Slow, Slow....

Wheatear Marc Heath 

This has to be the bird to make every birder realise that summer is around the corner....isn't it! Found today in Kent, a cracking male as you rightly say Marc. 

White Wagtail. Pete Woodruff.

This White Wagtail was on Conder Pool on 6 April 2009, although I found two on the flood at Aldcliffe on 21 March 2011. But the migrants will be struggling until we get this crap weather out of the way, but fear not a few are being seen in the south having presumably departed in fairer conditions on the other side of the channel. Iv'e come across just a few examples with figures of 5,000 Meadow Pipit, 75 Alba Wagtail, and 31 Slavonion Grebe seen, but I think we'll need to wait a few days yet for anything like good numbers to reach our area if the forecast I watched a few minutes ago is anything to go by.  

Sedge Warbler David Cookson  

But this year I'm already late seeing my first Wheatear and Sand Martin, having found both species on 17 March in 2011 at Cockersands and Glasson Dock respectively, though for the Sedge Warbler above I think we may need to wait until the first week of April, but predictability isn't all that sure with our feathered friends so keep looking and forget the weather and the date. 

Laughing Gull. Pete Woodruff.

Well you can tell its one of mine by the quality....But this Laughing Gull was at Marton Mere in Blackpool in April 2006, so the month isn't just for migrants but vagrants too.

Laughing Gull Isidro Ortiz  

Thanks to Isidro for this excellent in flight shot of the Laughing Gull, to Marc for the Wheatear, and to David for the Sedge Warbler....photography to impress every time.

I'D SOONER BE BIRDING!....But yesterdays 'hopefully tomorrow' wasn't good enough to do any birding today, perhaps a couple of prayers might bring about a change on that for tomorrow.