Greenland Wheatear

Lade - warm, dry, sunny, ne 2  - Another fine spring day with temperatures up into the late teens Centigrade by early afternoon. On the local patch our first Cuckoo of the year flew over the willow swamp where it was welcomed in no uncertain terms by a male Sparrowhawk! Two Marsh Harriers tussled with a crow and six pairs of Mediterranean Gulls flew over calling. A few more Whitethroats and Reed Warblers were in, while Swallow, Sand Martin and a Whimbrel all moved through. Bird of the day here though was a spanking Greenland Wheatear on the Desert which allowed a close approach, a huge beast almost the size of a Song Thrush showing the classic brownish-black on the wings and primary coverts and extensive orangey-buff underparts.

                                Greenland Wheatear

  A quick look at the south end of ARC drew a blank on yesterdays stilts, as did the Boulderwall fields, although a Spoonbill and two Garganeys were ample compensation at Cook`s and Tanner`s Pools respectively. I just had time to stop off at the top of Long Pits where a smart male Whinchat found earlier by RW was still present.
  Elsewhere, today the first Pomarine Skua of spring was noted off the point, while the Crane had moved to Caldecote Lane, Lydd (MC).