TheFinancialBirder

It was a bit more cooler than of late with the threat of rain from slightly overcast skies. Rain is forecasted for the next few days in southern England which is long overdue as the ground is rock hard! I stupidly left my pager in the loo within my Office this morning, so ‘pagerless’ I took a stroll around Thorney for more possible migrants.

The Pony Field held the usual flock of Black-headed Gulls and several pairs of Med Gulls and the small stream held around four Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of Redshank feeding along the waters edge. The long staying drake Wigeon was still present in the field as well as a couple of pairs of Teal. I constantly scanned the skies for my first Swift of the year but apart from a couple of Swallows which are taking up residence in the nearby barns, there were no other Hirundines.
The footpath leading to the harbour wall produced the usual suspects. Cetti’s Warblers flew across the path while both Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were seen well. A Chiffchaff was in full song and a Reed Warbler was in song deep within vegetation. I thought I caught sight of the bird low down in the brambles but I couldn’t rule out a Sedge Warbler. A male Blackcap was also seen in song high up within an Elderberry tree.
Nearing the Little Deeps, I got good views of at least four Bearded Tits chasing each other over the reedbeds. A male in particular was very showy for a nice change. I sat up on the harbour wall overlooking the Little Deeps as I was trying to find a singing Reed Warbler deep within the reedbeds below. Would the bugger show? No chance, so I had to remain Reed Warbler less on my year list. Several Tufted Duck and Little Grrebes swam on the water but again no sign of any Swifts.
I decieded to walk along the footpath to the Great Deeps, hoping for a migrant or two along the way. I wasn’t to be disappointed as I found my first Whinchat of the year, a female, perched on a fencepost within the fields south of the gorse bushes. Also, a male Stonechat was seen within the field, which added nicely to my month total. It got even better when a Cuckoo, being hotly persued by a Meadow Pipit, flew low across the field to disappear behind some bushes. The bird never called so presumabley it was a female?
Nearing the Great Deeps, I could hear at least two Lesser Whitethroats singing and eventually, I caught sight of one of them flying away from where it was singing. At least two more Common Whitethroats were seen in the vicinity also. The Great Deeps was somewhat quite except for a few noisy Black-headed Gulls on the water. A Greenshank rested on the watersedge and a Sandwich Tern fished the area for a brief time.
On the way back to the car, a pair of Sandwich Terns flew over the Island heading east. I counted at least 10 House Martens together flying over the Pony Fields near the Barns, my largest flock of the year to date.

Before I headed off home, I thought I would give Marlpit Lane a try for possible Nightingale. So, a slow drive along the road, listening out for one, I eventually heard a Nightingale and pulled over to take a look. Before, I could get a really good look at the bird, the bird flew down never to be heard or seen again. But I did see it so it can add it to my year list. Excellent. A male Blackcap was also seen singing in the trees.
On the opposite side of the road, within the field, a Green Woodpecker was seen perched on a fencepost. Overhead, at least three Common Buzzards were seen calling to one another. A Small Copper butterfly was seen on the footpath and showed very well sunning itself in the afternoon sun.
A good afternoon, overall, with four more month ticks for my efforts.

Piczo