Back from Hong Kong on the 1st and keen to get up to speed with spring here Ive put in a little more effort than the first days of April warrant perhaps and have little to show for it beyond my first Willow warblers of the year (one on the 1st and one on the 3rd). A passage of 530 Chaffinches on the 2nd contained at least 10 Bramblings, heard mostly but a few seen among the groups. More Siskins moving now too. A singing Black Redstart on the 2nd was my first in song this year but still no Wheatear for me.
An afternoon slog up the cliffs on the 2nd was fruitless for me but visiting birder Kevin R picked out a Hooded Crow, among corvids in the recently ploughed field next to Sherley’s farm. He and David T watched it until it appeared to fly off late pm. Today It flew over my head as I crossed the top fields late morning and settled in the ploughed field again.
Nice bird. Squally weather with 40mph Sw’erlies. Not my usual ‘dash up the cliffs’ weather but nice to give it a go.
PERDIX BIRDER 