Since my return from Florida, the first few days of the month have been spent catching up with the few spring migrants that have arrived so far, and also a few patch goodies too.
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps are now singing round the patch and other migrants noted have included a couple of Wheatears, 3 Black Redstarts and the first Stonechat of the year. Seawatching in strong north-easterlies produced a couple of Sandwich Terns, and a few Gannets, Kittiwakes and Common Scoter, but most notable was a big passage of Fulmars heading east, which was good to see given their virtual absence offshore during recent years.
Rarer still has been a Great Grey Shrike on the south side of Northrepps, a Hooded Crow associating with a large feeding corvid flock, and nearly as unusual patchwise were a couple of Grey Partridges.
