Calming down

Still pretty windy first thing but as predicted, it began to calm down from 07:00 leaving very good ringing conditions - quite calm and overcast; it was quiet however with 22 new birds ringed with an Icterine Warbler (plus another returning bird from July last year), a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Garden Warblers, a Redstart, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 10 Willow Warblers the highlights.

At least someone's been busy in the ringing lab!

 

A Serin flew over the garden while yesterday's Icterine Warbler was still belting out Sandwich Tern impressions from the middle of bushes!

Why did the Newt cross the road?

 

I cycled north up the coast to Bøtø in the afternoon; birds seen on the way up included a good flock of 32 Black-throated Divers fishing close inshore, 2 Little Terns, 12 Common Crossbills (the first ones I've seen since the start of April) and locally much more significant, a pair of Stonechats feeding fledglings.  

 Bøtø itself was quieter with the breeding birds dominating including my first singing Reed Warblers of the spring, several squealing Water Rails, a few Lapwing chicks scuttling around trying to hide from the crows, plenty of ducklings and goslings waddling around and 4 Garganey.