Melangyna trianguliferum (top) is apparently on a roll this Spring although it was new for me today. Various 'too-small' hovers plus Rhingia campestris, Leucozona leucorum, Myathropa florea and loads of Syrphus.

The Bonaparte's Gull was on show before opening but I couldnt relocate it after moving the car; Kevin and others had it at lunchtime. On return three Little Gulls (ad and two 2cy), a dozen or so Meds, a nice male Ruff, Greenshank and two each of Redshank, Common Sandpiper and LRP. Just four Wigeon and no Goosander for the first time but summer represented by a dozen Common Terns, ten Swifts and the odd Swallow.

Over the reserve as a whole ten or more Buzzards and a Sprawk but no other raptors. Four singing Reed Warblers on south side plus two noisy Kingfishers on the silt pond.

Several Large Red and a couple of teneral Common Blue(?) Damsels. Nothing of interest in the top layer of the moth trap. Long chat with Kevin and John.

Little to report although Baccha elongata and Xylota segnis were NFY.
Birdwise, just 10 Eiders still, a light arrival of Swallows and a brief view of the male Marsh Harrier.

Underwhelmed!

En route to PB two Swallows mating on roadside wires just prior to Sussex border sign, and just further on the usual 'Rogate roadside' Kestrel ( and again on the way back). First Nightingale of the year at PB, just a little song but well hidden so not seen but the reported Gropper had gone quiet. Chat with Dave Sadler. Still one or two Lesser Whitethroats singing

Coldwaltham, just a Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and a few Swallows.

Nil at QECP other than Buzzard.

Garganey-less TH

An earlyish start at TH with ten Eiders and three Common Scoters.
Paper and breakfast with ... shock horror... changes to the menu (some good, some not so) and increased prices!!

The Eiders sailed passed the harbour mouth and  Sandwich Tern went west.

Sadly the Garganey had jumped ship. A few hovers including NFY Tropidia scita and Helophilus pendulus plus some unidentifiable Neoascias.

Thirty or forty Swallows and a few House Martin plus a couple of Sedge Warblers ( heard only). The Little Gull sailed across 11 acres.

No sight/sound of Water Voles today.

A/the Holly Blue was in the same place as Tuesday.

No Man's Nightingale

The title of a current read by Ruth Rendell; not got to the bit where Nightingales pop up yet!! - and neither were there any at Pulborough despite a few people looking and listening. The strong wind wasn't good for small birds although one visitor managed to luck in on a male Pied Flycatcher!

For us just one distant Wheatear and a rattling Lesser Whitethroat in the heart of the reserve which remained hidden. Probably thirty or so hirundines of three species with Sand Martin by far the most numerous. Another visitor manged to find three LRPs from the hanger which we'd heard calling earlier and I was able to add a fourth. Plenty of Blackcap and Chiffchaff song, two Whitethroats and a single Willow Warbler. On the wildfowl front just half a dozen Wigeon remained - apparently the wardens flushed the Garganey whilst working on the south brooks. Raptor wise very quiet and likewise pretty few insects.

FM etc

Walk around Farlington bins-less, so limited number of species and some heard onlys including first Reed Warbler of the year.

This island had a pair of sitting Avocets, one of which was keen on repelling crows, assisted by gulls and Lapwings. A good number of Med Gulls were high overhead, glistening in the sun and almost invisible to the naked eye. Sadly, no Wheatears and no sound of Sedge Warblers.

Yesterday, was a day in, a little too hot to be in the car and probably busy with Easter break fortnight just starting.

Calling Med Gulls somewhere up in the blue, two Willow Warblers singing, and just a single Barnacle Goose (so presumably no breeding this year). One family of Mallard, ten strong.

Plenty of Ramsoms but no Portevinia maculata - probably time to consider a trip up to 'Milky Way' in the next few weeks.

Lots of small hovers but no camera; plenty of Epistrophe eligans and Eristalis pertinax all sun bathing plus a single Myathropa florea. Many sunbathing queen wasps and several Speckled Woods.

Later, the numerous domestic pigeons down the road all flushed - a Sparrowhawk was circling up in the blue and a D-e Beefly was in the garden on Forget-me-nots with H-fFBs.