Spring is in the Air

Saturday 10th March 2007

At Frampton this morning, along the towpath north of Splatt Bridge with Andy, a group of 11 Sand Martins suddenly appeared up the canal, and circled around us for a few minutes before flying off towards the sailing lake. I even managed to phograph one as it whizzed by. Spring is definitely in the air. No sign of Jack Snipe at the reed-bed, but five Little Egrets were on the flashes. At Slimbridge, a Spotted Redshank, 20 Redshanks, the third-winter Yellow-legged Gull, two Buzzards and two Oystercatchers were on the Tack Piece, and to add to the Spring atmosphere, a Chiffchaff and at least two Reed Buntings were singing near Robbie Garnett Hide. From the Holden Tower, the Great Skua and pale first-winter Glaucous Gull were there again. Photo above of a Sand Martin, photos below of Common Redshanks, Spotted Redshank and 'Gadwall', another in my Wildfowl collection (photos: Paul Masters).


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