Bolton Ings et al - Sunday 6th April

A mild grey day this morning with strong blustery winds at times, 15c at 9 am this morning when I started out rising to 17c this afternoon. A better day today compared to last couple of weeks, a couple of Buzzards appeared early putting on a fine display for half an hour, they appeared later at midday with a third bird. The Pink Footed Goose still on the grassland between the 2 main pools and my first Willow Warblers and Blackcaps of the year. A count of 24 singing Chiffchaff's is my best ever. Full list :- Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 7, Canada Goose 20, Grey Lag Goose 20, Pink Footed Goose 1, Cormorant 1, Great Crested Grebe 3, Little Grebe 12, Mallard 14, Gadwall 8, Shoveler 8, Tufted Duck 61, Pochard 17, Coot 98, Moorhen 7, Lapwing 2, Oystercatcher 4, Black Headed Gull 542, Common Gull 1, Herring Gull 2, GBB Gull 1, LBB Gull 2, Buzzard 3, Kestrel 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Jay 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Chiffchaff 24, Willow Warbler 7, Blackcap 6, Sand Martin 1.

Comparing todays sightings with this time last year there's not much difference apart from Gadwall, only 8 today compared with 96 last year, perhaps they are at Edderthorpe this year, who knows? There were 12 Wigeon but only 5 Chiffchaff's, remember the weather was a lot colder.

Had a few hours at Old Moor this evening - a Little Egret dropped onto the Wader Scrape at 17.50 and roosted in the willows on the Willow Pool. Bittern(s) were booming strongly, saw 3 Mediterranean Gulls but couldn't find the 4th among the thousands of Black Heads. 3 Sand Martins were visiting the Sand Martin wall and a Goosander was on the Wader Scrape. There were 6 Oystercatchers and 4 Redshank.

Finally the first bird I saw this morning when I parked the car in Broomhill was the Med Gull from Old Moor (missing primary) and when I got back home this afternoon (Brampton Road, Wombwell) the same bird flew past my front door, fancy that.