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!

Rather than write a lengthy review of 2025 I thought I'd simply summarise in a paragraph or two...

Despite misgivings about the future of the site at the start of the year, 2025 proved to be one of, if not the, best years on record with 134 species recorded over the whole year - 3 up on last year.

An additional 7 new species were added over the course of the year taking the all-time total to 163 species.  March saw the addition of a smart summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe followed on 13th April by a distant Purple Heron part of an influx into the country that week.  An overdue Crossbill became the first known record for the site on 6th July with many more arriving later in the year.  September saw the addition of a stunning male Redstart on 14th followed by the discovery of a Dartford Warbler on 21st - one of several that appeared in the County from autumn onwards.  The year saved the best to last however with a Pectoral Sandpiper found on 1st October that lingered a few days and then a Lapland Bunting on 4th November.  If accepted, the latter would be a first for the County.

The year also saw the addition of two new 'escapees' that fall short of truly wild status: an Alexandrine Parakeet on 13th Jan and a Bar-headed Goose on 21st May.  Both very smart birds and worthy of note regardless of their status.

Once again the New Year presents a very different site from that of January 2025.  Much of the worked gravel areas and open water have gone with just 3 key pools remaining.  These are also subject to reduction by pumping and still their future remains uncertain.  Elsewhere most of the land has been returned to arable/sheep-grazing fields, divided up by new fencing and presumably eventually hedgerow planting.

All of this means that it is likely that the site will not be as attractive to birds as it once was but while areas continue to be disturbed and worked there is hope.  Whether Little Ringed Plovers and Sand Martins will still find areas to nest in remains to be seen but based on other restored sites around St Albans it seems unlikely.

As well as the so-called 'restoration' work another dynamic seems to be at play.  The latest tool in the developer's arsenal - Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits - have meant that areas such as Stanborough GPs may well form part of a 'BNG Habitat Bank'. Developers elsewhere (anywhere!) can purchase 'offsite' BNG units thereby fulfilling their obligations to increase biodiversity.  They must be able to demonstrate a minimum 10% uplift in biodiversity (not much really) so to make it even easier it is best if the banked habitat is degraded first so its low biodiversity can be quickly and cheaply 'upgraded'.  The lower the biodiversity the higher the value to a prospective developer looking to offset the destruction elsewhere caused by their development.  Such cynical calculations may well be the justification for the degrading of Stanborough GPs witnessed over the last few years, rather than the embracing of its already excellent biodiversity.

Perhaps the ray of hope is that, in time, the biodiversity of the site will be uplifted, but I suspect in a very 'managed' way producing a shadow biodiversity, a poor imitation of a truly re-wilded state.  Some hope may also be held in the identification of the site in the new Local Nature Recovery Strategy as ear-marked for wetland habitats.  Only time will tell but history is not encouraging on this front and I, for one, struggle to feel too optimistic!​

Many of the birds present at the end of 2025 are still on site, including at least one Jack Snipe and some Common Snipe too.  Three Wigeon appeared on 10th and rose to 7 on 12th.  An adult Yellow-legged Gull was a nice find in the gull flock on 10th and was followed by a first-winter bird on 16th.  The same day also saw the French-ringed Great Black-backed Gull first seen at Coursers GPs further south join the gulls in the sheep field.  A species that was not recorded at Stanborough last year and in generally very scarce in the County.

Another highlight of the New Year so far has been the continuing presence of Crossbills in Symondshyde Great Wood.  With good numbers still present in the woods it means they occasionally venture into Stanborough GPs boundaries with a flyover flock of at least 10 on 13th and at least 3 birds in trees bordering the site on 16th.  As they gather to leave for their breeding grounds I'm sure there'll be more records for the site too.

At least 2 Barn Owls are in the box while a Green Sandpiper has been frequenting the site as has a Little Grebe.  Other site faithfuls include up to 5 pairs of Stonechat over the whole site and a flock of c.100 Lapwing roosting on the workings.  As yet Golden Plover are yet to appear in any numbers but this seems true of other regular sites too.  A family party of 3 Mute Swans has been visiting regularly and, while wildfowl numbers are almost non-existent, a flock of at least 60 Teal were present on the middle pool on 16th.

​To date, the site year list has reached 60 species with plenty more (hopefully) still to come.  Late January can see the start of late winter movements as birds get ready to depart - perhaps evidenced today (16th) in the increase in Meadow Pipits on site.

After a quiet few weeks of mild and sometimes wet and windy weather the daily searching has paid off!  A visit yesterday evening, saw me scanning the huge flocks of Skylarks mixed with Meadow Pipits and large flocks of Linnets.  I was almost done but as I scanned yet another group of Skylarks another smaller, more rusty-coloured bird was also moving along with them, very much in their slow, low-to-the-ground style, but clearly not them.

On the first good view as the bird appeared from behind the furrows of soil I knew I had a LAPLAND BUNTING!  The usual panic then ensued as I tried to fit my scope-phone adaptor to my scope, relocate the bird and start videoing!  All of this I did but, need I say typically, as I pressed record everything flew off.  I have a short clip of video with blurred soil and some fuzzy flying birds!  I'd like to say the header photo is of the bird but it is one I took in Cornwall last year of a far more obliging bird.

I watched the sub-flock of around 30 Skylarks fly across the track and away - at one point I thought I could hear a call reminiscent of a Lapland Bunting but wasn't sure.  Either way, it disappeared and a 5-hour search this morning from first light was unsuccessful.  I shall continue to search, as I'm sure others will as, if accepted by the rarities panel, this will be a first for Hertfordshire (rather surprisingly).  An inland Lapland Bunting on the deck is a rare thing so re-locating it would be a very popular outcome.

Searching for the bunting did reveal a few other birds including at least 2 Corn Buntings with the flock of Skylarks, 6 Grey Partridge and 4 Crossbills.  Two males and a female of the latter species perched up in the tree by the ruin giving excellent views before flying over to the puddles on the track to drink.  They were only there briefly before they headed towards Symondshyde Great Wood where there is no doubt a resident flock this autumn .

In other news, the site has been fairly quiet but highlights included a male Brambling with the finch flock along the track on 16th-18th October.  Two Crossbills circled the site on 26th Oct and the juvenile Merlin was seen again in flight.

A drop in temperatures (albeit short-lived) on 23rd Oct saw 6 Green Sandpipers roost and Teal numbers increased to over 40 birds.  The Teal were also joined by an immature male Wigeon on various dates along with a few Shoveler.

Work at the site continues apace with land drainage completed in many sections and the worked areas quickly tilled and seeded by the farmers.  Attention has now turned to the main pit which is sadly being drained and exactly how much of that will be left remains to be seen.  'Enjoying it while it lasts' is the order of the day and the site is still playing host to a great variety of birds as the ground continues to be worked.

The number of small birds on site has been increasing rapidly over the last few weeks with the arrival of many Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Skylarks.  This must all be enticing to birds of prey and indeed a Sparrowhawk has been regularly seen harrying the flocks along with up to 3 Kestrels.

A particularly large 'dump' of small birds - including a 300+ strong flock of Linnets - seemed to occur on 12th with misty, damp conditions during the first part of the morning.  I stationed myself on the track and, as I have done many times before, imagined a Hen Harrier skirting the back edge of the big field before hunting over the main pit weedy margins.

The raucous cries and caws of Rooks and Carrion Crows startled me from my day-dreams and I put my binoculars to my eyes and...picked up a ringtail Hen Harrier, making its way along the back edge of the large field!  It then began to hunt over the weedy area at the back of the main pit before dropping down into ground cover.  I couldn't quite believe it!

I took some very distant and somewhat shakey record shots and video to confirm that it was indeed a Hen Harrier and not a rarer form.  Unfortunately the corvid ranks were not as delighted as I was and rallied to drive the poor harrier up high and away offsite heading southeast.  I assumed that was the last we'd see of it but a message came in later on that the neighbouring farmer had seen it over his fields in the afternoon.

Others re-located it in the rough fields adjacent to Cromer Hyde Farm that had previously hosted 4 Short-eared Owls.  Unfortunately the mobbing continued and the harrier was last seen heading south just before sunset.  The harrier takes the site year list to 130 and is the first record at the site since one on 24th October 2022.

With the continuing abundance of potential prey items at the site it was perhaps no surprise that the next day saw another bird of prey visit - a Merlin (#131 for the site year).  Rather obligingly it perched up just 50 yards away on the new fence along the track.  The video below records some of my best views of the species ever - likely to be a juvenile bird.

The presence of so many flocks of small birds on site has brought an air of excitement to the recent visits, spiced up by the activities of these scarce raptors.  With the first flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares arriving in the county this state of affairs will hopefully continue for the next few weeks.  Autumn is in full swing but worthy of note also was a late Sand Martin on 6th October.

While the search for the recent Pectoral Sandpiper proved predictably fruitless it did however yield some nice autumn birds.  I'll take these as consolation prizes and proof that it's worth keeping looking.

First up, were 4 Stonechats followed by a late first-winter Wheatear enjoying the newly dug drainage pipe mounds.  Skylarks and Meadow Pipits continue to move through the site along with an increasing number of Reed Buntings.  Three Little Grebes continue to frequent the deep pool along with a Grey Wagtail and it was while observing this latter bird that I notice the star bird of the day - a Rock Pipit!

A pretty scarce bird in the county, Stanborough Gravel Pits does well for this species with Rock Pipits visiting annually and this the second record of the year following a Spring bird on 16th March.  In classic form, it crept along the edge of water, taking a bath at one point before preening on the bank.

Some photos of the Rock Pipit with a video of it preening below.

I mentioned the Wheatear enjoying the newly dug drainage pipes and this work represents another major step in the site's 'restoration' to farmland.  Many hundreds of metres of perforated pipe are being laid underground every 20 metres or so on all the slopes.  These then feed into main drain pipes that will take run-off water to both the main pit and deep pit.

While the work is fascinating to watch I can't help feeling that an awful lot of plastic is being buried in the soil and that good old-fashioned ditches might have been a more environmentally suitable solution.  Whether these drains work long-term or not remains to be seen and hopefully some water-logged areas will remain for over-wintering Snipe and Jack Snipe.

Sunday 14th September saw me on site as usual following an excellent morning's 'vismig' at Potwells that included a flyover Woodlark!  A County rarity and one that I had hoped I'd catch up with this year.  The session also witnessed a noticeable increase in Meadow Pipit movement and this was in evidence at Stanborough too with in excess of 100 birds noted.

The usual Common and Green Sandpiper were on site and a flyover Raven too.  I commenced my usual scan from the track with my scope of the large weedy area adjacent to the main pit - a good way to pick up any migrant chats.  Sure enough, at least 4 Stonechats were on view along with a single Whinchat.

As one of the regular dog walkers approached I saw a little bird hop up onto a stem right at the back of the weedy area - about as far a way as it could be.  It cocked its tail up and I knew, without a doubt, that this was a DARTFORD WARBLER!  Immediately I was engaged in exchanging niceties with the walker while my mind began racing as I realised I needed to find this bird properly!

The walker moved on and I sent a couple of messages to Steve Pearce and Andrew Steele who I knew weren't far away saying that I thought I had a Dartford but I was going to have a look.  I quickly walked along the back edge of the weedy area at the field edge with ears and eyes peeled.  I reached the end with no joy and realised, in my haste, I hadn't really pinpointed where exactly I had seen the bird.  I decided to return to the track, wait for Steve, and in the meantime pin-down exactly where I had seen the bird.

Steve arrived and we both headed out along the edge of the weedy area again.  Reaching the end there was again not a squeak aside from the usual Reed Buntings, occasional Yellowhammer and Stonechats.  Steve decided to loop around the weedy area and as he completed his loop so the Dartford Warbler began scolding and hopped up on a stem about 20 yards in front of me!  Bingo!!

I quickly called Steve on his phone and he came over just in time to get fairly good views of the bird before it dropped back down into the thistles and weeds.  My second County Rarity in a day and a first for me, not just for my 5 Miles From Home List but also for my Herts List.  The Dartford Warbler was of course new for the site too taking the all-time total to a pleasing 160 species.

My first views were to prove some of my best and I managed a few hasty record shots (see the header photo) before it vanished.  Thereafter it became much harder to see, other than in brief flight views.  The following day, others were unable to locate it but I revisited on Tue 16th and was able to find it again moving along the back edge of the weedy area with a couple of Stonechats.  Again I was able to get a few record shots as it lurked in the undergrowth but never sat up.

Walking back to the car I noticed another little bird flying along, almost next to me but only about a foot off the ground.  I paused and eventually saw it in flight - a Grasshopper Warbler!  I waited while it rustled around in the grass just a few feet away from me and then watched it fly into the main clump of reeds in the wet area.  Another site year tick, taking the year total to 127!

​While I had been observing or (more truthfully) waiting for the Dartford Warbler to appear I had puzzled over hearing what appeared to be Dartford Warbler scolding from two different locations.  While the bird did move quickly through the undergrowth it nevertheless seemed odd.

Again, with no sighting by others the next day I returned on Thursday 18th Sep evening and quickly relocated the bird, except that this time my puzzlement was answered as not one but TWO Dartford Warblers flew up and across briefly, giving me just long enough to confirm my earlier suspicions.  While light also plays a part, I did think, looking at my record shots, that one bird might possibly be lighter and brighter in plumage that the other...maybe I had unknowingly photographed two separate birds?

I saw and heard a Dartford again on Sat 20th Sep along with Andrew Steele but it remains to be seen how long both birds remain on site.  While Dartfords are a possible candidate to over-winter at the site we are still in peak migration time so they may move on.  They will however, be remembered for the excitement they brought as a genuinely rare bird in the County.

Walking out along the weedy area also brought home what a fantastic (and really under-watched) area it is for small migrant birds.  On Sat at least 5 Chiffchaffs were feeding along the edge with at least 2 Whinchats and 4 Stonechats.  Two female-type Wheatears were also present with a third male seen in the morning too.  Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Yellow Wagtails are also dropping down into the grassy areas while passing Swallows, House and Sand Martins are making good use of the feeding opportunities.  Who knows what else may pop up?!

As a final note, a smart adult Yellow-legged Gull was by the deep pool on Sat afternoon but didn't stay long.

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.

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.

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.

It's a slow, steady March so far this month but, as expected, the headline is that the Little Ringed Plovers are back with a pair appearing on 14th Mar - exactly the day they appeared last year and one day later than the year before!

What will they make of the 'restored' site I wonder - will they find enough gravel scrapes to breed on?  Only time will tell but in the meantime, we'll enjoy their visits.  With them the Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail flocks continue to grow and the first White Wagtails have begun to appear with up to 4 birds on 14th.

A really pleasing find on 16th was a Rock Pipit that gave itself away with its calls.  Seemingly an annual bird - possible in both spring and autumn - it is nevertheless always rewarding to find these birds inland.  Knowing its call and knowing where to look is half the battle but this one showed well enough for a few photos. 

Wheatears and Sand Martins are the next expected spring arrivals but the Little Ringed Plovers and the Rock Pipit take the site's year total to 91.