polls apart

Spring has finally dragged itself kicking and screaming into mid Wales; though looking out the window as I write at the rain and howling wind, maybe its decided to hive off again. Nevertheless, some good 'year ticks' have cropped up this week, including whimbrel at Borth and a common sandpiper at the Leri. In the garden weve had a cracking male redstart, willow warbler and chiffchaff - yesterday was particularly noteworthy, with chiffchaffs seemingly in every bush and shrub around 4pm. Swallows, house martin and sand martin are now regulars down by the river, and today 3 male & 1 female blackcaps appeared together in the ash tree. Also in the garden, and about time too, we had our first ever redpolls, at least 3, and now that they've discovered our niger feeder seem determined to stay put and squabble over the pickings with the resident siskins and goldfinches.

On my rounds with work this week I've had great views of green woodpeckers, lots of wheatears, stock doves and a handsome stoat amongst the usual suspects, and great clumps of frog spawn in every pond and puddle I've come across. Our local pond is full of adult frogs and its lovely to sit there awhile and listen to them call.
On an interesting note, Steffi was mesmerised by a chiffchaff last night as it appeared to be fly-catching around the postbox light after 10pm - she could have reached out and grabbed it had she been so inclined, which, thankfully, she wasnt. On her regular commute to Aber this week Steffi has also had good views of the returning male osprey at the nest site by the Dyfi junction.