Window cill bay

It was a nice surprise this morning to see a Chiffchaff in the garden. Only the second one I've had in 17years. It stayed for about an hour and even started singing. With the nice weather, I done some sky watching and recorded Common Buzzard,Hobby and a few Sparrowhawk over.

Quite before the storm?

With the water levels high at the viewing area the waders have been pushed off. So I've been checking the other areas of the valley and a Barn Owl was the only good bird this week.

A young female Green Woodpecker feeding on Ants.

A buff tip moth was at our front door this week. With its markings mimicking a broken twig.

Cow's suit

I've cracked it. I am gonna make millions. Forget the camouflage gear and get a valley cow suit, why? Well for the last few weeks on the patch I've noticed that the birds on the viewing area are not bothered by cattle grazing and they can get within meters of them, unlike us birders. As there is a fence around the area to stop disturbance, photography can be difficult because of the distance you are away, but if I was dressed as cow I would be able to get much closer without the birds taking flight. Only one problem, I need someone else as mad as me to wear this suit!!!!

A juvenile Black-headed gull looking very smart last night on the patch, showing its rufous upperparts and the first one of the year in the valley.

The Greenshank has been around for more than 10 days now.

Return Passage

With nine Green sandpipers and Two Greenshank, the viewing area is still pulling in waders in the last few days. Greenshank is a scarce bird in the valley and we have recorded a few already this year. So hopefully more will follow.

Wren

Friday evening our garden wren was busy feeding its chicks.