Migrants

Blow's Downs had a male Ring Ouzel, but it wasn't showing during my search. There were six Wheatear on the paddocks slope. Nearby a Chiffchaff was feeding between bouts of singing. On the local patch, a few Swallow and Sand Martin were still present.

Local patch - 27/03/09

My first Barn Swallow of the season (well, two actually !) was nice to see. It landed on some wires where it gave a few minutes of its 'twittering' song - a taste of the summer to come. A Grey Heron drifted past.

Dunstable STW

17th Apr:

A Barn Swallow takes a rest from feeding in the keen easterly wind - the hirundines were keeping very low above the water taking advantage of the insects on the leeward side of the plantation.



16th Apr:

The first Sedge Warbler of the Year for the site was keeping low at the front of the lagoon.



A pair of Blue Tit were foraging in the dead stuff above the Sedge Warbler.





A small 'charm' of Goldfinch fed alongside a pair of Linnet.



A Green Sandpiper was, suprisingly, the first this year at the site. The Whooper Swan 'on patrol' chases off a Canada Goose.





A pair of Grey Wagtail wait to feed - the male showing a black throat patch.

Dunstable STW Migrants

Today a few waders at last. Two Redshank were chased off the scrape by the local Moorhen. The 'local' pair of Little-ringed Plover were joined by a second male. After a spate of threat posturing the intruder flew off. A pair of Grey Partridge took some time out for a dust bath. Barn Swallow numbers increased to fourteen late afternoon, and three Willow Warbler were singing in the plantation.