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.

got to splash point mid morning, didn't see a single bird for quarter of an hour and was about to leave, then all of a sudden the tap was turned on. funny how sea passage can start and stop so abruptly and at unexpected times... was there anything moving early morning i wonder. i ended up staying to midday seeing 23 arctic skua, 1 pom, 4 bonxies and 7 manxies.

at west rise the red-rumped swallow was showing very well going up and down the embankment on the south side of the recreational field, early morning before it warmed up. back home a sedge warbler was singing in a front garden of a house just a few doors down - i could hear it from mine so it's on the list! always good to see birds completely out of habitat.