2nd April - cloudy morning, becoming mostly sunny and warm, max 16C during the afternoon, light SW

Finally, a Chiffchaff singing from the tree tops along the disused railway east of the village, not to have heard one here in March is most unusual.  No Redwings or Fieldfares in the usual places near the village.

A visit to the local lake during the morning did not produce any further migrants, but nice to see 3 pairs of Little Grebe though.  While there Carl called to say he had found the colour ringed Baltic Gull at Shawell lagoons (he saw it a few days ago). This is the nominate race of the Lesser-black backed Gull, which occurs in some parts of north and eastern Europe, it can be very difficult to identify due to the plumage variation within the Lesser-black backed Gull group, but to find one that was ringed in a pure Baltic Gull colony in Norway removes any doubt.  In the photos I took, it is the bird near the front, you can just make out the ring and it appears a tone blacker than the Lesser-black backed gulls near to it, like the one just behind it that is stretching its neck up and calling.

For movement information on Baltic Gull (J727) and closer photos see Carls blog, 'bag a wild one'.

While at Shawell a small flock of Sand Martin moved through, a Great-crested Grebe and Shelduck pair were present.

I visited the local reservoir in the afternoon, the fishermen told me I had just missed a Red Kite.  The only migrants I found were a single Chiffchaff and Blackcap sang briefly intermittently.  For such a lovely afternoon it was remarkably quite, even the Cettis Warbler was singing quietly from cover.  At least 10 Goldeneye were still present, but only one (male) Pochard was seen.

No butterflies were spotted either, so hopefully they will be out next visit.