Nightingales

I popped down to the valley at the crack of dawn this morning and found that the Nightingales have arrived back and were singing in the usual areas but I needed to be quick as I'd arranged to meet the Jims for a trip to Abberton.

At Abberton I found a single Yellow Wagtail at Billets Farm and saw a couple of Common Terns from here too. I then dropped the Jims at the old road before parking up and walking back to meet them for a Nightingale search. We found at least six singing males along with lot's of Blackcap and Chiffchaff. A Weasel ran across the road and a Great White Egret flew over to add to the occasion. It was great to see so many people out enjoying the birds many hearing their first Nightingale.

Nightingale

Nightingale

At the Causeway we watched as several Common Terns performed with a couple sitting on the railings and posing for the camera. There's a big delay on hirundines this year and we only saw a couple of Swallows.

Common Tern

Common Terns

We drove around to Lodge lane and walked down the lane to view the bay from the screen where we searched for the reported male Ring Ouzels. A Blackbird appeared and some Crows along with Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and a Whitethroat before our target birds were seen. A Marsh Harrier drifted along and several Common Terns fished in the bay. A group of five Little Gulls flew through but didn't stay long. Back along the track as we headed out we found another two Yellow Wagtails to close a good mornings birding. 

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Year list now 197