Tuesday 17th April:
A brood of at least two Moorhens, and a Mallard family on various puddles this afternoon look to have taken advantage of the early spring heatwave, and looked old enough to cope with any deterioration in the weather. With plenty of time for a second brood, it looks like they could have a bumper breeding season. At the other extreme, I'm keeping tabs on a Fieldfare that has not moved off a 10m square of weedy ground in the middle of a field on Hoe lane for about a month now! His companion has long gone, and so too have the majority of Fieldfare in the North Baddesley area. He has still got some way to go before he makes headlines.. the latest in Hampshire was 23rd May, and I think one spent the summer in the New Forest last year? I just have a funny feeling that for a reason unknown, this one ain't going very far!
My wish for something unusual to visit the garden has backfired spectacularly as a racing pigeon crashed onto the conservatory roof yesterday and is now in the shed. Turns out he is from Fareham, and his owner is going to come over to collect him!
Thursday 19th April:
A very cold dawn walk round Checkpoint Charlie was fairly quiet. Linnet and Stonechats as per usual. Also a Reed Bunting, and a couple of Buzzards in the area.
Couldn't see the lone Fieldfare in Hoe Lane so maybe he has actually gone!
Highlight of the morning was a Nightingale singing in the same area that the Grasshopper Warbler was in last week, off Rownhams Lane. Obviously a hotspot! | 
