Short, local walk

At QECP, SEoT+C, then a short walk in cold overcast conditions with just two distant singing Firecrests, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps. No Swallows checking out the barn yet and Cheilosia variabilis-type was the only hover brave enough to be out.

On Butser just M'ipit and Skylark, one Whitethroat and Kestrel and Buzzard riding up on the wind. A distant calling Cuckoo was followed by two birds chasing each other around giving good flight views in a hail-shower. A Red Kite was pushed west by a crow and must have given point-blank, eye-level views to the BT engineer working on the communications tower. Far too cold for any insects but a nice carpet of Cowslips and many hundreds of Early Purple Orchids, albeit mostly past their best.