Black Terns seen at Coneries pond, Attenborough this afternoon. They occasionally perched on the wooden posts alongside Common terns.

Thanks to Rob Hoare posting his observations of a fall of Wheatear yesterday (Cliftongrovebirds.co.uk) I was at Barton-in-fabis at 6am and managed to find at least 4 Wheatears on the ploughed field. 3 males and a pale female. There was a cold, numbing wind blowing down the moor and the birds sheltered behind clumps of soil out of the wind. Also on this field while I was there were Skylark, Linnet and a pair of Red-legged Partridges. Also noteable was a reeling Grasshopper Warbler coming from Branshill pool area.

Female Wheatear

Common Terns. Coneries Pond, Attenborough.

During a 3 hour walk along the Trent at the new gravel workings, Long eaton I saw many Swallows and Sand martins above the Windsurfing lake along with a few Terns. Heard an alarm call and saw a flurry of activity ahead which turned out to be a Hobby chasing a small bird, Sparrowhawk-like, among the bushes. Further along across the Trent in a bare field I had distant views of Yellow Wagtail among Pied Wagtails and Skylark. In this field were many nesting Lapwing and I caught sight of at least 2 broods of chicks. The river was full to capacity and flowed strongly, a Grebe swimming upstream was almost swept away and preferred to dive rather than battle against the current. Walking back huge swarms of flies gathered above bushes and brambles, one swarm so dense it was actually audible. Above these multitudes the Sand Martins, Swallows and Swifts hawked tirelessly.

A quick evening visit to Attenborough. A rather scruffy looking Ruff moulting into its spring plumage.

Two other residents of the spits - Common Sandpiper and Tufted Drake

By the 'Tower Hide' a Linnet posed as it sat atop a sapling for some minutes singing while in the vicinity sang a Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and the explosive Cettis Warbler.

Tree Pipit singing its heart out at Padley Gorge.

Waterfall at Padley.  

Erewash Meadows. Standing at the viewing screen I couldnt miss this group of Pheasants, the cock bird with his harem of hens. He displayed briefly to one of the hens.

Flooded fields of Erewash Meadows with teal and Black-headed Gulls.

Drake Teal at rest and preening.

A pair of Ring Ouzels found on Branshill. Difficult to observe, they would fly into the hedge at any hint of danger. Later they flew across the field and could be watched at distance feeding in company with Starlings, Mistle and Song Thrushes.