One Ton Warbler

Willow Warbler at Hope's Nose today brought up the ton for the Patch Year List. :D I'd given the early migrants another shot and after a bit of waiting, the South Side gave up a couple of Chiffs [too busy feeding to even call much] and then the surprise WW. With thanks to a couple of Jays for flying in and stirring things up. Having finally gotten Chiff on Monday, they all have come out of hiding and are everywhere - I counted 13 on the patrol this morning. On the same patrol, a male Bullfinch showed very well down to about 12' - albeit through a bush - near Walls Hill, 2 Mipits and an alba wagtail flew over north and my first Comma of the year was on Ilsham Marine Drive.

Many more butterflies - mostly Brimstones - at Yarner on Wednesday, when I got around to an enjoyably quiet day mapping nestboxes. You may have seen the report of LSW 'near Box 42'? It has to be asked; which Box 42? Red Admiral and Peacock butterflies, plus 4 encounters with deer [quite possibly a single long-suffering herd...] and the interesting experience of hearing all three 'peckers but not seeing one were notable features of the day. I knew it was going to be a fun one when the first bird I encountered was a Nuthatch doing a passable LSW... :)

Blackcaps have started singing on Patch - the most recent being one right out the back! This really takes me back, as they used to breed over there ::Points:: before it got fashionable to hack down trees and destroy hedges... Breeding activity in general continues apace, with all manner of local avians seen with assorted bits of nesting material / singing / chasing each other around and around. A look at the Harbour this PM produced a 1w LBB that was dinky and long-winged enough to merit a closer inspection, but it turned out to be a dinky long-winged graellsii. Of more interest, perhaps, was the Grey Wag at the Post Office roundabout. [[What is it about Torquay Town Centre that attracts them???]]

I've been very good and resisted the urge to dip the Hoopoe, due to a) the Backwater being a lot of petrol away and b) the sure and certain knowledge that the day I go for it will be the day after it leaves.. [[First breeding Hoopoe in Devon since... ;) ]]. The thorough and diligent search for gainful employment continues. [[Despite printing wanted posters, hiring bounty hunters and swearing in the biggest posse this side of the Rio Grande, the slippery varmint continues to elude me...]] How long is it until Dragonfly season??

:)

PYL: 100