Holme Pierrepont, Sun 11 April

With 21 birds caught, it was a steady start to the summer season at HPP. However, the weather was good and our catch included several migrants. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing everywhere, though strangely we caught none of the latter. We did catch 3 Chiffchaffs though including a retrap from last year. We also trapped a single Willow Warbler, though there were far fewer of these about. Can you tell which is which? It's not too difficult in spring.

Note the brighter coloration of the Willow, its bolder supercilium, longer wing and slightly paler legs.We also caught a single Sedge and there were several of these singing too.

Other birds around included several Oystercatchers, the occasional Buzzard, vocal Water Rails and Little Grebes and the previous day a Curlew and several Swallows had been flying around. Ride clearing was minimal thanks to the fantastic efforts of last autumn.
Pete