I'd like to say that it's been a manic few weeks trying to keep up with all the arriving Spring migrants but the opposite is true!  Instead, in the face of high pressure weather systems, at time bringing strong winds and freezing temperatures, not much has arrived.

It would be easy to blame the impoverished pits with water almost entirely drained from the main pit and much reduced decent habitat than in previous years but, truth be told, it's been a fairly slow start throughout the County.  Any sign of movement has therefore been very welcome and the last couple of weeks have seen some further new arrivals.

For me, the headline species has been the 2 male Wheatears that arrived yesterday in strong, freezing winds and are still present today.  They are such smart birds with their grey backs, white rumps and peachy-cream breasts adding a welcome bit of colour to the pits.  They join the Little Ringed Plovers (up to 9 on 24th) as the first arrivals from Africa.

Another hint at movement came on 23rd with the arrival of the first White Wagtail of the year - a smart male - and it or another bird were present again today.

This evening the first 2 Swallows flew through the site, committed to a westerly flight path and not, it seems, tempted to linger at the diminished pits.  Unusually they have beaten the Sand Martins to it and we still await the latter birds' arrival.

Two other highlights stand out from the last couple of weeks.  Firstly, a male Stonechat appeared on 22nd and promptly set about singing - a rare sound in Herts and begs the question whether this species might consider breeding.  Sadly, something which the bird will not know is that the habitat from which it sings is ear-marked for destruction come mid-April.  A second bird was also present with both males being seen again on 24th and a single male again today.

The second highlight came this evening with a singing Little Owl - another sound that I must admit I haven't heard much before.  A mournful, hooting call made at regular intervals, quite unlike the usual sharp 'qwick' call that usually alerts me to their presence.  It is the first record at the site this year and indeed for a little while since their original nest tree was blown over in a storm.  Hopefully the singing indicates that there is a female nearby and that breeding may be resumed at the site this year.

In other bird news from the site, a variety of wildfowl remain in small numbers - up to 10 Gadwall, a few Tufted Ducks, up to 9 Shoveler and possibly as many as 15 Teal.  A few Mallards linger along with at least 6 Coots and 2 or 3 Moorhens.  At least 3 Little Grebes continue to pop up on any of the waterbodies while 6 Egyptian Geese and a few Canada Goose pairs have lingered.  Noticeable by their scarcity this year are the Mandarin Ducks with just one pair resting on the middle pool island on 21st and again on 23rd.  A pair flew over this evening too but did not land.

Migrant waders have yet to appear (aside from the Little Ringed Plovers) with Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover all expected together with an increasing range of possibilities as April unfolds.  But will they still find the site attractive I wonder?  At least 2 regular Green Sandpipers continue to use the site with a further 3 birds flying through on 23rd.  A high count of 6 Jack Snipe on 13th was nice but, with the flooded fields drying out, the count was down to 2 on 21st.  At least 30 Common Snipe were flushed on 24th - surely another potential breeder if the marshy habitat was preserved.  Encouragingly, at least 6 pairs of Lapwing seem to be taking up territory on the rough ground areas so hopefully they will follow through to breeding success.

Small flocks of about 50-100 Fieldfares remain around the site with the occasional smaller flock of Redwings passing through.  Other signs of passage included fluctuating numbers of Meadow Pipits and 5 Siskins through on 13th with singles at other times.  Crossbills seem to have vacated Symondshyde Woods now but we may still get the odd passage birds.

With the first Swallows through this evening, eyes will be to the skies for more passage birds but for now I will content myself with this Raven that flew through this evening!

With the recent additions the site year list now stands at 89 species - poised to receive all the summer migrants over the next month!

A few days earlier than last year but bang on schedule a Little Ringed Plover appeared on the mud this last Sunday 8th March. Such a welcome sight as it represents the first true migrant from African shores.  It vanished the next day but today there were 3 on site.

Whether they will find the site suitable for breeding this year is another matter. Work to 'restore' the remaining rough areas of the site to arable farmland is set to commence in mid-April - probably before these birds have settled into breeding.  Hopefully they will find a suitable corner, possibly in the remaining workings, but I shall be keeping a close eye on any established nests!

The damp, misty weather on Sunday also felt right for a Rock Pipit to drop in and while I was convinced I heard one I could not locate it.  I did however find one at nearby Coursers GPs so my hunch was correct.

A Great Crested Grebe spent the day of 4th March on the main pit - a scarce visitor but annual around this time of year.  The evening before a small flock of 27 Golden Plover flew south over the site and a few days later, on 7th, two were present on the mud for the morning.

A lovely warm evening on 5th March saw me linger late till dusk while I enjoyed great views of a hunting Sparrowhawk and then a real site rarity in the form of a Roe Deer, sneaking down the the water in the last light.  A Noctule Bat also came out and hunted over the site along with at least one presumed Daubenton's Bat.

Up to 5 Shoveler have visited the middle pool on and off while at least 2 Green Sandpipers have been seen regularly.  The flooded areas seem to contain many snipe with up to 4 Jack Snipe flushed and a peak count of at least 33 Snipe yesterday.

Spring is definitely in the air with foraging bees and a noticeable increase in midges along the track - all good fodder for the approaching hirundines hopefully!  Some notable absences so far this year in the form of Mandarin Ducks, Shelduck and Oystercatchers but there is still plenty of time for these to show up.  A pair of Mandarin Ducks did fly high over the site on 8th but declined to land.  Will we see the same numbers at the site as in previous years or will they turn their beaks up at the newly restored farmland?

The site year list has progressed to 86 species and no doubt this is set to grow with the imminent arrival of Spring migrants.  Hopefully there'll be some good ones!

With work and being away I've got a bit behind so a brief summary of late August and early September highlights below.

18th August - the site's first Black-tailed Godwit of the year finally made an appearance, with another 2 joining it on 20th.

19th August - the Barnacle Goose was present again with the Canada Geese flock and then again on 24th.

22nd August - the site's first Spotted Flychatcher since Sep 2021 was found near the horse paddocks and then another bird by the long drainage pit on 30th.

23rd August - a juv-type Marsh Harrier was seen and a Sedge Warbler was present in the main weedy area.  At least 7 Yellow Wagtails were recorded as well.

24th August - the first 3 Meadow Pipits of the autumn appeared in the evening, coming down to drink and bathe at the edge of the main pit.  A Common Snipe was also feeding at the water's edge and Stonechat numbers rose to 4 on site.  Five Swifts were also likely some of the last to be seen this year at the site.

27th August - a Wood Sandpiper was found in the long drainage ditch with a high count of 5 Green Sandpipers and 3 Common Sandpipers.  The 4th record of the species this year.
A Wheatear was also present and found the next day too.

30th August - a Whinchat was on the new fence along the main track.

31st August - a Mandarin was present on the main pit - perhaps the last for a while?

4th September - a juvenile Little Ringed Plover was probably the last for the year.  At least 10 Chiffchaffs were seen feeding in the willows over the long drainage pit water - an area that's proving very attractive to passage birds.

7th September - the arrival of a juvenile Little Stint along with a Ringed Plover brought welcome interest to the site with the stint a site year tick.  The Barnacle Goose made an appearance along with a Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat feeding in the long drainage pit.

8th September - 3 Whinchat were found and rose to at least 4 birds on 12th Sep.  These birds continue to be present on the site along with up to 6 Stonechat.

13th September - while Yellow Wagtail numbers were at 7 again, Meadow Pipit numbers had risen to at least 40 birds on site.  Swallow & House Martin passage is now a continual feature of the site along with the odd Sand Martin.

Barely had the metaphorical ink dried on my last post and the very next day it felt like autumn passage got into full swing!  The write-up has had to wait until now though as soon after I went on holiday and got back to busy-ness thereafter.

On the morning of 8th July 8 Green Sandpipers were reported so for my evening visit I had in the back of my mind that a sudden influx like this could come with a Wood Sandpiper too.  Not finding one, I had begun to pack up to leave when a wader hunched at the edge of a pool drew me back for a second look.

I had initially dismissed it as another Green Sandpiper but something about its head shape didn't quite seem right for that species.  The light was poor so I couldn't really see much else but as I continued watching so it began to feed and I realised I had a Wood Sandpiper!  Eventually it walked out of the glare and allowed the somewhat grainy record shot above. 

Other passage on 8th was also evident with an increase in gulls, including a Mediterranean Gull and a surprise early Common Gull through.  The first juvenile Black-headed Gulls also made an appearance.

Waders continued to feature during the rest of July but in a somewhat muted way.  It has officially been a poor breeding season for the Little Ringed Plovers with just a second pair raising one chick from 18th July.  This means that, in total, only three new Little Ringed Plovers have hatched this year from 2 pairs with likely less than that making it to adulthood.  It's difficult to pinpoint why it's been a poor year for them but it is likely to be a combination of disturbance at key moments in their breeding cycle and loss of habitat due to quarry restoration.

Green Sandpipers have been present throughout July, averaging about 4 birds on site with 2 ringed individuals and 2 unringed birds regularly being seen.  A Common Sandpiper appeared on 15th July and was joined by another on 19th, with a maximum of 3 counted on 27th.  Another Wood Sandpiper was seen briefly on 20th with another heard but unseen on 27th.

A Greenshank put in an appearance on 25th and an Oystercatcher on 29th.  Despite the substantial areas of exposed mud and seemingly ideal wader conditions the offering feels a little paltry for this time of year.  However, it is still early days...

Away from the water, interest included a high count of 4 juvenile Stonechats on 25th and an evening count of 167 Ring-necked Parakeets heading over the site in small groups to their roost at Stanborough Lakes.

Also flying over the site were 2 Peregrine Falcons on 26th, the first Siskin for the year on 27th and the first 3 Ravens for a while on 28th.  The site year list for 2025 now stands at 121 species.

Perhaps the most noticeable change with the new month is the arrival of large numbers of geese.  As in previous years, this seems timed to coincide with the harvesting of the cereal crops.  The goose flock on occasion has grown to almost 500 birds, among them up to 300 Canada Geese, 120 Greylag Geese and a maximum count of at least 57 Egyptian Geese on 10th Aug.

A Barnacle Goose was found with the flock on 7th and seen subsequently on and off.  The goose flock is very mobile, switching between the fields and the water and sometimes vacating the site altogether, however numbers are highest in the evening and early morning.

The first Wheatear appeared near the farm on 1st August and at least 3 were present on 14th with one seen the next day too.

In the same vein a Whinchat was found on 10th August behind the middle pool and seen again the next day - the first site record for the year.  Stonechat numbers peaked at 6 or more on 10th - all scruffy juvenile birds.

Wader passage has been almost non-existent with Green Sandpipers remaining on site but the last 2 Common Sandpipers being seen on 7th.  More noticeable has been the passage of hirundines with several flocks of House Martins (100+ on 12th) moving east with a few Sand Martins.  Swifts are also still passing through with at least 50 noted on 12th but these will be some of the last birds this year no doubt.

Yellow Wagtail passage is also underway with at 10 birds being regularly seen in horse paddocks near the farm.  Both Sedge Warbler and the site's first Reed Warblers of the year have been noted at the back of the main weedy area.  It is likely these are passage birds although it is possible they may have bred on site unnoticed. 

Perhaps the most notable record for the first half of August has been the sighting of 3 Marsh Harriers together by one observer on 13th.  The sighting involved 2 adults calling and being followed by a juvenile bird.  Harriers are certainly on the radar as they disperse post-breeding and who knows, maybe a Montagu's Harrier will come our way!

Much of the autumn remains to come and hopefully the best bits too!  It's always tricky to work out why some years are quieter than others but, given the seemingly ideal conditions, the last 2 months have not delivered the hoped for wader passage.  It is difficult to know if the ongoing quarry restoration works play a part with landscaping and new topsoil being put down - perhaps on top of formerly good feeding areas.

The 'deep pits' have been reduced to a small lake and it remains to be seen if these will be attractive to birds.  Since the new topsoil has gone down these pools have been devoid of birds other than loafing gull flocks.  The middle pool has virtually dried up while the main pit has been given an extended life as water has been pumped into it temporarily.  It too faces the same fate however with further landscaping set to greatly reduce its size.  Let's hope what is finally left recovers to attract birds and wildlife again but for the moment you can't help feeling that the site is in decline.

The month of June finished quietly as expected with much of the focus on resident breeding birds.

​The first Little Ringed Plover chicks (just 2) appeared on 17th from a nest that appeared initially to have been abandoned.  However, not so, and the heatwave may have accounted for the parent birds spending more time than usual off the eggs.

To date, just one chick survives but another nest nearby will hopefully fledge soon.  The parent birds are remarkably tenacious with the the fledged chicks' nest just metres away from quarry traffic digger tracks and the second nest on a beach frequently disturbed by bored youths and other visitors.

The latter part of June also saw a fair few Yellow Wagtail juveniles appear with at least 3 broods noted if not several more.  Another potential breeder - Corn Buntings - have also remained on site with at least 2 if not 3 birds favouring the middle pool area.

Up to 5 Green Sandpipers remained on site joined by a Common Sandpiper on 17th that was seen again on 27th & 29th.  The only other birds of note were 2 adult Grey Partridge seen on 14th and a lone Teal (an eclipse male) on 27th signalling the seasonal shift and joined by another on 30th.

July opened with a sense of autumn passage with a high count of at least 16 Little Ringed Plovers on site including 3 full-grown juveniles.  Undoubtedly part of a post-breeding dispersal with numbers returning to the usual 5-6 birds over the next few days.

Green Sandpiper numbers have stayed at up to 5 birds but it is hoped that among them might be a Wood Sandpiper soon!  A Hobby was seen on 4th along with the site's first Red-veined Darters (2) noted by visiting County Recorder for odonata species, Roy Woodward.

Along with the arrival of the Crossbills other birds seemed to be on the move too with 2 juvenile Stonechats appearing at the site.  Their appearance is in line with previous years and are likely to represent dispersing juveniles rather than locally bred birds.  A good passage of over 100 Swifts and 50 Swallows east was also noted and the Linnet flock increased from about 30 birds to well over 100.

The stage is set for Autumn passage so let's hope it's more exciting than the rather quiet Spring we've had!

May did not finish with a bang but nevertheless did hold some interest with a Cuckoo heard calling on 21st along with the arrival of 2 Common Sandpipers.  In line with annual movement of 'suspect' geese a very smart (unringed) Bar-headed Goose appeared on the same day along with a bona-fide ringed Oystercatcher.

Originating in central Asia and migrating across the Himalayas at extreme altitudes, it seems inconceivable that a wild Bar-headed Goose should ever make it to the UK.  This bird may simply be an escapee from a private collection or perhaps, a partially wild bird living as part of a feral population in the UK.  Regardless of its origins it was a very smart bird and first record for the site.  It follows the similar Snow Goose record of 2024.

The Oystercatcher sported a bright blue & yellow leg ring with white letters HE on it.  I was then able to identify this as a bird ringed by the Devon & Cornwall Wader Ringing Group on 13th Oct 2021 at Dawlish Warren on the Exe Estuary in Devon.  My sighting constitutes the only sighting away from that site and the first since Feb 2023.

It's interesting to see how far this bird has travelled and with some birds being re-sighted in Europe, who knows where it will go next?  The full history of the bird can be found here:  ​https://www.dcwrg.org.uk/recoveries/oystercatcher/bird/GBT-FJ28711 

The last Common Sandpiper was seen on 24th May but the next day 2 more Ringed Plovers appeared and another Oystercatcher on 31st May.  Another Ringed Plover was also present on 28th May.

On 27th May a new brood of Mandarin Ducks appeared - a mother with 10 new ducklings in tow.  Lapwing chicks were first seen on 21st with at least 3 Lapwing broods proved by the end of the month.

A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing on the last day of May and a pair of Egyptian Geese were noted - one of 3 pairs that have frequented the site this Spring.

The first few weeks of June saw a trickle of waders with more Ringed Plover (2 on 4th & 1 on 10th), 2 more Oystercatchers on 6th and a Dunlin on 2nd.  At least 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers continue to display around the site but as yet there has been no evidence of breeding.

Disturbance at critical moments may have not helped the Little Ringed Plovers this year with an unwelcome visit from a walker with 4 off-lead dogs and untimely ploughing by the farmer.  There is enough space on site so hopefully pairs will breed successfully in due course.

On cue with previous years, a Corn Bunting was singing on the wires along the track on 11th and then seen singing at the back of the main weedy area on 13th.  Hopefully a mate will be found and breeding will get underway again.

Both Mandarin Ducks and Lapwing have continued to be successful with a third brood of Mandarin ducklings appearing on 11th June and a fourth brood of 2 further Lapwing chicks the next day.

Of course, as June progresses, thoughts of autumn migration begin to creep in!  June is a turning point in the migration calendar and first back are the Green Sandpipers.  Almost before we began to expect them, 5 Green Sandpipers arrived on 13th - a very typical date for their return.  At least one bird was colour-ringed and studies have shown that they can make the journey from Scandinavia in one non-stop flight!

A Hobby was also hunting over the pits on 13th and 2 Grey Partridges were flushed near the ruin.  One of the partridges looked very small and could have been a juvenile.

A Meadow Pipit was feeding along the new tree planting area which renewed hopes that there might still be a breeding pair on site - although this was the first bird seen since the dog disturbance.

Elsewhere around the site insect life has exploded with a good variety of odonata including recently Emperor Dragonflies, Four-spotted Chasers and Black-tailed Skimmers.  The first Marbled White butterfly was noted on 13th along with another Painted Lady butterly.

​With still no rain, nor any forecast, water levels have dropped naturally, exposing lots more mud.  Despite good waders turning up at other sites not too far away nothing out of the ordinary has dropped in.  Two more Greenshank appeared on 15th and staying until 17th while the year’s first 2 Ringed Plovers appeared on 12th with another 2 present on 17th.  Little Ringed Plovers continue to display and stake out various areas of the site but, as yet, have not been pinned down to specific nests.

​A Marsh Harrier and a Hobby briefly on 16th were the only other highlights of the past week along with fairly regular visits from a Little Egret.  Sand Martins continue to number around 30 birds with at least 30 holes counted in the workings.  The first Mandarin female appeared on 15th with 6 new ducklings and no doubt we’ll see more in days to come.  Interestingly, at least 10 male Mandarins were found roosting on the pond in Dogsheart Spring copse.  It seems likely these are non-breeding birds (unless they really have left all the work to the females!).

​I recently spoke with a manager from Cemex the quarry operator and their plan is to continue the ‘restoration work’ shortly.  To that end they have installed a pump to remove water from the Deep Pit (on the left as you come in from Coopers Green Lane) and water levels are now falling rapidly.  Temporarily this exposes lots of nice mud but this will dry quickly and make way for the diggers to return.

​The plan is for the diggers to landscape the area leaving just a small kidney-shaped pond in the far left-hand corner.  The rest of the area will be smoothed with topsoil and will presumably be suitable for farming.  This of course is likely to mean the loss of deep water at the site perhaps making it unattractive to the Little Grebes and diving ducks.
 
The increased disturbance will also make it unlikely that Little Ringed Plovers will breed successfully in this area.  Thankfully other areas still remain available however, beyond this section of works, there are plans to drain the Main Pit (on the right as you enter the site from Coopers Green Lane) and continue with topsoil landscaping to restore as much as possible to farmland.
 
The site manager did express his reservations that water would be able to be controlled and fully expects that lakes will re-form after heavy rain.  Various elaborate pumping systems have been explored to take water off-site but no final plan is in place.  As I have mentioned before, trying to fight nature and take vital water off the land seems crazy and my hope is that nature forces the outcome!  When water is such a valuable resource and when flood zones are under increasing pressure it seems ridiculous that money and resources would be spent trying to pump water off-site and away to other systems.
 
Unfortunately, the plans are the product of many parallel thought processes and interests with little to unify them into sensible coherence.  Historic restoration plans do not seem to take into account current realities – such as the excellent habitats created by quarrying – and ecological assessments are species and habitat-obsessed such that the wider ecosystems and natural re-wilding processes are considered free to be sacrificed or ignored in favour of new planting.  Vested interests of landowners and managers that (understandably) seek profit and reward dictate that works are carried out to take advantage of current funding meaning that levelling everything and starting afresh can be the preferred option.
 
Hopefully something good will be left but for now it is best to enjoy it while it lasts!

Stable periods of high pressure, easterly winds and very little rain have made for a slow passage this Spring.  Glaringly absent from the roll-call are waders such as Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Whimbrel.  But Spring is not yet over and there have been some highlights over the last few weeks.

Perhaps top of the bill was a female Marsh Harrier that spent a few hours early morning hunting over the middle pool on 26th April.  It was constantly harassed by Carrion Crows and Red Kites but nevertheless spent some time on the ground.  At one point it sat next to a Brown Hare and they just stared at each other!

April 21st saw a little bit of movement with the arrival of the first Common Sandpiper of the year and a high count of at least 6 Wheatears on site.  The Common Sandpipers increased to 2 birds on 6th & 7th May but just one remains on 11th May.  At least 3 Wheatear hung around but the last bird was seen on 6th May.

In other wader news, Greenshank have been a feature so far this Spring with singles on 21st, 22nd & 28th April followed by 3 birds on 7th May and another single on 11th May.  Unringed Green Sandpipers were also seen on 22nd, 27th & 28th April with a very late bird on 10th May.  It is likely that these are passage birds rather than from the local overwintering population.  Three Common Snipe were seen on 1st May and at least 2 remained on 7th May.  Little Ringed Plovers seemed to have settled into pairs with at least 4 pairs on site and starting to sit on nests.

April 22nd saw a Great Crested Grebe visit the site and the next day a late White Wagtail put in an appearance.  Good numbers of Yellow Wagtails remain on site but most seem to have paired up and moved out to the fields, hopefully to breed.  A pair of Meadow Pipits have also been displaying and favouring the weedy area so it's hoped they might breed too.  A common species in the winter they are a scarce local breeder.  The site's resident pair of Grey Partridge were seen on 23rd April and again on 11th May.

Swifts arrived back on 26th April with at least 8 birds present.  Thereafter they have once again become a regular feature of the skies with overcast weather bring a flock of over 100 in the past weeks.  Sand Martins have established at least 12 holes in the quarry workings with at least 30 birds regularly on site.  Hopefully their nests will be unaffected by quarry works.

In non-bird news, Brown Hares continue to be abundant on site but less visible now the crops have grown and courtship is dying down.  Painted Lady butterflies have been seen along the track a few times while a Small Copper butterfly was seen on 1st May.

The first couple of weeks of April are almost done and I'd like to report some amazing sightings but somehow this usually peak period has drifted by quietly.  A settled area of high pressure has brought beautifully clear days with a, at times, strong and chilly east wind.  Rain and cloud cover have been non-existent and it feels as if these missing ingredients have resulted in a lack of migrant birds.  Either birds are backing up waiting to arrive or are flying over, high in the clear skies, not needing to make the usual pitstops.  That said, a steady trickle of migrants has kept things interesting if not exciting.

Full of promise and headlining the period was a stunning male Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtail of the European race flava.  Found at the pits on 27th March the bird hung around for a couple of days giving many people the chance to view and photograph it.  A perfect picture of Spring the bird suggested the start of something special but actually heralded a quiet few weeks!

While it feels the main influx of Spring migrants has yet to come, prior to the wagtail's arrival, there had been some movement with some expected arrivals in the from of Sand Martins and Swallows​ on 21st Mar.  A Wheatear was found at nearby Nashe's Farm on the same day but it wasn't until 24th that one appeared in the big field at Stanborough GPs.  A further 3 birds were then seen on 5th & 6th April.  A slow passage for this species, especially given the seemingly ideal habitat at the pits.

An Oystercatcher also put in an appearance on 21st along with another Mediterranean Gull and a Little Egret.  The evening finished with a distant circling Marsh Harrier.

Two Dunlin were present on 22nd along with a singing Firecrest while a lone Golden Plover was seen flying around on 23rd & 24th Mar and then a flock of around 50 seen flying over on 27th. A single bird then appeared again on 5th April in the large field.  Equally brief in its visits was a single Shelduck seen on 26th & 30th Mar then on 2nd and 5th April.  Also present in the large field on 23rd Mar were a flock of around 130 Fieldfare but these had dwindled to just a handful in the first week of April.

A Willow Warbler was heard singing at the entrance on 30th Mar and various reports of a Water Pipit on 31st Mar and Rock Pipit on other dates were unconfirmed.  Yellow Wagtails of the usual British race flavissima arrived on 2nd April with at least 10 present on 7th.  Two Barnacle Geese were at the site on 4th April along with a Redshank and first singing Corn Bunting of the year.  With so much of the vegetation gone it remains to be seen whether this species will breed at the site this year.  Two Yellow-legged Gulls also passed through on 3rd April.

Good numbers of Little Ringed Plovers remain on site with at least 16 counted on 7th April.  At least 3 House Martins appeared in the hirundine flock on 6th April while the long-staying 7 Pintail dwindled to just 2 pairs and were not seen after that date.  Remaining onsite were fluctuating numbers of White Wagtails, a pair of Egyptian Geese, at least 2 Green Sandpipers and up to 3 Common Snipe.  Another welcome arrval was a Common Whitethroat on 10th April.

With many of the expected migrants now arriving (the site year list stands at 105 species) the stage is set (hopefully) for something a little more special.  Rain in the forecast still seems to evaporate before arriving and the skies are set to be clear for the foreseeable future so who knows?!

They don't come much better-looking than this summer plumage BLACK-NECKED GREBE that spent the day of 19th March on the main pit!  A first for the site taking the all time total to 157.

The bird followed the arrival of 7 Pintail the day before and was joined on 19th by the first Dunlin of the year, coinciding with the arrival of very warm conditions on south-easterly winds.  Three Little Ringed Plovers were also on site along with a White Wagtail.  One observer also saw a Rock Pipit (possibly the same bird from 16th?) but others were unable to find it.  The site's first Mediterranean Gull for the year - a second winter bird - was also seen on 18th.

The warm conditions (18+ degrees Celsius) saw the site's first butterflies of the year too - a Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.  The 20th March saw further movement with Little Ringed Plover numbers up to 5 by the end of the day and a first winter Mediterranean Gull that slowly circled through the site without alighting.

The weekend ahead holds changeable weather including some heavy rain so could be a recipe for more arrivals.  The site year total now stands at 94 species.