Rain!

Yes, we finally got some. I opened the curtains at 7 to see a wet road, quite a novelty of late. The local Wood Pigeons were loving it...

Snapshot through the Windscreen

Pure Joy!

I'd looked at the Forecast last night that suggested I'd be better inland...any excuse. I arrived at Duff at 9.45 after a slight delay at the Petrol Station where I had chat with another customer regarding ageing Dogs.

Haydn was already in the Hut. Conditions were overcast but it wasn't raining (it rained all the way to Howden) and it promised to get brighter. There was no wind of note. The emergent vegetation wasn't letting us down BUT there were still open areas of water and plenty of aerial activity to keep us interested.We had a good 3 hours watching what came, went and appeared. 

I eventually heard the Cetti's Warbler (79) Haydn had commented on several times! I also got a brief glimpse of a Sedge Warbler (80). Blackcaps were in evidence around the Hide but I kept missing them until they eventually perched in some nearby snags...

2 different Males. A female was also present

We had stunning views of a gorgeous Male Sparrowhawk which perched on a post by the Riverbank for a while...

Haydn had an Egyptian Goose on his Patch earlier which was a Site Tick. A couple eventually did the decent thing here late morning. He also had a lone Black-tailed Godwit in flight briefly and we both heard a Water Rail call briefly. A few Swallows (c6) came and went but the hoped for Sand and House Martins didn't materialise. We left around 1.30.

On the way home I detoured via Patrington Haven to see if any Avocets were present. I'd gone down there last week but there was hedge planting taking place...nice to see. Quiet today and a few scans revealed at least THIRTY Birds present on the 3 Islands I checked. Great stuff!

Strong Southerly tomorrow?