Well and truly sealed.

The Safari’s early morning outing to Patch 1 was a fairly quiet affair. It was cold and cloudy so no chance of a volcanic sunrise today. The birds were disappointing, just a few Wrens and Dunnocks singing away. Even the Golden Triangle was subdued. In the park we managed a fairly good count of the mostly static Woodpigeons and got 17 of them, with four more in the Golden Triangle on the way back, so probably still in excess of two dozen knocking about. A Blackcap piped up and was immediately answered by another. The Coal Tit was still singing from the patch of large conifers by the pond but there was no sign of any Willow Warblers. Like we said, it was quiet. The chunky female Sparrowhawk flew over Magpie Wood causing the resident Carrion Crows a bit of consternation.
Back at base camp a Mistle Thrush started to sing and from the volume it wasn’t too far away. Not heard one of those for a couple of weeks now.
No early morning Patch 2 watch this morning but at dinner time we got across the fences and had a few minutes looking at a mirror calm but empty sea. Empty that is except for a couple of Grey Seals, one was close but not quite close enough to digiscope even if we had have taken the camera with us. A more determined scan we discovered THREE MORE across the mouth of the estuary – a total of five! More mammals than birds!!! Tomorrow the tide will be more favourable so we hope one or more is still hanging around and comes a bit closer and in to digiscoping range.

The evening Patch 1 walk produced the elusive Willow Warbler, although we were rather hoping for a Lesser Whitethroat in the old hedgerow.
Where to next? More patchy stuff tomorrow, might get further afield on Tuesday evening.
In the meantime let us know if there are more mammals than birds in your outback.
Enjoy these highlights from yesterday’s safari…and some other important stuff...like our first view out of the new Jimmy Armfield Stand

Hopeful and excited fans...

Our banner is passed over the crowd...



Kick off...

Hope this Notts Forest fan being ejected at the start of the match wasn't Forest the Bear's brother...

Important stuff over (actually "football isn't a matter of life or death - it's far more important than that"...Bill Shankley - if you don't know who he is 'Google' him) - back to the routine and mundane wildlifey stuff... Ash trees are in flower.

So are the Willow trees...

Three of the five Hebrew Characters from the moth trap..

2 Clouded Drabs from the trap, a fresh one and one that looks like its been through the wars - do they have a hibernating late brood? Must look it up...

A thankfully calm queen Wasp...

Some of the Smooth Newts found beneath a pile of old slates...

Oh no here come the gulls...The Safari hopes if you click on them they will enlarge for you...

From left to right...1st win Med...1st win Common...ad Black Head

As above but in preening mode apart from the rather snooty Black Head...for 1st win at this toime of year you could read 2cy...

That itch just gets deeper...

Note teh size difference between the Med and the Common...

And the head shape...

The difference in head shape is still apparent in this shot where the heads are at different angles to the viewer from the pic above...

1st win Med...1st win Common...1st win Common landing...ad Common...

The Safari's first Common Sandpiper of the year...front view... Side view left...Side view left on the Bird Club's pile of stones...

Here's a pic of Frank flaked out on the roadside after a particularly inarduous safari - what's he going to be like when the going gets tough?...

Bet you're flaked out after wading through that lot! I know I am so I'm off to enjoy a plate of well herbed roasted veggies, mediterranean stylwe of course with a few lamb kebebs thrown in for good measure...later dudes...