29th April Peregrine drifted high over the garden late morning whilst I was out contemplating. Also a couple of Holly Blues, two Swifts and two House Martins,
28th April Due to an appalling episode at work yesterday where I was right royally tucked up on my job I was now no longer in the mood to go to Spain for the week, most of the time that I was meant to have in Extremadura would now need to be used in finding another job. I did however manage to get over to Canvey Island RSPB reserve to see the pair of Black-necked Grebes that were present on the main flood. There was also a Peregrine overhead and a Cuckoo singing nearby. It did allow me to at least clear my head a little of the events of yesterday.
25th April A failed attempt at Green Hairstreaks in Cambridgeshire, due to the weather, did however result in at least 3 pairs of Grey Partridge so not all bad.
24th April A pleasant if exhausting day going right round Gunners Park, visiting Wakering Stairs and walking across Wakering Common and around Fleet and back produced a good scattering of migrants but with few surprises. Nightingale at Wakering Stairs was perhaps the best bird of the day whilst a couple of year ticks were noted, Common and Sandwich Terns, House Martin and Grey Wagtail. Wheatears were noticeably up in numbers.
23rd April A Swift, a year tick, and a Kestrel were over the garden today.
An evening stroll over Two Tree Island was pleasant, though chilly, with a few migrants in, nine Whitethroat, six Swallows, two Whimbrel and a heard Cuckoo. The Nightingale was seen briefly hoping around on the main path briefly and the Cetti's Warbler was belting it out in the usual spot.
18th April Went back to Two Tree Island this morning to photograph again the Grasshopper Warblers and the display was superb, one bird sat out reeling in full view for about 10minutes. In total there were five birds, perhaps more, on the island today. There was also a scattering of migrants with the Nightingale on the East side still singing and showing well on occasion. Lesser Whitethroat was also noted, Cuckoo and Willow Warblers hears whilst a distant Buzzard way off to the west was my second local one of the year.
Warm, clear and still to start was perfect conditions for the Groppers.
17th April A slightly misty day dawned in Gunners Park which soon turned into a very nice day however birding was still hard work with only a scattering of migrants present here with a Lesser Whitethroat the pick of the meagre offerings.
I then went onto visit Friars Park, Wakering Stairs and Fleet Head but again efforts produced low rewards for the effort.
In the evening I returned to Fleet Head as a pair of Garganey had been found, they were certainly not present here this morning. These birds were seen well though they were jumpy and flighty with no chance of getting near them. A Barn Owl was later seen hunting over Potton Island and a total of ten Whimbrel were counted.
Final throw at Wakering Stairs resulted in another very nice Barn Owl hunting the sea wall and a Cuckoo heard.
11th April Not as forecast. Got up early and went straight back to bed. It should have been bright and clear but instead it was overcast and dull. I eventually dragged myself from my pit and got myself down to Two Tree Island where I found the reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the brambles by the path on the west side of the road. It often showed very well, I have uploaded a few pictures onto the 2010 yearly photo pages. Also here were a few Whitethroats, Blackcaps, a Sedge Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler and a male Stonechat otherwise there was not a passage of migrants happening today.
10th April Despite the fine weather migration in Gunners Park was slow with few birds moving. There was one male Wheatear in the reserve, a single singing Whitethroat and a flyby Swallow. Best of all though was a Fulmar that flew east along the seawall mirroring the one I had here last year at very nearly the same date and same spot along the seawall, spooky.
I moved onto Fleet Head hoping for some colour in the form of Yellow Wagtails but none were present. There were singing Reed Warbler and Blackcap back near the car.
Finally at Wakering Stairs, along the road, there were singing Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warblers but again very slow. Called it a day after 6hours out in the field.
5th April saw me at Chafford Hundred with Sheryl twitching the Alpine Swift at Warren Gorge where it showed very well late afternoon before it departed at about 4.20pm westwards, a great bird with images on the rare UK birds pages.