Arctic tern

Whilst tucking into coffee and ginger cake at catch 23, a lone arctic tern was briefly over the fishing lake before flying out of view

A walk to scout scar from sizergh castle

A gorgeous day on Saturday as we walked the ridge. Numerous chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps and a couple of garden warblers singing. Wheatears heard on two occasions but not seen. A kestrel seen on helsington barrows and sparrowhawk and buzzard over the beer garden at the Strickland arms.

Brass Garganeys

Good Friday went for a 7:00 am walk around Leighton Moss. Temperature about 1 degree above freezing so a freezing experience. Plenty of willow warblers reed warblers and sedge warblers in song on the paths and a pair of reed buntings displaying on the path to grisedale hide. Eventually found the pair of Garganeys but both had thur heads tucked down showing no signs of wanting to dace the frosty morning. Garganeys are ducks which are scarce summer visitors to the uk from Southern Africa. Spring is the best time to see them before they hide away in the thick reed beds to nest.

Over at the Eric Morecambe complex on the marsh I counted 58 avocets, some already on nests. There were at least 300 black-tailed godwits in summer plumage and a splendid drake pintail to round off the morning. Home to warm up with tea and hot buttered crumpets!

A day trip to Lytham

Wednesday was a day to catch up with my sister in lytham. On the way dumped all the cardboard from the new suitcases ( each one came in a box and both contained in a box!) at carnforth recycling where the swallows were catching insects. Traffic on M55 really busy and lytham mobbed so took sister to a harvester for lunch. Afterwards stopped at Newton marsh on the way home. A common sandpiper zipped across the pools but no sign of any yellow wagtails which were used to breed here when I was a kid. A rare bird these days and probably another sign of changing climate...

The willow warblers arrive

Overnight it seems that willow warblers have arrived in force. At least four heard on a bike ride down black dyke lane and past gaitbarrows. Good view of great spotted woodpecker on roadside tree. On later trip to Coniston, willow warblers singing from several directions and a few swallows. Glorious day 

More swallows

Yesterday three swallows over Beetham - our first in this area. Today they are back at new barns bay eying up the delicious bob inn cakes

A circular walk around Beetham

Friday's fine weather allowed a walk from milnthorp to beetham and back via the fairy steps and along the river Bela. Large numbers of singing chiffchaffs and blackcaps - still no willow warblers or swallows in evidence. Upto 7 goosanders on the river ( 3m 4f) 1little egret on the river, two skylarks and herons flying in and out of the Dallam Park heronry

One swallow makes my summer

One swallow makes my summer - Tuesday 8th April 2014

Had a great walk around Plas Newydd today - NT property on Anglesey.our first swallow of the summer - flying around the big house and perched on the  weather vane singing away. Fantastic views of a red squirrel getting nuts from the feeder in the garden.

Also five sandwich terns on the Menai straits, two shags fishing, a singing male Siskin in the woods and a singing blackcap.

Finished the day watching the kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs on the island off Moelfre