 BUZZARDS were also noted..

This afternoon I set off out to try and record some butterflies and maybe get a photo or two, I was successful in finding my first Comma, Orange Tip, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood butterflies, but none gave me a chance with the camera. I also saw my first Grass Snakes of the year, and back home the first Smooth newt was in one of my mini ponds, its all happening now!

In the end, despite the good light, I didn't get a single photo! Luckily I've still got a few shots of the Greenhouse Copse Little Owl that I took a few days ago  :-)

Little Owl - stick free!