Temperatures rising

The winds were forecast to be southeasterly today but they ended up being a tad too strong; however, it's getting warm and by midday it was warm enough for some garden sunbathing/raptor watching. There was some raptor movement: Honey Buzzard, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Red Kites and Common Buzzards. There was also a few Passerines about with Wheatear, Whinchat etc.

Ringing at the lighthouse was again quiet (totals online — click Ringing), though we did catch a new bird for the spring ringing season: a female Northern Wheatear.

As we discovered, they're not too easy to age! That obvious moult limit in the greater coverts is the result of a pre-breeding moult; the overall worn brown appearance to the rest of the wing suggests the bird is a 2cy.

Checking reference material at the light box

As I was leaving, I could hear a Common Rosefinch singing. I tracked it down in the lighthouse garden where I found it (a rather orange-red bird with the colour restricted to the front of the head and breast, so presumably a 3cy bird) sat singing in the company of a female.

It's set to be even warmer tomorrow (24 °C) with the southeasterly winds continuing, so it could be an interesting day... although I'm quite sure we've been saying that for the last ten days!