What have you seen

Had a Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth flying about today so weather warm enough for them to be out and about.

Such a nice day yesterday I set about a few jobs on site. Replacing a rotten post at the playfield gate, I'm knelt down squaring up the post hole when, you know when you get the feeling of being watched. Well there was a buzzard on the post the other end of the gate watching me work, only 6 feet away. It was hard to keep still and get in a position where I could sit and watch. One of those fantastic moments, only lasted about half a minute before he loped off.

JK

Talking of Buzzards, I was outside doing some work on the drive when I heard 2 Buzzards high in the air above the house. The male was showing off his aerial skills trying to impress the female. Made an entertaining interlude.

There was also a sighting of a male Blackcap rearranging the feathers after having  a bath in the back garden this morning.

An excellent day of birdwatching at Burton Mere reserve today including a rare sighting for us of a Long Billed Dowitcher, an American tourist.

Also saw a Ruddy Shelduck and some Spotted Redshanks. There was also a first sighting and first song call from a Chiffchaff, who promptly found a female to chase after. Very early to hear one this far north so I'm assuming it was one of a few that overwintered on the Dee Estuary coast.

Not so much what have I seen more what I’m hoping to see. Had some tip offs today from friends that common crane have been seen at Alkborough. Can’t get straight away so hope, if they are there, they hang around. The CL College Farm https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificatedlocations/england/lincolnshire/scunthorpe/college-farm/ is an excellent place to stay when visiting this reserve.

Hey micky, don't keep giving away the name of all the good CLs ( another that would be included on my list, if I had one.), as we will have trouble getting a pitch with all these favourable comments.

Arrived on our latest CL today and the first thing I saw was a pair of Buzzards circling over the site. On our afternoon walk saw 3 flocks of Lapwings and a few Curlew, then during this  evening's walk, around 17:30 just as it was going dark, I was lucky enough to be able to watch a Barn Owl coursing the heathland up the road from the site.

Got our first frog spawn a few days ago and there are now 7 clumps in the pond. What is strange is that I have not seen nor heard any frogs. The spawn has come about two weeks earlier than last year. 

We can hear our toads making a noise and have spotted them around but nothing in the pond water.

Had an unusual but semi regular sighting at home of a Grey Wagtail. No running water nearby and about a mile from nearest river. Quite brightened the day.