I got up at 4.00 am yesterday and went out to Patrington Haven.The day was clear and bright, but chilly for the time of year.
I went to Patrington Haven with the hope of seeing a curlew sandpiper, but really just being out at that time was something... to see anything out of the ordinary would be a bonus.
The first birds on view were a couple of grey partridges, they were happy to stay cloese while i was in the car but as soon as i got out they were off like a shot.
It was at this point when I realised the amount of birdsong, sedge warblers, reed buntings and skylarks were giving it their all.
The little car park at Pat.haven is just ooposite an old farm house with well established trees in the grounds,it was here that I heard the iconic summer sound of a calling turtle dove,there was another a short distance away, the morning was almost perfect.Complementing the turtle doves was a cuckoo.
On the way down the track there was a heron flying up from the drain and on the farm side there were meadow pipits, yellow wagtails and goldfinches.
at the flood realignment the air was filled with the avocet alarm call as I walked over the top of the bank.
The avocets were joined by a small flock of dunlin, some ringed plover a couple of bar tailed godwit and a few shellduck.
I gave the lagoons a good scan, but there was no sign of anything out of the ordinary.
A large flock of striking summer plumaged grey plovers made a spectacular scene.
Not much on the way back, but as I drove out of Pat haven a barn owl posed conveniently for some nice shots.
On to Easington for the reported raven (no sign) but some nice little terns and greenshanks made the walk worthwhile.
All in all a most enjoyable morning.