Sandwich Terns

Another bird-full morning walk today (Thursday 29th) this time along the Maxey Cut and back from 6am to 7.15am.

The first highlight was the sound of a Cetti's Warbler from the western edge of the old Maxey Pits, close to the Cut itself, the first I have ever heard around here. There was just a first burst of song on the way out, but I heard it again as I walked back - blasting out its short staccato notes.

There were common terns noisily displaying over the Cut, up to four in the air at any one time.

The second hightlight was the discovery of three glorious sandwich terns on the slurry pit at the eastern end of the Cut, near Etton. I was first alerted to them by their distinctive call and sound found them sitting on the slurry bank, occasionally flying up and over the water, before being permanently disturbed by a dog running out across the mud and flying away northwards. Again a first for me in the this area and really beautiful, birds.

And finally on the way back my first Garden Warbler of the year singing right at the western end of the Old Pits, a traditional spot.

And as I drove back towards the level crossing there were two female wheatears flying off across the fields near the hard-standing - again a regular spot for them in the spring.

The ouzel was still at Swaddywell at 8.30am, flitting around the bottom of the pits. There was also a single female wheatear.

Not a bad morning!