Saturday 15th March

After a trip to Scotland and a busy time at home today was my first patch visit for almost 4 weeks. I managed to get out between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. The weather was amazingly mild, 17 degrees and overcast.

It proved to be a really successful visit. I started off with 3 butterflies in quick succession, my first for the year. 1 Red Admiral fluterring past in the west scrub then 2 Comma in the east scrub area. Also the first of 6 singing Chiffchaff here and 2 Green Woodpecker.

The best sightings came along the Mill Stream where I added my first ever Ring Necked Parakeet for the patch perching high in a tree calling for about 15 minutes. Then 12 Sand Martin appeared from nowhere as I looked over towards the line of Poplars alongside the railway. Then to cap in all a lone Oystercatcher was on a raft on the scrape, only my second ever here. So three new species for the year and a patch 'tick' - a good couple of hours.

Ring necked Parakeet