Bring on the migrants! [please!]

A couple of trips to Blacktoft since my return from the Scotland trip. Marsh harriers and shovelers looking good. Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier Shoveler Afraid the long-eared owl was just hiding in too much undergrowth to get a decent shot. Long-eared Owl

The chiffchaff and robin posed nicely. Chiffchaff Chiffchaff Robin Later on the 11th at North Cave I snapped this ruff. Ruff Ruff

And here's a North Cave chiffchaff! [16.04]

Chiffchaff I couldn't find any ring ouzels at Kildale - just wheatears and red grouse. Red Grouse

There were various other short afternoon sorties which led nowhere including another visit to North Cave and a long walk round Heslington East where only wheatears and hirundines were the birds of interest.

Which brings me to April 24th. A trip to a very bleak Spurn produced very little other than the surprise find of a common redstart at Canal Scrape. Lots of chiffchaffs at Sammy's Point but it was so cold I headed for Old Moor where it was 4 degrees warmer. A few snapshots from there...

Reed Bunting A wren sang his heart out...

Wren ...then had a rest!

Wren A redshank pottered past Crosslands hide.

Redshank Redshank Monday 25th April: early morning at Dorman's Pool. Gropper seen fleetingly as it flew away after we had listened to it just in front of us. Plenty of sedge and whitethroat. We hoped for lesser whitethroat and knew the favoured spot but the rain/hail came, the wind went a bit wild and I headed home for lunch.

A spring sedge warbler - but where's spring gone? Sedge Warbler Better view.

Sedge Warbler And whitethroat portraits. Whitethroat Whitethroat

My favourite:- Whitethroat 196 UK 2016