What a grey day....

St Mary's Lighthouse

A stonechat was the highlight of an early morning stroll through the fog at St Mary's Island. No short-eared owls this early and no other birders (maybe they new something I didn't?).

Reed Bunting

Golden Plover (honest!)

Curlew

Stonechat

Skomer Island......almost

I've just returned from Pembrokeshire and yet again managed to time it so that the boat to Skomer Island isn't running yet - it runs from Good Friday or 1st April (whichever comes first) til 31st Oct. Maybe next time.

The view from Wooltack Point is breath taking and not a bad place for birding in itself. I had a pair of Chough for starters, apparently they are common here. Shame my pics were 'record shots' only (i.e. crap).

Stonechats are plentiful here

Raven on the cliffs (300ft cliffs by my reckoning - not for the faint hearted!)

Wags the Movie(s)

First stop today was the Cheviots where I got my first House Martin, Red Grouse and Stonechat for the year. Also good to see Wheatear in breeding territory.

Nuthatch gets a Northerly up it's jacksy

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Next it was home via Pipit central, Cresswell, where some eight birders (one from Potters Bar) had great views of Yellow, White, Pied, Black-headed and Blue-headed/Yellow Wagtail hybrid aka Channel Wagtail. Managed to dip Garganey at Druridge Pools yet again.

Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava feldegg)

Channel Wagtail (M.f.flava x flavissima)

Now grab your popcorn and turn down the lights..................................

Ref: FLAVA FRUSTRATION