On a Whim....

Whimbrel (click to enlarge)

At last, there are a few spring migrants to be had, despite the still nagging reminder that winter is not too far behind us.

Around Howick this afternoon a short walk along the coast path to the Bathing House / Rumbling Kern area had 4 Wheatears, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Sand Martins and a Whimbrel on the rocks. The rocky shore here seems to attract Whimbrel every spring so this one did not come as too much of a surprise.

It takes my 2013 Patch Challenge list up to 103 species.

I finally saw my first butterflies of the year on Saturday with both Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell around our garden area.

Out with JWR doing his WeBs count at Branton and Hedgely this morning found many singing Willow Warblers and hundreds of Swallows and Sand Martins. Common Sandpiper and a nice Little Ringed Plover were both 'firsts' for 2013.

All we need now, is for this wind to drop and the sun to reappear...