28th April

Weather: WNW f2 then SW f3-5, sunny, dry and continuing cool

With the wind and weather still being influenced from north of the UK, it is a struggle to find migrants, but, as this morning proves, they are still coming through. The year's first Common Swift and Lesser Whitethroat were logged, and a further Common Redstart continues a good spring at canons Farm for this species.

Canons Farm: 5 COMMON BUZZARD, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 1 KESTREL, 1 STOCK DOVE, 1 COMMON SWIFT (north over Canons Farmhouse, 89th species this year), 5 SKYLARK, 1 SWALLOW, 1 COMMON REDSTART ( a female along hedgerow along eastern side of Harrier Field), 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT (in song, Stoney Knob,then L&G, 90th species this year - UPDATE: a late record of this species has been received at Hither Field on 23/04), 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 8 LINNET, 2 YELLOWHAMMER
Bush Vetch, Reeds Rest Bottom (Steve Gale)
Banstead Woods: 1 MALLARD (drake on Piddly Pond), 3 COMMON BUZZARD, 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT (all singing along Valley Meadows), 11 BLACKCAP, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 LINNET (The Scrub)

Observers: Steve Gale