Does a good start mean anything?

Since my last post and I can only apologize for the infrequency of my posts these days, some more additions have popped up.

Little-ringed Plover went on to set up home here, not breeding so far, but we (FOLL) have made a good start on allowing that to happen next year by putting shingle across the island in front of the hide.

Little else of note occurred, warblers like Sedge, Whitethroat & Lesser Whitethroat in short supply for most of the time, Whitethroat now looking better in the last week.

Cuckoo still calling as of yesterday (27th), but it was a late Ringed Plover found by Marek & Brian that had me dashing back, post my usual early morning routine on the 21st.

Then all quiet again until Geoff texted to say 'Black Tern LFGP' yesterday, again post my early morning visit. Upon arrival one bird was patrolling up and down surface feeding, but decided to land on bouy near to the recently launched raft and it was at that point, we realised there were two. These were joined by a third after I left.

Today there was thick fog after a very stormy night for the second night in a row, luckily the rain missed us and went well East over Bucks. Only one day 2 days ago have I seen more than 15 Swift, with 80-100 over BSL early morning.

So I am on 126 for 2018, faced with the usual suspects to get and in some kind of date order hope, or expectancy they look like this:

Linnet
Black-tailed Godwit
Little Owl
Yellow-legged Gull
Yellow Wagtail
Osprey
Marsh Harrier
Whinchat
Spotted Flycatcher
Redstart
Garganey

To go past my all time year lists would require all these and more, but a few good possibles might yet be in the mix;

Sandwich Tern
Rock Pipit
Red-crested Pochard
Curlew
Wood Sandpiper
Turnstone
Spotted Redshank
Bar-tailed Godwit
Scaup
Common Scoter
Firecrest
Crossbill

And if we look over just the last 6 years, we have had mega's in 5 out of 6 years, so I am up for a stunning bonus like a Spoonbill, Great Northern Diver, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, White-fronted Goose, or even....before all that a Red-footed Falcon, or Marsh Warbler and why not strong Easterlies for days and days...good luck folks.

My title to this post is there because this year is a high hitting start and on par with 2017 and whilst 2017 was excellent - 137 and equal 2nd place with 2014, fell 1 short of the 138 record in 2012. In 2012 I didn't get Green Sandpiper until 5th August, but as we say in bird racing, they are all only worth 1 at the end of the day....enjoy your birding.

Are we done

A few more additions, a Hobby distantly over the far end of BSL, then overhead at the DAC on my birthday (1st.

Then Brian was out before me on the 5th to hear the Greenshank coming in from the North, I was near Teal hide when I looked at my phone to find his missed call at 06:08 due to my not taking it off silent from overnight.

By 06:18 I was looking at it, then so was Jack 5 minutes after that at, then it got harassed by a Black-headed Gull and was away towards Lavell's, staying for about an hour and half according to our Jenny.

And finally, after much avoidance tactics on their behalf a pair of Little-ringed Plover were at Tern scrape bund looking all loved up.

The Whitethroat population has not got above 3-4 still, Willow Warblers have gone thru with no records on DP in May so far. The Oystercatcher is sitting in a wisely high location at Sandford, but not that high given the flood potential. The Mandarin are resident on BSl, but not nesting as things stand.

The sunrises at Lea Farm are pretty nice, especially if you like thick mist and dew covered cobwebs.