The Village Patch,27th April,10th and 12th May 2020.

Another compilation of three visits here,with as always,some nice birds and wildlife observed only ten minutes from my door step.

27th April

A few nice birds today included a female Wheatear at the sewage works,which flew onto the horse paddocks at the back of the works,my second record here this spring and third bird.
 A little further on a new species for the year was found in the form of a singing male Grasshopper Warbler,which did not show well at all unfortunately,but was great to hear locally.
 The local Barn Owl was watched hunting along Skeggar Beck and the breeding waders and Sand Martins are settling down to business.

10th May

An afternoon visit in horrible weather for the time of year,with a freezing northerly wind and rain proved to be very fruitfull,with three year ticks for the patch in the form of 2 Whimbrel,5 Dunlin and a cracking Hobby.
 The waders had no doubt dropped in due to the weather conditions and i'm hoping the Hobby could end up being a local breeding bird.

12th May

Another great visit and an early start today in much better conditions,albeit with a ground frost!.
 The Barn Owl was seen again hunting along the beck again this morning and also a Hobby was seen hunting the Sand Martin colony on two occasions,perhaps the same bird as on the 10th.
 One new for the year species for here,came in the form of a singing male Reed Warbler.
 A few nice mammal sightings included a female Roe Deer,2 Fox and a Brown Hare.
 It was great to see some young birds today also,with broods of Mallard,Lapwing and Moorhen seen.