Oooh migrants! Bet they wish they'd stayed in the sunshine

Weather on patch has been piss poor, as has the mood, truth be told.

No birds about -- although a lone singing chiff a couple of weeks back from a sparse little copse at the back end of the patch hinted at a smattering of movement... a suggestion perhaps, that other migrants might be on the way. Not long after that a flyover yellowhammer was a welcome boost after a relatively lengthy year-tick-free patch -- good bird here, only ever seen passing through.

Then on Saturday I spied my first swallow, swiftly followed by two (count 'em) sand martians! So it's officially -- spring has most certainly sprung!

More importantly it puts me back on top of the leaderboard on 74.12%. Which is nice....

Rarest of them all

Blackdog's rarest bird of the year this afternoon with the first patch Red-legged Partridge in at least eight years (when records to hand go back to). They used to be a little more regular before that when I believe there was a release site at Menie dunes, a few miles north, but Trump was clearly set on cutting off the supply and sabotaging the Blackdog year list. Whose pocket is he in for this?

Anyway, good to see a comeback, with this bird clearly seeking out its familiar natural habitat of fences and chicken wire.

Score update to follow soon....

Statto

I'm n ot dead yet!

After having a year out last year, the Haddock is back. I also want to quash any malicious rumours that Cap'n Haddock is dead, taken up stamp collecting or holed up in a never-ending sex orgy. Or all three.

For those on the watch for these things, I haven't counted last year's total either (I did keep a tally although it wasn't my worst year, and I did find a female surfie too, which is quite good for here given I only ever get fly-by scoters).

Nothing special here so far, although it's nice to see the seabirds returning and skylarks back on patch.

bit of a grouse

No blue robins here, and no new species, so just a photo of a grouse:

Stringapore...

Thought I would get that one in before someone else.

And before flying out tonight, that left just enough time for a cheeky rummage through the patch that came up with not one, but two (count 'em) Siberian blue robins. A female, and an immature male, which is fortunate as an adult male would no doubt have led to instant disqualification. Here's the female...

 

Meanwhile, as I prepare to leave and contemplate the things I will miss while away, I saw an advert for this event:

The Prodigy, and Fatboy Slim. In Singapore. Possibly the biggest dip of the year. 

 

goldies

a bunch of golden plovers flying aboot was a welcome year tick for me, bringin me over the near-mythical 50% barrier innit

Golden moment

Minding my own business on a brief skive in the back garden (as you do) when I clocked six (count 'em) golden plover booting about in the middle distance.

Waders are always welcome up here in "inland-ville" -- and despite the fact I've had goldies up here the last three years in a row they are by no means guaranteed.

What's better is the fact that they put me back in front... and with Singapore Sling off patch for a couple of months too -- so time to glean one or two more methinks.

Oh the joys!