MONDAY 27 APRIL
A broad front moved in from the south overnight bringing light SSW winds and moderate rain throughout the day (until 1630 hours at least). Temperatures during the rain struggled to rise above 8 degrees centigrade.
IVINGHOE HILLS NR
Finally, after several attempts, managed to succeed in seeing RING OUZEL on the Buckinghamshire hills this spring. During a visit from 0800-0930 hours, two RING OUZEL were showing well intermittently - a pristine adult male and a much duller first-summer male. They were both favouring the left hand (west) slope of Inkombe Hole and were feeding just above the tree-line and were clearly visible (and affording good 'scope views) from the second gate/stile at the wood end of the Hole.
A single LESSER REDPOLL also flew over, whilst singing warblers were well represented with 8+ Willows in Top Scrub, 3 different COMMON WHITETHROATS, 1 Common Chiffchaff and 4 Blackcaps (Francis Buckle also had a singing GARDEN WARBLER). A Green Woodpecker was also seen.
DORNEY ROWING LAKES (SOUTH BUCKS)
Despite Dave Ferguson seeing them fly west at 1115 hours, both WHIMBRELS were still present when I visited the site in heavy rain at 1200-1215. They had returned to the Sheep Field and were feeding voraciously in line with the 500m marker. They had been discovered yesterday (Dave Cleal)
Two Common Shelduck were also present, along with 30 House Martins