Easter Migfest

Bredon Hill

First sighting of a Redstart this year

Pesky Wheatear

 Common Redstart in the Wyre

Best shot of Wood Warbler possible

 Dowles Brook

Hearty breakfast at the George pub

 Common Tern at Earlswood

 Stretching out

Common Tern close up

With no spring rarities tempting me to venture out of the county I've been concentrating on the migrants moving through the local area over the Easter break. 

First destination was Bredon Hill which is just 20 miles south from home. As we headed up the sharp accent the thought did pass what are we doing as it was cold & miserable. Thankfully the weather past through allowing some great views as always and the sighting of our first Ring Ouzel which was a male flying across the north escapement. Four Common Redstarts were an additional year tick, there were also four Wheatear on the lower slopes.

Bank Holiday Monday is now a traditional to head to the Wyre Forest for a good walk & hearty breakfast. Two Marsh Tit were calling by the bench before we turned left to record our only Tree Pipit in the company of a big fall of Willow Warblers. Entering Knowles Coppice I heard what a I thought was an early Wood Warbler. This seemed a little early however this was the first of two that showed very well but trying to get a photograph was very difficult.  Three Pied Flycatchers were keeping their distance in their usual spot so we moved through to the orchard where I found a male Redstart, a bonus. Cuckoo was the next bird added to the year list as we headed down to Dowles Brook. We didn't have any luck with Dippers but we did get two Grey Wagtails.

After a morning visit to the pits I headed over to Earlswood for a mooch around where I found my first two Commmon Terns of the year. Earlswood is a great place for watching terns as they fly so close to you and there is always chance of getting a passing Arctic, Black or Sandwich, all of which I've seen previously there. Additional sightings were a Common Sandpiper, a brood of Mallard, Great Crested Grebes,  30 + Sand Martin, 5 Swallows and a strange sight of a Lapwing flying low over Engine pool.