bit windy out

Bloody ‘ell sheila! Its been nothing but strong northerlies for the past two weeks and up until this weekend, spring had all but stalled! However a singing sedge warbler on thurs night was a sign that birds were getting through de wind, while on saturday we actually had a pretty big fall by Galley standards – upwards of 20 blackcaps and 50 willow warblers, plus cracking views of a grasshopper warbler. All the birds seemed to be just fresh in and were moving along the hedgerows into the stiff northerly wind. Shame I didn’t have time to get round the whole patch!

Sunday was a similar story, with fewer caps and willows, but a stronger wind so maybe birds were just keeping lower? A few wheatears were in evidence, another gropper at the light (though missed a reed w there), and a collared dove was at Shite Lane. Best of all was a wind-blown cuckoo late afternoon – cracking views as it struggled to cope with the conditions – only my 5th here in 9 years, and first one since ’09 – good to get another one (91).