A Day With BT.

No not British Telecom, Brian Townson. But I must have a weather whinge first....

In the top pic....This was the view from the car as we arrived at Stoops Bridge in Abbeystead on Friday last, it looked and felt like March 3 and certainly not May 3, the trees appeared to be as bare as they had been all winter, and not a Bluebell in sight. In the bottom pic....This was the scene at Stoops Bridge 2 years ago on precisely the same date of 3 May 2011. Quite remarkable I think you will agree and clearly illustrates how far behind we are this year. 

Blackcap Noushka Dufort  

But despite the gloomy scene at Abbeystead on Friday , a singing male Blackcap gave hope for better things to come, a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen, and a Robin disturbed accidentally from its nest in a near ground level tree hole, this/another Robin was in the same hole last year, a Buzzard was overhead.

A pull in at Jubilee Tower produced a Raven over, a Skylark singing overhead, and 4 Red Grouse. Down Abbeystead Lane we checked the number of Lapwing always present and breeding in the fields here and saw 2 Wheatear whilst doing so. Calling in at Tower Lodge we couldn't help but feel a couple of weeks should make all the difference to the bird scene here....and elsewhere hopefully. Meanwhile, in the time spent here it was dire with a Jay, Coal Tit, and Willow Warbler the sum total of our visit.

Reed Bunting Geoff Gradwell  

At Langden Brook to the pump house, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Raven, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting males, and a Peregrine Falcon high up and soaring. A good number of Chaffinch were notable here and were taking more advantage of the Pheasant feeders than the Pheasants were.

Blackbird. Pete Woodruff.

This Blackbird has had the good fortune to reach fledging in our garden, obviously having steered clear of the cats, lets hope it can continue to do so in the future.  

Thanks to Noushka for the excellent male Blackcap, to Geoff for the excellent male Reed Bunting.

And finally....

Blue-headed Wagtail. Copy Permitted.

This brilliant Blue-headed Wagtail was in a field in Thurnham yesterday morning and I was grateful for the alert about it....'not what you know but often who you know'....EXCELLENT.