14th April 2013

A very exciting day on the patch as the weather finally became warm and spring-like.

Last night in the dark I saw an 'eared' owl with long, rather slender wings go zigzagging over my house and thought it could have been a Long-eared. Today, sure enough there were two, or maybe even three, Long-eared Owls roosting in the valley. There was also a massive movement of thrushes, first Redwings and later in the day it seemed like thousands of Blackbirds, clearly relocating after the seemingly endless cold weather.  Several Ring Ouzels were also in the south dunes, plus a Black Redstart on the Hermanus rooftops, and some very confiding Common Redpolls feeding on the dune tops.  Swallows, Sand Martins and a House Martin were flying through, and other migrants included Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. It was a great day and I got twelve year ticks!

Just out of the parish, in Horsey, a Red-flanked Bluetail was showing off gaudily. We don't want birds like that down here thank you very much (and I'm certainly glad that I dipped it when I guiltily went to look for it late in the evening...).