April 2010

April turned out to be a great month. The migrants came in thick and fast including a few goodies.

The first Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers showed early in the month alongside a miriad of mixed hirundines. A pair of Black Necked Grebes at Welney on the 9th were very nice. A weekend in Northumberland produced Garganey, Sandwich Terns and several Purple Sandpipers. A visit to Saltholme Pools gave distant views of the long staying Hooded Merganser.

The second half of April gave some fine birds, the 29th being particularly noteworthy. A trip to Winterton for the Woodchat Shrike was worthwhile and a female, wing tagged Montagu's Harrier did several flypasts at Waxham. News of an Iberian Chiffchaff led me to Titchwell that evening where the bird showed well. A fine bonus bird was discovered over the visitor centre in the form of a stunning Bee-eater.

Welney gave up it's territorial White Spotted Bluethroat on the 24th.