Forecast of a change in the weather.

Cold, cloudy weather was forecast this morning so I was out early to enjoy brilliant sunshine. I heard (and saw briefly)  my first Cuckoo yesterday evening in the bushes around the Lagoon and this morning I could hear a Cuckoo on the Church Norton side of the harbour. Within a few minutes I heard one by the Little Lagoon but unfortunately was  unable to photograph it. 

A Skylark was the only bird allowing a close approach.

So a decision was made to walk to the North Wall to see if the reported Ruff were still about. Along the way a pair of Whitethroats were showing well and the female was building a nest in a bramble patch....

Nest building 

Whitethroat

On the alert and watching me.

There were several Lesser Whitethroats singing their scratchy song in the Slipe Field bushes but tended to be very secretive.

Moving on along the shoreline Whimbrels were much in evidence and were calling out in the harbour...this one was a little more obliging.

Once on the North Wall, Cettis Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers were in full song although not easy to photograph. However with a little patience I was able to track down the Reed Warbler but as any photographer will know getting a clear view is difficult and focusing through the reed bed even more so. I find manual focusing the only way in these circumstances.

On the return a mixed flock of Dunlin, Grey Plover and Knot...

an Oystercatcher...

.....a pair of Great Crested Grebes.....

...and a diminutive Wren with a very loud voice atop a dead branch.

That's it for today, folk.

p.s. The Ruff were not present as the water level had risen unaccountably and there was no suitable feeding fringe.