I'm well behind with my Spring migrants arriving, having only been out twice since returning from Portugal. What with the wettest March for donkeys' years and the relentless cold temperatures throughout April, I haven't felt like going out at all. There was a bright sky this morning though the temperature was only six degrees. I made my mind up to have a run out to Tophill Low NR which has always been a favourite in Spring and the sound of newly arrived migrants resounds through the trees. The view down 'D' reservoir (it's shaped like a capital D!) A small flock of Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks and a few Goldeneye left over from winter accounted for the wildfowl on the water. By lunch-time it was a different story as hundreds of Sand Martins were flying low over the water surface. I set off from the car park towards the South Marsh. As I'd anticipated, the song of warblers rang out in the trees, one after another - Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps. Low down and in the reed edges one or two Sedge Warblers were emitting short versions of their noisy chatter. On the marsh I noticed a pair of Oystercatchers nesting among the Black-headed Gulls. When the Oystercatcher went for a short walk, I was able to see at least three eggs on the nest. There had been a Garganey here yesterday and after scanning the area for some time, I felt it had maybe moved on. The walk to the marsh had revealed swathes of primroses among the grass. One of many Willow Warblers seen this morning. Not the brightest of Willow Warblers but it's song made up for a lack of colour. Here's a real sign of Spring, not quite sure how many families are present here but the Greylag Geese always produce many young. A quick look around the Visitor Centre revealed a nice Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders. Below the feeders, a very colourful Pheasant set about cleaning up any food dropped. The North Marsh. A tranquil place sometimes frequented by Otters and Kingfishers. I've been lucky to see a Purple Heron drop in here a couple of years ago. The next Spring treat was an adult Hobby at the far end of the 'D' reservoir. It snatched something from the air as it flew past me. On to another part of the Reserve where it is known a pair of Kingfishers are breeding. Not too long a wait before I was enjoying excellent views of these brilliant little birds. A male Marsh Harrier was hunting in the same location. It was barely gone midday and the rain was threatening again. On a minor road quite close to Tophill, I literally drove past this Barn Owl in a roadside tree! As a little extra, many birders are aware that due to a storm a few weeks ago, there was an unexpected release (!) of Gyr Falcons from a falconry business in South Yorkshire. I came across one of these birds at Spurn two weeks ago. A sizeable bird was my first impression, almost the size of a Buzzard and very powerful in flight. What a shame it had 'bits' attached underneath!
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