after such a let down spring it would be nice to get a big influx of something - take a look at this map of advancing red-foots in southern europe. 1992 was a long time ago now

a second garden tick this avo. never been so pleased to see stock dove but surprised it's taken them so long to come in.

on 14th a visit to west rise in the evening after a day of rain was productive. pair of garganey on lottbridge lake, hobby, masses of swifts and hirundines, and caspian and yellow-legged gulls in a small roost which were the first of either i've had since early winter.

finally got in the garden this morning to sort my plants out and very quickly added red kite to the list. a jay has been a daily visitor recently, one of those birds which becomes even more special when it's in your own garden.