Patience...

Despite the thermometer showing -3 C and there being a sharp frost, it was a glorious sunny morning and a delight to be out at Long Nab. With each passing day there are more and more signs of spring migration getting into gear. The main event today was a movement of in excess of 600 Pink-footed Geese moving north, with some large flocks quite out over the sea and just one flock over the land.

Pink-footed Geese heading north

Finches continue to trickle south with a few Siskins and slightly larger numbers of Goldfinches and Linnets. Skylarks were still arriving from the sea and then heading south and also on the move were a flock of 7 Lapwings in off to the WNW, a few alba Wagtails and a Rock Pipit heading north seemed a likely migrant too. There were a few Rock Pipits in and around the fields with the bird depicted below showing nicely. I saw my first displaying Meadow Pipit of the year and other species of interest during my meanderings included a pair of Grey Partridge, a few Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows.

Rock Pipit

Lapland Buntings have been present at Long Nab through most of the winter. As indicated previously on this blog they have been devilishly difficult to get views of on the ground and despite a number of attempts through the winter I have failed to get any useful photos. However, patience pays and now that the stubble field has been ploughed the flock has been a bit easier to see on the ground over the past few days. So after months of mostly flight views I at last managed to get some superb views of one individual on the ground and managed some decent shots of this most attractive species.

Lapland Bunting