MSQ....A Dull Morning.

As the forecast had suggested last night,it was fairly dull as i made my way to the Sand Quarries this morning,but thankfully the wind which had been promised was none existent,so all wasn't bad.
 I decided to look on the sheep fields to begin with and there was plenty of activity with displaying Lapwings and Redshank renewing their territories for the coming breeding season.On the fields a pair of Grey Partridge fed and that lovely,bubbling call of a Curlew gave away the presence of a party of 17 birds feeding nearby,while a Common Buzzard patiently hunted from a nearby fence line.
 A quick look on the new workings were the aggregate company are excavating revealed a party of 8 Avocet quietly feeding,but no sign of any Sand Martins yet,but a Kingfisher was fine recompense.
 So onto the reserve proper and after getting the gear together i began my walk to be greeted by the first of at least 7 singing male Chiffchaff seen and heard around the reserve.It always amazes me to think that this little bird has just arrived all the way from Africa to spend its breeding season here,the wonders of bird migration in action.
 A visit to the wader hide was brightened by the sound of the singing male Cetti's Warbler from my last visit and on the pits themselves lots of gull activity saw 39 Herring,2 pairs of Lesser black-backed and larger numbers of Black heads than on the previous visit.Also in this area were courting pairs and groups of Shelduck,Gadwall,Teal and Shoveler with a hand full of Cormorant loafing on the island.
 In the plantation a couple of Siskin and 2 Redwing were seen and a clump of Scarlet-elf Cup positively glowed in the dull conditions.
 Eventually the promised for rain arrived and i made my way back to the car and travelled the short journey back home.
 Not a bad few hours,but some prolonged,settled,sunny weather would be nice.